Hancock-Wood Electric hires director of business development to assist with economic development growth
NORTH BALTIMORE, OHIO–Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative (HWE) announced today that it has hired Curt Croy as director of business development to strengthen the utility’s economic development strategic initiatives established by its board of trustees. Under Curt’s leadership, he will engage in community efforts to improve both the local economy in the company’s service area and to improve the quality of life in these areas by working with local, county, and state economic development organizations to bring commercial development into communities served by Hancock-Wood. Croy comes to HWE with more than 12 years of diverse business-development, human resources, and project-management experience, having served in the advanced manufacturing, economic development, and talent acquisition areas. Prior to joining HWE, Croy served as director of economic development for the Putnam County Community Improvement Corporation (CIC).
Along with the hiring of Croy, HWE’s board created a separate economic development organization and board to provide strategic direction to this organization. In 2016, the Hancock-Wood Electric Economic Development Partners, Inc. was formally incorporated and licensed by the state, with the objective to further business development within its 10-county service territory.
“Economic Development inside of Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative service area is vital toward supporting local economies within the communities served by HWE. It also supports maintaining stable electric rates for all members while allowing HWE to continue to deliver clean, safe, reliable, and affordable power,” said George Walton, HWE president & CEO. “Since the formation of our economic development board, HWE is fostering stronger relationships with growth partners and supporters. Those relationships are paramount in allowing the company to market land sites in its service area to businesses considering to build or explore expansion opportunities within our service territory.”
Despite the area’s economic downturn since the 2007 recession, HWE’s economic development approach is to plan for, and impact, the area’s commercial expansion via the strengthening of business alliances and strategic partnerships, while augmenting value added business services and extending its community outreach efforts.
Founded in 1938, Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative (www.hwe.coop) , serves approximately 11,000 member-consumers in portions of Hancock, Wood, Allen, Erie, Hardin, Henry, Putnam, Sandusky, Seneca, and Wyandot counties.