One of Lorain County’s largest employers continues to thrive in the Northeast Ohio Region
Green Circle Growers, Inc., one of the largest floriculture operations in North America with more than 120 acres of greenhouse space, has announced plans to add 250 new positions to its current staff of more than 900. The jobs will be at Green Circle Growers and its related companies, Express Seed and Fresh2U Transportation & Logistics. Green Circle Growers, which is focused on sustainable growing practices, will also make an investment in state-of-the art grow technology. The expansion is necessary to accommodate rising demand for Green Circle Growers’ ornamental plants and other nursery products. The Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) is supporting the project with tax credit assistance announced at its meeting today.
“Not only are we expanding our facilities and growing capabilities by 30 acres, but we also are growing our team,” said C.J. van Wingerden, Green Circle Growers Co-Chief Executive Officer. “The expansion is designed to drive sales through an improved customer experience and accommodate the company’s vision to ‘have a Green Circle Growers plant in the line of sight of every consumer in North America.’ The jobs created by this initiative include many at the executive level, including a mix of operations, IT, senior leadership, administrative, management and more.”
Rooted outside of the City of Oberlin for more than 50 years, the family-owned company conducts all major functions at this location including: headquarters, administration, production, supply chain and logistics. The new positions to be created will be spread across all operations.
As a top employer in Lorain County, Green Circle Growers continues to rely on the Northeast Ohio Region’s talented workforce. As a leading provider of indoor plants for major retailers, the company also relies on the region’s favorable logistics. Company executives worked on the expansion plans with an economic development team comprised of Lorain County Community Development, ODOD, JobsOhio and Team NEO.
“We and our partners at JobsOhio welcome Green Circle Growers’ commitment to growth in the Northeast Ohio Region, which speaks volumes about their confidence in our workforce,” said Bill Koehler, Team NEO CEO. “Plus, our central location allows Green Circle Growers to ship live plants efficiently.”
Green Circle Growers has been ranked as a top 10 greenhouse in the U.S., and accounts for a significant portion of the Ohio floriculture industry.
About Green Circle Growers, Inc.
Green Circle Growers is one of the largest greenhouses in North America with over 120 acres of indoor growing space. With more than 50 years in business, Green Circle Growers is a family-owned business located in Oberlin, Ohio. The company has a continuously expanding portfolio of indoor plants, including seasonal crops, tropicals, foliage, and succulents, providing a scalable, reliable source of product for retail partners year-round. Green Circle Growers’ portfolio of brands includes Wild Interiors and Just Add Ice Orchids.
About Team NEO
Team NEO is a private, nonprofit economic development organization accelerating business growth and job creation throughout the 18 counties of the Northeast Ohio Region. As the designated JobsOhio Network Partner, we align and amplify local economic development efforts in the region’s 18-counties; we conduct research and data analysis to inform local conversations and influence solutions; we market the Northeast Ohio Region; and we work to increase access to jobs, education and training for the region’s 4.3 million people. We do this to build a more vibrant regional economy; one that is more talented, equitable, competitive, innovative, resilient and prosperous. For more information, visit teamneo.org.
About JobsOhio
JobsOhio is a private nonprofit economic development corporation designed to drive job creation and new capital investment in Ohio through business attraction, retention and expansion. The organization also works to seed talent production in its targeted industries and to attract talent to Ohio through Find Your Ohio. JobsOhio works with six regional partners across Ohio: Dayton Development Coalition, Ohio Southeast Economic Development, One Columbus, REDI Cincinnati, Regional Growth Partnership and Team NEO. Learn more at www.jobsohio.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.