GROWTH … Wieland Chase LLC in Holiday City has been approved as one of 17 economic development projects for job creation and building expansion by the Ohio Tax Credit Authority on Monday, December 17.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
Wieland Chase LLC, operating as Chase Brass & Copper, is one of 17 economic development projects across the state approved by the Ohio Department of Development.
The company, which was acquired by Wieland Corporation in 2019, is expanding its capabilities to include ammunition production.
Chase Brass & Copper manufactures brass rods and operates a brass forging facility and has been in existence since 1965.
According to Wieland Chase president Thomas Christie, the state investment is going to be around $26 to $27 million dollars to be able to produce ammunition wire.
“The ideas to expand into that market gives us really an opportunity to expand both our core product portfolio as well as to expand into additional markets we don’t participate in today,” said Christie.
Williams County Economic Development director Ashley Epling said that Wieland Chase, LLC had the opportunity to expand locally or potentially expand in its Kentucky facility.
“As a state and as in local economic development, we were looking for incentives to encourage them to do the expansion here in Williams County,” said Epling.
Christie pointed out that the core brass rod industry has seen some compression over the last several years and was looking for ways to diversify what Wieland Chase does.
Working with the regional growth partnership and Jobs Ohio, Christie said they were very supportive and helped them to develop a strategy to identify some funds to support the investment.
The proposed expansion includes the purchase of new machinery and equipment, along with the expansion of the company’s existing building located on Selwyn Drive.
More importantly, the project is expected to create 43 full-time equivalent jobs and generate approximately $3.1 million in new annual payroll.
“This will be a multi-phased investment,” said Christie. “Eventually, based on our forecast that we’re running seven days, and it could get up to that number. Initially, we think there are probably going to be around 10 to 15 jobs to start.”
Christie added that Wieland Chase had selected the Holiday City location out of all of the Wieland Corporation groups because they have a really dedicated workforce.
“We’ve got strong maintenance and engineering teams, and we believe this process is similar enough of what we do, and I think we can shorten the learning curve,” he said.
The importance of the Wieland Chase expansion is extremely important, especially right here in Northwest Ohio.
“It’s critical,” stressed Christie. “We really believe in Northwest Ohio. It’s got a great foundation of hard-working people with a great work ethic. We want to continue to invest here and grow this business and support the community.”
The goal, according to Christie, is to grow the product line, and eventually, several more jobs will come along with that.
Epling is excited about the newest job opportunity creation and building expansion project that Wieland Chase, LLC will be undergoing, thanks to economic development funding from the state
“It’s helping them break into markets they are not currently in,” she said.
“Based on their application, they are looking to expand and aiming to be a supplier to supply all forms of brass in the market.
“It is just increasing their market presence and to be more competitive with other people on the market.”
To support the project, the Ohio Tax Credit Authority (TCA) approved a 1.298 percent Job Creation Tax Credit for a term of seven years.
Wieland Chase, LLC will be breaking ground for the expansion project within the next few weeks and has already started some initial processes. They are hoping to become operational in the Spring of 2027.