U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno toured the Growscape production facility and recently-completed 750,00-square-foot warehouse in Middlefield Village Nov. 18.
U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno toured the Growscape production facility and recently-completed 750,00-square-foot warehouse in Middlefield Village Nov. 18.
Before the walk-through, Moreno asked Growscape Chief Product and Marketing Officer Bill Lucas if President Donald Trump’s tariff policy is affecting Growscape’ s business of producing horticultural containers and garden and décor solutions for growers.
“A lot of our retail customers are concerned about the volatility of the market,” Lucas said, adding the industry would like to see fewer imports from China, but will have to fill the demand with U.S.-made containers.
“That’s our opportunity,” he said.
Manufacturing Manager Brian Cunningham said the Middlefield plant can produce 2.4 million flower pots in 24 hours.
Moreno asked about Growscape’s progress in hiring workers and about housing availability.
Growscape is partnering with Cardinal Schools to have high school students job shadow and is implementing a paid internship program, said village Mayor Ben Garlich
Cunningham answered the senator’s question about wages, saying new hires start at $18.50 per hour and those with technical training can begin at $20 per hour.
Moreno focused on the affordability of living and working in the state.
“We’ve gotta crack the code on housing,” Moreno said. “If I’m making $25 an hour, I can’t afford a $400,000 home.”
Garlich noted there are 10,000 people working daily in Middlefield and most are not living in the village.
Moreno said there is a builder in the Columbus area who sells prefabricated homes for less than $250,000, bringing a mortgage down to $1,100 or $1,200 per month.
“We need to encourage more of that,” he said.
A ribbon-cutting for Growscape’s new warehouse and distribution center on Oct. 15 indicated the company’s intention of keeping its operation in Middlefield long term.
The new addition will allow Growscape to relocate its leased-space warehouse divisions from Elyria and Warren to Middlefield, a more centralized operation.
