The Southeast Region of Ohio is centrally located and ideally situated for distribution.  We are within a 10 hour drive of eight of the largest metro areas in the US: New York, Chicago, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Detroit, St. Louis and Charlotte. We are also an easy drive to other metro areas in and neighboring the state of Ohio: Columbus, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Louisville.

“We’re excited to continue expanding our distribution center and adding more jobs into the community here in Waverly. This facility has helped us to streamline our operations and increase our supply chain efficiency, and increased space will allow our company and this community to continue improving.” 

Alex Melvin, Rural King CEO

A number of highways, international airports, rail service, river barge, seaports, and intermodal facilities run through the OhioSE region:

• Highways: I-70, I-77, I-71, I-64 (US interstates), US Highways 23, 33, 35 and 50 (four lane interstate quality highways)
• Airports: Columbus OH – John Glenn Port Columbus International Airport, Huntington WV – Airport, Pittsburgh PA – Airport, Cincinnati OH – Airport
• Rail Service: CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, Local and regional railroads
• River Barge: Access to five major terminals on the Ohio River Inland Waterway, which connects to the Mississippi River and deep water port connections at New Orleans, LA and Mobile, AL
• Seaports: Baltimore, Port of Virginia, Philadelphia, Cleveland
• Intermodal Facilities: Columbus, Huntington  and local transload facilities

Ohio is less susceptible to supply chain interruptions from hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, and other unpredictable circumstances. 

Companies in the Ohio Southeast Region obtain import-export advantages through federally designated Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) 138.  Benefits of the FTZ include lower costs and increased profits from deferring, reducing and eliminating customs duties.

Ohio is ideal for logistics and according to the annual Logistics Industry Health Report from the Center for Business and Economic Research at Ball State University. Ohio receives the report’s highest rating based on the state’s total logistics industry income, employment, rail and road shipping volume, and transportation infrastructure spending.

The mighty Ohio River offers the cheapest way to move raw and finished bulk materials, stretching 355 miles along OhioSE’s eastern and southern counties and offering an alternate shipping route to the Gulf of Mexico via the Tennessee-Tombigee Waterway.

Many Fortune 500 companies already benefit from the locational advantages of the Ohio Southeast region.  Major manufacturing and distribution facilities in the region include PACCAR, General Mills, Kraft Foods, Kellogg, AK Steel, Walmart, General Electric, and more.