Alpha Tire Group, LLC, based in Barnesville (Belmont County) has experienced rapid sales growth since 2020. To keep this trend going, the company soon will be operating out of a new warehouse facility.
Alpha Tire Group, LLC, in collaboration with JobsOhio, Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE), and the Belmont County Port Authority, today unveiled plans for its real estate holding company, JDL Rental, LLC, to construct a 9,600 square-foot warehouse facility on Gardner Street in the village of Barnesville.
Founded in 2015, the majority of the company is owned by the Hershberger family. Alpha Tire Group, LLC is a wholesale vehicle tire distributor currently operating out of a 16,000-square-foot building. The project will allow the company to purchase inventory in larger quantities thus improving pricing, increasing profitability, and allowing it to better meet customer demands.
The company’s primary distribution area is the Ohio Valley but it has customers in more than 20 states. The project represents an investment of more than $400,000 and the company will eventually create six new jobs while retaining four jobs.
“We are grateful for the support from JobsOhio, OhioSE, Belmont County Port Authority, and the Village of Barnesville in helping us create more jobs for our local market,” said Jake Hershberger, CEO of Alpha Tire Group. “We are excited to continue growing our family business in Southeast Ohio while expanding our customer base across multiple states.”
JobsOhio supported the project with a $25,000 JobsOhio Inclusion Grant and Ohio Southeast Economic Development assisted the company with the grant process. The Belmont County Port Authority provided support for the project and the village of Barnesville vacated a former rail spur cutting across the company’s property and is in the process of vacating two unused alleys to facilitate the construction of the new warehouse.
“The Port Authority was happy to assist with the coordination of this grant opportunity for Alpha Tire Group,” said Larry Merry, Executive Director of the Belmont County Port Authority. “This grant will help to expand a great family-owned and community-minded business that will continue to support local jobs.”
The JobsOhio Inclusion Grant exists to provide financial support for eligible projects in designated distressed communities and/or for businesses owned by underrepresented populations across the state.
“We love to see our local manufacturers grow their capacity and impact,” said Mike Jacoby, OhioSE President. “We are grateful to JobsOhio for their investment in Alpha Tire Group and the Southeast Ohio region, setting them up for long-term success in Belmont County.”
Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE) is the JobsOhio Network Partner for southern, eastern, and southeastern Ohio, providing economic development work and resources in 25 rural counties; they are the newest and geographically the largest of the six regions across the state. OhioSE partners closely with regional development districts, local economic development offices, state agencies, and other entities to expand, retain, and attract businesses in the counties they serve.
