Building a Green 21st Century Economy in Ohio

In the crowd at the Zanesville, Ohio rural forum was Renee Coll. Renee and her husband represent the best in American innovation and entrepreneurial spirit.The Colls started Coll Materials LLC, a post-industrial and post consumer plastic recycling company, in the basement of their home. In April, the Colls received a Business & Industry loan guarantee, a program administered by the USDA’s Rural Development agency, in the amount of $618,660 to purchase additional equipment for their facility.

With the loan in hand, Coll Materials LLC was able to expand their operations and purchase top of the line recycling equipment to process the plastic scrap for re-use or re-sale. Coll Materials LLC now employees 37 employees in Zanesville and is looking forward to continued growth.

The Coll's experience is just one example of the ability of Rural America to create economic opportunities by transitioning to the green collar jobs that are going to be so important in the 21st century economy.

Permalink  |  Posted at: 10:13AM Sep 01, 2009 by USDAblogger in General  |  Add Your Comment Here [1]