LISBON — Buckeye Trailer is returning to Columbiana County with 25 jobs this year and an estimated 25 more next year at the county Port Authority’s Leetonia industrial building on Cherry Fork.

That was one big announcement made Monday night by CCPA Executive Director/CEO Penny Traina, but she also announced passage of a bill to create the Ohio River Commission, which will promote commerce and tourism on the river which borders East Liverpool and Wellsville.

For Traina, that’s the culmination of several years worth of work which can benefit Columbiana County.

“Until now there was no agency in the state of Ohio to develop or promote the Ohio River as a driver of economic development and travel and tourism,” she read from her report. “This new law will ensure that our state takes advantage of the Ohio River as both a recreational and economic asset.”

According to Traina, there’s more tonnage of cargo moved on the Ohio River vs. Lake Erie. In 2023, there was more than 2 million tons of cargo moved on the river in Columbiana County alone, she said, based on figures provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The CCPA owns the intermodal facility in Wellsville, where products such as steel coils, soy beans, barite powder and molasses are moved via the Ohio River.

House Bill 469 created the Ohio River Commission and was amended into Senate Bill 54 and then signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine on Jan. 2. She credited state Rep. Monica Robb Blasdel with getting the Ohio River Commission across the finish line, calling her “our biggest cheerleader.”

She thanked her and state Rep. Don Jones of the 95th District and state Sen. Shane Wilkin of the 17th District, saying the bill wouldn’t have been possible without all of them. She also thanked members of the core Ohio River working group, saying the law is “a testament to the hard work and dedication of our partners and stakeholders along the Ohio River from Columbiana County to Hamilton County who all worked tirelessly to bring this vision to life.”

The commission will be a part of the Ohio Department of Development and there will be an executive director and board. Traina said the commission will develop and promote economic development, marine cargo, terminal operations and travel and tourism on the Ohio River and its tributaries, with a plan developed for Ohio River infrastructure and transportation. The work will be coordinated with port authorities, local development districts and governments.

“I’m very pleased we got this accomplished,” she said.

New business handled by the CCPA included approval of the lease agreement with Buckeye Trailers and Fab Co., LLC for 71,397 square feet of the Leetonia Industrial Building at 600 Cherry Fork, Leetonia, site of the former NRM, at a monthly cost of $20,157.

Traina said plans call for Buckeye Trailers to make renovations to the building, with 25 employees anticipated in the first year and an additional 25 employees next year, with some of the company’s operation in Mechanicstown moving to Leetonia.

The business started on a farm outside Salem in a pole barn, with half of a trailer built in the barn and half of it outside. In 2021, a facility was purchased in Mechanicstown and the company moved in with two employees and grew to 30 employees in 18 months.

The company manufactures commercial trailers used in different market applications across the country, specializing in trailers that carry anywhere from 12,000 pounds to 50,000 pounds and vary in length from 30 feet to 53 feet long.

Traina said the owner, Mark Higinbotham, shared that, “A business starts with a simple idea, then it’s only through the right people and partnerships that make the business grow and become successful. Buckeye Trailer’s story is still being written.”

“We’re looking forward to helping him grow,” Traina said.

CCPA Chairman Charlie Presley complimented Traina and her staff for their work in getting the company into the Leetonia facility.

“Bringing Buckeye Trailer into Columbiana County is huge,” he said, adding that’s what the CCPA is all about.

Buckeye Trailer is an established company, a great partner, they’re bringing jobs here and there’s great potential, Presley said.

In other new business, CCPA renewed the lease with Humtown Products for an office at the Global Investment Hub in Leetonia under the same conditions as before at the Leetonia Industrial Building on Cherry Fork.

The new slate of officers for 2025 for CCPA includes Presley as chairman again, Nick Amato moving up to vice chairman, new board member David Bickerton as secretary and Tad Herold as fiscal officer again.

Traina thanked Keith Chamberlain for his 11 years of service on the CCPA board, saying “it’s been a pleasure working with him, and we’re incredibly grateful for his expertise and insights over the years. We wish Keith the best.”

The county commissioners appointed Bickerton to take Chamberlain’s spot on the board and Traina welcomed him.

“We are excited to have you join our team and are confident that your unique experience and perspectives will help guide us as we navigated opportunities ahead,” she said.

The next meeting of the CCPA board will be 5 p.m. March 24 at the CCPA building, 7860 Lincole Place, Lisbon.

mgreier@mojonews.com