Menard Inc., a privately-held company owning the nation’s third-largest home improvement chain, plans to repurpose and build a 260,000 square foot manufacturing and warehouse/distribution center on 62 acres in Ravenna, Ohio. The company expects to hire 90 new employees to staff this facility.

According to the Portage Development Board, with great access to U.S. markets Northeast Ohio offers Menards logistical advantages as the company looks to bring new stores online in its expansion markets. Access to NEO’s robust workforce is a plus for Menards as well. This distribution center will service the Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia region.

“As Mayor of the City of Ravenna, I am very pleased to have Menards locate this new project in our community,” said Ravenna Mayor Frank Seman. ”The site they are locating on is centrally positioned in Northeast Ohio. We can provide rail to their site, and almost immediate access to major highways. Maplewood Career Center is located directly across the highway from the Menards site and there are already discussions about a possible partnership between the school and Menards. We are excited about Menards coming to our community, and we will work with them to make this a successful venture for both of us.”

An economic development team including the city of Ravenna, Portage Development Board, Jack Kohl Realty, Akron Barberton Cluster Rail Road, Ohio Development Services Agency, JobsOhio and Team NEO have been working with the Menard leadership to support this expansion in Northeast Ohio.

“We are very pleased that Menards has decided to invest in the city of Ravenna,” said Brad Ehrhart, president of the Portage Development Board. “Along with our partners, we remain committed to the company’s success.”

Team NEO CEO Bill Koehler said, “Menards is a great example of a company whose logistics and distribution operations can benefit from choosing an accessible location with a supportive business environment. Team NEO, JobsOhio and our local partners welcome the company’s expansion here and appreciate the creation of 90 new jobs for the region.”

Headquartered in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Menard’s has more than 300 home improvement stores in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming.