Schwebel Project Halted

The Industrial and Technology Center will be put on hold. It had been a development plan for the 12 acres at Tallmadge Road and Main Street.

“Schwebel's has decided to delay the Clean Ohio Revitalization grant request due to uncertainty in the industry and markets caused by the recently announced Wonder Bread bankruptcy filing,” said Michael Elenz, Vice President of Manufacturing, in a press release from Development Director Susan Truby

Jan. 9, the city had approved a grant application to the State of Ohio's Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund, or CORF.

"If successful in their application, the grant would have been used to environmentally clean the 12-acre site, demolish vacant structures, streamline operations and reopen Main Street," according to the press release.

For now, nothing will change at this location and Schwebel will continue bread-making, Truby said in an email to Patch.

A national upset is what put the brakes on this local project.

Jan. 11, Hostess Brands filed for Chapter 11, according to the Associated Press. This includes Wonder Bread, Ding Dongs, Twinkies and other snacks.

"We are hopeful that we can continue working with them [Schwebel Baking Company] and perhaps, in the future, submit another application—if the CORF program is still available," Truby said in the email.

No other projects with Schwebel are scheduled at this time.