The Kent PaverBrick project started in January 2015 after a referral from JobsOhio. A group of investors from Springfield, Illinois were looking for a site that was close to sand and gravel quarries. Their consultant determined that northern Portage County contain the best source of the raw material for their product. The Portage Development Board worked with a local realtor to identify a site in Mantua Township that fit the company’s needs for a pilot plant. PDB connected the company to the county’s building code office to secure an occupancy permit and also to Ohio Edison to secure electric power for the site. Additionally, PDB connected the company to Neighborhood Development Services to help finance a critical piece of equipment and also to OhioMeansJobs Portage County to help find employees. This project represents a $600,000 investment that will create 40 new jobs over 3 years.
