Infrastructure Projects Offer Promise Ohio has no shortage of ongoing or planned infrastructure improvements. The $1.4-billion expansion of Cleveland Hopkins International Airport continues with a new 9,000-ft. (2,743-m.) runway set for completion by the end of 2003. The airport's existing runway will be extended to 11,250 feet (3,429 m.) to accommodate flights to the Pacific Rim.         Also, the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority is studying the possibility of developing a Cleveland-to-Canada ferry. The vessel would carry vehicles and passengers to and from Port Stanley, Ontario.         Moving west along Lake Erie, the Toledo Lucas County Port Authority and the shipbuilding arm of Manitowoc Co. may collaborate on a project to return shipbuilding to the city's shipyard. The Port Authority is seeking funding to upgrade the facility, while Manitowoc would provide the equipment. The shipyard is currently equipped to repair ships, but not build them.

GM, Ford Retool Plants In NE Ohio

Ohio's top two 2002 investments were the retooling of General Motors and Ford plants in Northeast Ohio. These two heavyweight projects were among more than 31 in Northeast Ohio that involved a minimum of $10 million invested and/or 100 new jobs in 2002. The 31 projects represent more than $1 billion in investment and more than 12,000 jobs.
        GM's Lordstown Complex will be the home for its next generation of small passenger cars beginning production in late 2004. The $560-million investment will allow the plant to retain 4,700 jobs. The Ohio Dept. of Development (ODOD) will provide up to $63 million in incentives for the makeover.
        GM, which is Ohio's largest private sector employer with more than 26,000 jobs, will reconfigure and retool the assembly plant's general assembly area, retool the plant's body shop, build a new paint shop and refurbish its metal stamping plant.
        Ford, which employs about 17,000 Ohioans, is spending $74.5 million to refurbish its Ohio Assembly Plant at Avon Lake. The project retains 2,000 jobs and will create about 800. Ford will build its Escape sport utility vehicle at the plant beginning this summer. It will continue to assemble its Econoline van at the facility for another five years. ODOD is providing Ford with a $36-million incentive package for the project.