The only issue I raised from my posts earlier come from what I read directly from their public website which CLEARLY directs new employees or possible candidates to live ELSEWHERE and commute...I have a problem with that!!...I think their FIRST approach should/could be to encourage their employees to move into THIS area/or Orrville. Cuts the commute to nothing while still having access to Akron, Canton, Cleveland, Medina, etc....

I understand a young 20+ year old's desire to live in or closer to a BIG city. Much more to do with eateries and entertainment. Will not dispute that one bit.

But when the BIGGEST employer in Wayne County encourages their employees to live OUTSIDE Wayne Co...I guess I can't understand that approach. Maybe its just the love I have for Orrville and Wayne County and to see the miles/miles of cars leaving this town everyday from their parking lot...it tugs at my nerves a bit!!

Mrs. J's


ENOUGH SAID!!!!

sanitizer;1754193 wrote:Mrs. J's


ENOUGH SAID!!!!

Forgot that one on accident

rrfan;1754183 wrote:What I would say is that you have all new schools, with great facilities. You have easy access to all the big cities you want without the hassle of driving in traffic everyday to and from work. You have a very nice park system with pool, tennis, baseball, and softball diamonds. (Fire in the sky tourney is one of the biggest in the country). Rib Fest. YMCA, Local college in town, Places to eat include (Old Carolina, Baha Fresh, Chinese buffet and Ming Hing, Mexican, and others. Lower taxes than many of the surrounding area and I could go on.

Which one of those would attracted a young professional couple? 30min commute is nothing to live close to tons of activities. Plus have a ton more housing options at probably a reduced price.

Old Rider;1754190 wrote:The only issue I raised from my posts earlier come from what I read directly from their public website which CLEARLY directs new employees or possible candidates to live ELSEWHERE and commute...I have a problem with that!!...I think their FIRST approach should/could be to encourage their employees to move into THIS area/or Orrville. Cuts the commute to nothing while still having access to Akron, Canton, Cleveland, Medina, etc....

I understand a young 20+ year old's desire to live in or closer to a BIG city. Much more to do with eateries and entertainment. Will not dispute that one bit.

But when the BIGGEST employer in Wayne County encourages their employees to live OUTSIDE Wayne Co...I guess I can't understand that approach. Maybe its just the love I have for Orrville and Wayne County and to see the miles/miles of cars leaving this town everyday from their parking lot...it tugs at my nerves a bit!!

Not everyone wants to be able to walk to work or live in a town of 3,000. Those people already work there or do not check the web site for a job. The potential employees checking the site are ones coming from outside the area and I see them as listing options within a close drive, not steering them away.

Again you missed my point!

Your point was understood, but maybe what you don't understand is that the HR department at Smuckers KNOWS that living outside the immediate area is appealing to more potential employees than you realize.

unc4life;1754117 wrote:No offense, but Orrville just is not for everyone. When you have a company the size of Smuckers, you have to find people from all over to relocate. I don't think Smuckers is trying to not have people live in Orrville, just giving them options. I wouldn't complain to much about Smuckers, because there will be a day when they don't want Orrville anymore and that will be the day Orrville will never recover from.

I think it's great that Smuckers is bringing 400 more GOOD PAYING jobs to Orrville. As for not living in the area, I would be willing to bet that you could not find more than 5 properties for sale above the $150k mark in the area......that the new employees would be interested in living in. There is a definitely a shortage of quality housing in the area.

OFB;1754236 wrote:I think it's great that Smuckers is bringing 400 more GOOD PAYING jobs to Orrville. As for not living in the area, I would be willing to bet that you could not find more than 5 properties for sale above the $150k mark in the area......that the new employees would be interested in living in. There is a definitely a shortage of quality housing in the area.

18 houses $150,000 or more for sale in Orrville. 6 are more than 200K one is over 500K.

Probably should also mention that the next round of people coming are coming from California so even an average size house here will be large to what they are used to (I am guessing)

Wow, that's more than I expected......but then again 400 families do not fit in 24 houses. LOL

rrfan;1754267 wrote:... the next round of people coming are coming from California ...

I'm not sure I understand what you mean here. Would you mind elaborating?

An-Old-Fan;1754234 wrote:Your point was understood, but maybe what you don't understand is that the HR department at Smuckers KNOWS that living outside the immediate area is appealing to more potential employees than you realize.

I understand their logic...all I am saying is there should be a little more describing the community that the company was founded in. Thats all...just give more love to Orrville in terms of talking about or new schools and that we are an easy drive to those locations they describe for entertainment, food, etc.

O-Trap;1754273 wrote:I'm not sure I understand what you mean here. Would you mind elaborating?

IF...IF...they choose to relocate. There is also an office in Pittsburg that is closing and some folks from there will be asked to relocate as well.

rrfan;1754267 wrote:18 houses $150,000 or more for sale in Orrville. 6 are more than 200K one is over 500K.

Probably should also mention that the next round of people coming are coming from California so even an average size house here will be large to what they are used to (I am guessing)

And the temperature difference could be as much as 20 degrees. That may be a larger factor than 200sqft of living space.

Old Rider;1754282 wrote:I understand their logic...all I am saying is there should be a little more describing the community that the company was founded in. Thats all...just give more love to Orrville in terms of talking about or new schools and that we are an easy drive to those locations they describe for entertainment, food, etc.

Understood, but as it has been said on here before, the current local employees are not electing to stay or move to Orrville" this is an indicator that their future pool of employees may feel the same way. Anyone researching the company for a job will know quickly where Orrville is but they may not know what is within a small commute. Which they may see is more appealing. You are looking at your love for your community, they are trying to run and expand a business. Most of the time the two are not concerned about the other.

Old Rider;1754283 wrote:IF...IF...they choose to relocate. There is also an office in Pittsburg that is closing and some folks from there will be asked to relocate as well.

Ah, I see now. Thanks for clearing that up.

An-Old-Fan;1754288 wrote:Most of the time the two are not concerned about the other.

BINGO!! Now were are on the same page. The folks running the city, the school, and the largest employer in the town/county SHOULD be on the same page!

Old Rider;1754303 wrote:BINGO!! Now were are on the same page. The folks running the city, the school, and the largest employer in the town/county SHOULD be on the same page!

And that is NOT were we are on the same page. The largest employer in town/county SHOULD be concerned about the company, as it appears they are and the city and schools are benefiting from that. The city will already be getting tax money so they are excited about expansion with new employees. The people running the schools have nothing to say in the matter or complain about since the employer is the primary reason the school is operating under current conditions and facilities.

Old Rider;1754303 wrote:BINGO!! Now were are on the same page. The folks running the city, the school, and the largest employer in the town/county SHOULD be on the same page!

Ritchie is too busy running 4 other things to bother meeting with major employers in his districts to discuss how both entities could prosper from mutual marketing.

An-Old-Fan;1754313 wrote:And that is NOT were we are on the same page. The largest employer in town/county SHOULD be concerned about the company, as it appears they are and the city and schools are benefiting from that. The city will already be getting tax money so they are excited about expansion with new employees. The people running the schools have nothing to say in the matter or complain about since the employer is the primary reason the school is operating under current conditions and facilities.

So...The City of Orrville and its schools/facilities would be one big pile of shit if it weren't for Smuckers? That is why all entities need to be working together and on the same page with continuing to develop/improve our city, schools, etc.

I think that Smuckers does try to get people to live in Wayne County. My Neighbors just moved from Tennessee to take a job at Smuckers. I asked why Wooster, and they said it was close and they had things in the schools that they were looking for. More advanced classes and more performing arts programs. They looked as far away as Akron before choosing Wooster. Its also much easier to get around the area from a lot of places. My wife works for a larger company in Ashland and she has employees that live near Cleveland that drive every day.

Finally things have really hit a low point on here when we are dead in the middle of football season and we are talking about the economic factors of Smuckers on Orrville and Wayne county.

unc4life;1754332 wrote:Finally things have really hit a low point on here when we are dead in the middle of football season and we are talking about the economic factors of Smuckers on Orrville and Wayne county.

Good point! I am done...lets get back to football!

unc4life;1754332 wrote:I think that Smuckers does try to get people to live in Wayne County. My Neighbors just moved from Tennessee to take a job at Smuckers. I asked why Wooster, and they said it was close and they had things in the schools that they were looking for. More advanced classes and more performing arts programs. They looked as far away as Akron before choosing Wooster. Its also much easier to get around the area from a lot of places. My wife works for a larger company in Ashland and she has employees that live near Cleveland that drive every day.

Finally things have really hit a low point on here when we are dead in the middle of football season and we are talking about the economic factors of Smuckers on Orrville and Wayne county.

We all bag on Wooster...it's in our blood as Red Riders...but Wooster is light years ahead of us in terms of the performing arts...and yes, that is important...and in some cases very important...to a lot of families.

Good point UNC.

Old Rider;1754327 wrote:So...The City of Orrville and its schools/facilities would be one big pile of shit if it weren't for Smuckers?

If that is what you think, you are sad. But if you think Smuckers needs to involve the schools to operate their business you're an idiot too. The company has been very generous to the district but I guess some will always expect more.

Old Rider;1754327 wrote:That is why all entities need to be working together and on the same page with continuing to develop/improve our city, schools, etc.

I am not aware of any billion dollar company that includes a school district in their business plans.

WQKT WKVX Radio

3 hrs ·




The Orrville City School District’s board of education held a special meeting Wednesday where it approved a 15-year, 50 percent tax abatement for the J.M. Smucker Company. The abatement centers on the potential construction of a $31 million facility for a pet food company that Smucker’s purchased earlier this year. Under the terms of abatement, the district would lose out on half of the property taxes generated from the project, but because of certain revenue sharing considerations it would still mean some pretty big financial benefits for the schools.