Cuyahoga Falls - 2003 Area Guide

In January 1986, the City of Cuyahoga Falls merged with Northampton Township. This merger of the township and the city was the first successful merger of its type in the state. It increased the city’s population by more than 16 percent and tripled the city’s total land area to 27.8 square miles. The merger has permitted significant business and industry growth.

A 2001 analysis revealed that 101 firms in the city employ 3,944 people in fields ranging from rubber and plastics to skin-care products. Of these manufacturing facilities, 21 employ 50 or more.

A bond rating is a solid indicator of a city’s financial condition. In August 2001, New York- based Moody’s Investors Group upgraded the city’s already excellent A1 bond rating, first established in 1976. Moody’s upgraded the City of Cuyahoga Falls’ outstanding $31.5 million general obligation debt to Aa3. The rating promotion was due to the city’s expanding tax base, its sound financial operations with increased reserves and its manageable debt burden.

Industrial retention and expansion is also a top priority. The city constantly strives to attract new industry. Providing infrastructure, tax incentive programs and a “can do“ attitude, the city’s efforts have led to a flurry of industrial activity, particularly in the northeast quadrant of the city. Since the creation of an Enterprise Zone and Community Reinvestment Area just five years ago, the City of Cuyahoga Falls has realized new and transferred investment from new industrial construction of over $78,000,000. The construction of four new industrial parks in the last three years has resulted in nine manufacturing facilities locating here. Katherine’s Collection, VC Sales and SGS Tools are just a few of the companies building new facilities in these industrial parks.