Defiance County is located at the confluence of the Auglaize and Maumee Rivers near the site where Fort Defiance was built in 1794. The rivers provide natural beauty and recreational opportunities for County residents. The Maumee River is the largest tributary of the Great Lakes and provides Defiance County with an abundance of fresh water for industry and residents. Independence State Park is located along the Maumee River in Richland Township, and there are numerous other parks operated by municipalities and townships within the County.
Defiance is located within an hour drive of the cities of Toledo, Lima and Findlay, Ohio and Fort Wayne, Indiana. The County is served by nine state and U.S. highways and is near the Ohio Turnpike. Major railroads serve the freight needs of the County including the CSX dual, high-speed mainline between Chicago and the East Coast and the Napoleon, Defiance & Western RR, a short line railroad which inter-connects with the NS system in New Haven, Indiana.
The Defiance County Economic Development Office (DCED) serves all of Defiance County with retention and attraction programs. DCED works closely with county, township and municipal entities to maximize local investment and jobs for their communities, and provides an entry point for businesses considering expansion or location within the County. Information regarding available infrastructure and state and local incentive programs is provided to business executives and site consultants having an interest in investing in Defiance County.
Recent activities include assistance on remediation of three brownfield properties, marketing of a brand new 100,000 square foot spec building, creation of an Energy Special Improvement District which provides off balance sheet financing for energy saving building improvement projects, and establishment of a gap financing program by the City of Defiance.
Contact:
Erika Willitzer, Executive Director
Defiance County Economic Development Department
1300 E Second Street, Ste 201
Defiance, OH 43512
419-784-4471
erika@defiancecountyed.com
