Newsletter: How this regional Air Park became Ohio’s busiest air cargo hub

Good morning, business readers. We have plenty to review today.

If there was ever a Phoenix-rising-from-the-ashes business story in the Miami Valley, Wilmington Air Park is probably it. When DHL relinquished its domestic air-cargo service in 2008, it cut 9,500 U.S. jobs, about 7,000 of those at Wilmington.

Slowly, however, the park is returning. The jobs numbers aren’t the same, but Amazon has created a busy package-sorting hub at Wilmington Air Park, and park occupants are seeing their businesses grow. By December 2021, the park was Ohio’s highest volume air cargo airport, handling 31 percent more freight than all other major Ohio airports combined.

Wilmington’s ABX Air lands place on significant defense contract

Wilmington Air Park, from above. Contributed

icon to expand image

Taking flight: Wilmington-based ABX Air Inc. has been added as the 23rd awardee in a multiple award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, fixed-price contract with an estimated combined value of $873 million, the Department of Defense recently said.

The contract provides air charter transportation services for one-time domestic passenger, cargo, and combined movements at both military and commercial airfields.

Read the story.

Sheetz continues blanketing the area, plans store by Ohio 725

Gas station and convenience store chain Sheetz plans to open a new location at 2100 S. Alex Road in West Carrollton.

icon to expand image

What happened: The West Carrollton Zoning Commission last week approved Sheetz developer Skilken Gold’s request to divide Imperial Square Shopping Center into three parcels.

One part of the plaza, formerly home to U.S. Bank, will be the site of Sheetz.

Why it matters: In April 2022, Sheetz announced plans to open 20 new stores in western Ohio in a five-year span. The company has opened seven stores in the Dayton-Springfield area in less than a year.

Read the story.

Miami’s geo-thermal work grows to include iconic campus site

Miami University is expanding its already elaborate underground, geo-thermal cooling and heating system around the school’s sports and athletic office complex at Millet Hall. While the construction work, which is scheduled to be done by summer 2026, will block off some pedestrian and traffic driveways, school officials said they are hoping to minimize the impact as they drill hundreds of wells to expand the university’s environmentally friendly system. CONTRIBUTED

Credit: Jeff Sabo

icon to expand image

Credit: Jeff Sabo

If you’ve noticed a lot of dust being thrown about on the Miami University campus, there are good reasons.

Digging in: The university is expanding its already elaborate underground, geo-thermal cooling and heating system to include the school’s sports arena and athletic office complex at Millet Hall, contributing writer Michael Clark tells us.

Read the story.

Kettering Business Park poised for $4.4M investment

Industrial Commercial Properties is under contract to buy the buildings at Kettering Business Park, where Synchrony Financial employed 1,900 people. FILE

Credit: FILE

icon to expand image

Credit: FILE

What’s happening: Kettering plans to invest $4.4 million in a large building at its business park off Wilmington Pike to make it more attractive to potential tenants.

What they’re saying: The city will use $1.25 million in state funds to upgrade Kettering Business Park’s building 46, which has the most vacant space at the park, Assistant City Manager Bryan Chodkowski said.

Read the story.

Construction on DLM’s second Warren County store is underway

Dorothy Lane Market’s second Warren County location at the corner of Mason-Montgomery and Western Row roads is set to open next year, joining the original business in Oakwood as well as stores in Washington Twp. and Springboro. Photos provided by Tracy Doyle, Dorothy Lane Market

Credit: Photos provided by Tracy Doyle, Dorothy Lane Market

icon to expand image

Credit: Photos provided by Tracy Doyle, Dorothy Lane Market

Dorothy Lane Market has come a long way from Oakwood.

How far: Construction of the Dorothy Lane Market Mason site in the $150 million Mosaic mixed-use development is on schedule, as the upscale grocery that started 76 years ago completes its largest site yet.

What it means: DLM’s second Warren County location at the corner of Mason-Montgomery and Western Row roads is set to open next year, joining the original Oakwood business as well as stores in Washington Twp. and Springboro, according to Jessie Kuhn, DLM marketing director.

Read the story.

Tell us

Thank you as always for reading this newsletter. Tell us what’s happening with your business. You can reach me at tom.gnau@coxinc.com, on Facebook, at Dayton Business and on the former Twitter, where my DMs have always been open.

Quick hits

Ten things to know about the new Big Ten: There are a lot more than ten schools, for one thing.

Summer restaurant week: What to check out in Dayton.

What’s more stressful than business?: {clears throat} Politics. Samantha Wildow explains.

Veterans and active-duty military: Here’s how to stream the Olympics for free.

Inside the Flyers locker room: Sports writer David Jablonski shows us what’s happening this summer.

About the Author