DELPHOS, Ohio (WLIO) — A newly completed street extension in Delphos is expected to support the growth of a local manufacturer while creating new opportunities for economic development throughout the city.
In 2023, Vanamatic launched its CNC division on Gressel Drive. While the facility is located a short distance from the company's main location on Ambrose Drive, traveling between the two sites was difficult until the completion of the new roadway connection.
The Allen County Port Authority helped secure funding to extend Ambrose Drive, transforming it from a dead-end street and connecting it directly to Gressel Drive.
“Oh, it's really helped with us moving back and forth for our operators and the people driving material back and forth and bringing stuff to and from CNC division to screw machine division has really helped the convenience. So, much more convenient,’ says Steve Schroeder, Dir. Marketing & Sales Vanamatic.
While improving traffic flow for existing businesses was a priority, Delphos officials say the project also creates opportunities to attract future development to the area.
“As a street, it's not a really big street. But what it means to our community is tremendous. It's huge. Maybe one of the most important streets that we've put in here. The opportunities out in this area for economic development are tremendous out here. There's as you can see there's ground everywhere. This gives us a place for us to bring companies to introduce them to what we can bring here and provide here in the city of Delphos,” says Mayor Andre McConnahea, City of Delphos.
The Allen County Port Authority secured state grants to cover most of the $850,000 project cost. The remaining funding was provided by the City of Delphos and the port authority.
