As executive director of the Athens County Economic Development Council, I want to present factual information about our organization, the Athens County Port Authority, and ongoing lease discussions with CCC Plastics. The goal is to explain our mission, clarify the role of the Athens County Port Authority, and address community questions regarding the project and CCC Plastics’s manufacturing operations.
The Athens County Economic Development Council is a public-private nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding economic opportunity in Athens County. The Athens County Port Authority, established by the Athens County Board of Commissioners, serves as an implementation partner by leading site development efforts.
Together, we share a common goal: creating quality jobs, diversifying the county’s economy, and strengthening the tax base. This is vital work in a region still recovering from generations of extractive industry and a heavy reliance on public-sector employment.
Approximately 90% of the Athens County Economic Development Council’s work focuses on business expansion. Companies such as Stirling Ultracold and Milo’s Whole World Gourmet are examples of Athens County Economic Development Council expansion projects. Business attraction represents a much smaller portion of our work but remains an essential part of economic development. If we are unwilling to consider new business investments, we are fundamentally at odds with our mission to increase economic opportunities in Athens County.
Some residents have expressed concerns about community engagement during the Athens County Port Authority’s business attraction and lease negotiation process. The Athens County Economic Development Council’s work is guided by a strategic plan developed with input from residents, business leaders, property owners, and community stakeholders.
All Athens County Port Authority meetings are conducted in accordance with Ohio’s Open Meetings Act. Meeting notices are provided to local media and agendas and minutes are posted publicly. Residents are always welcomed to join us in-person or virtually.
While these transparency requirements do not specifically provide for public input on prospective lessees, we recognize this project highlighted the need for additional outreach beyond our standard processes. We appreciate that feedback.
And as we develop Athens County Economic Development Council’s next five-year strategic plan, we invite public participation in an externally moderated community stakeholder meeting to help shape future economic development priorities.
Manufacturing remains a priority sector because it provides living-wage jobs, supports workers with a wide range of skills and educational backgrounds, and generates significant economic benefits throughout the community.
Athens County Economic Development Council’s strategic plan also prioritizes food and ag manufacturing and has supported businesses including Dirty Girl Coffee and Shagbark Seed & Mill.
The current discussion surrounding CCC Plastics centers on two distinct issues: the global issue of plastic pollution and the proposed location of a plastics manufacturer in Athens County.
On a personal level, I completely understand why some residents oppose any plastics-related manufacturing in Athens County. Plastic pollution is a legitimate global concern that affects all of us, including my family and yours. I understand the question: Why should Athens consider a plastics company at all? I would also not support a project that I believed posed an unacceptable risk to my own family or this community.
My responsibility as executive director, however, is to evaluate whether a company will provide quality jobs within our target industries while operating safely, responsibly, and in compliance with environmental regulations. Every business carries some level of risk.
My role is to determine whether those risks are appropriately managed and whether a company demonstrates a genuine commitment to protecting its employees, neighbors, and the environment. Based on extensive due diligence, we believe CCC Plastics has demonstrated that commitment.
The purpose of this piece is not to change minds but to provide factual information that has informed the Athens County Port Authority’s deliberations. That due diligence has included discussions with company leadership, external technical experts familiar with plastics manufacturing, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Athens County Emergency Management Agency, local fire departments, and my own visit to CCC Plastics’s manufacturing facility in Canada. A fact sheet that addresses community questions is available here.
Serving as executive director of the Athens County Economic Development Council has been the greatest privilege of my career. I love this work. My family has chosen to make Athens County our home because we believe in this community and its future. I am proud of what the Athens County Economic Development Council and Athens County Port Authority have accomplished alongside our many partners to strengthen our local economy and create opportunities for residents.
I also understand that public projects invite scrutiny, and I welcome thoughtful questions and constructive dialogue. What has been difficult is seeing misinformation shared and personal criticism from individuals who may not know me or the work that has gone into these decisions.
I also recognize that residents will not always agree on what economic development should look like in Athens County, and I respect those differences. My hope is simply that we continue these conversations with respect, accurate information, and a shared commitment to the long-term success of our community.
I encourage you to reach out by email at mollie@athenscountyohedc.com with any questions. I respectfully ask that you contact me there rather than on my personal cell phone.
Mollie Fitzgerald
Executive Director
Athens County Economic Development Council
Athens County Port Authority
Athens, Ohio