Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Showcasing Ohio’s Fire and Emergency Services Manufacturing Industry

Dublin, Ohio - Federal, state and local policy makers and economic development officials on August 13, 2009 were given a first-hand look at an industry in Ohio that not only is critical to our public safety but very important to our state’s economy.

Dublin-based Sutphen Corporation, manufacturer of custom fire apparatus, hosted the event to showcase Ohio’s fire and emergency services manufacturers and suppliers and illustrate the quality products made in the state and used all over the world.

“Our goal today was to build a greater awareness among our policy makers of the fire equipment industry in Ohio, what it does and how it works for our communities every day,” said Sutphen sales and marketing director Ken Creese. “We also wanted to demonstrate the economic contribution the industry makes to our state in terms of productivity, job creation and taxes paid.”

Among other things, the event gave manufacturers the opportunity to demonstrate their products and impress among government leaders how critical it is for our communities to support those locally owned manufacturers or “Buy Ohio” when making equipment purchases. Among the Ohio companies that took part in today’s event included: Akron Brass, Wooster; Horton Emergency Vehicles, Grove City; Lion Apparel, Dayton; Will-Burt Company, Orrville ; and Arvin Meritor, Newark.

According to Creese there are 14 Ohio-based companies involved in manufacturing and distribution for the fire equipment industry and represent some 7,000 jobs in Ohio – fourth most in the United States. Considering that 60 percent of every Sutphen truck is made from Ohio manufactured parts and materials, there is a tremendous economic multiplier in the state from the sale of each truck.

“In 2008 Sutphen shipped approximately $87 million in product. Of that we spent nearly $61 million in goods, services and payroll right here in Ohio,” Creese said. “Those companies then in turn buy goods and services from other Ohio companies, thus the value to our state continues to grow.”

With representatives from a number of Ohio’s Congressional offices in attendance, the event provided an opportunity to inform leaders of a growing concern among our nation’s first responders and fire service providers. More than half or 51,000 of the fire trucks in the country are at least 15 years old. Thirty-two percent of them are 20 years or older. In other words, the equipment that our firemen are using to save and protect lives, don’t meet the current and widely accepted safety standards. In addition two-thirds of the fire departments have some personal protective clothing that is at least 10 years old.

Creese informed the crowd that our representatives in Washington play a critical role in helping our local fire departments access the tools they need through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program. The AFG provides funding to the network of first responders across the country and equips them to save lives in the event of daily tragedies, natural disasters and catastrophic events.

According to Creese, the program historically had been funded at nearly 60 percent of its authorized level. In FY 2009 that amount was $565 million. The President’s budget for FY 2010, however, reduced that number by 70 percent to $170 million. Congress was able to increase that to $390 million, still 30 percent less than previous years.

“I urge our members of Congress to support reauthorization and full funding of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program - not only to support the efforts of our first responders but to support our state’s economy,” Creese said.