Rittman, Ohio is a small town with a big heart. Founded in 1815 through a presidential land grant, the town was named after Fred Rittman, treasurer of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Over the years, Rittman has remained a tight-knit community, boasting sites such as the Western Reserve Cemetery, Bauman Orchards and Morton Salt. The town is known for its down-to-earth citizens who appreciate the area’s tranquility.

We had the chance to talk with City Manager, Bobbie Beshara, to learn more about the City’s recent achievements as well as its future goals.

Prior to becoming Rittman’s city manager in 2020, Beshara served as the Mayor of Richfield, Ohio located in Summit County. With her relevant experience, Beshara made an immediate impact on Rittman.

“My first goal was to make Rittman better than it is, help with this community, bring in more jobs and be what the city needs,” Beshara explained.

Rittman is a small city located just north of Orrville and Wooster. The city is home to a large amount of farmland and salt mines, which provide jobs for the community. The city is also serene and peaceful, making it a great place to live.

“There are 6,400 people, 6.5 square miles and at nighttime, it's quiet here,” Beshara said. “I think the people really appreciate that.”

Aside from the salt deposits and farmland, Rittman is also known for several sites including the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery. Located on Rawiga Road in Rittman, the cemetery holds almost 16,000 veteran grave sites.

“It is an honor to have such a historical site in town, and it is a humbling experience to walk through.” Beshara shared.

Another area favorite is Bauman Orchards. Established in 1929, the beautiful campus spreads over 260 acres complete with apple and peach trees, strawberries, and other fruits. Bauman holds many festivals and Farmer's Markets for visitors to enjoy and take part in.

The Wayne Economic Development Council (WEDC) hosted a Special Roundtable event with Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development. The event took place on Friday, October 14 at the Schaeffler Academy.

After opening remarks from the WEDC, and updates on Schaeffler about their E-Mobility and future expansion plans, Director Mihalik commented that “Ohio is on fire right now with economic development.”

With the announcement of Intel building the largest semiconductor plant in the world, right here in Ohio, she reflected on how that will benefit several other Ohio companies and spin-off companies that lead to healthcare, entertainment, etc. Director Mihalik was also excited to share other announcements recently made from Honda, Ford and GM.

With all this growth, what remains top of mind for Director Mihalik is existing Ohio companies. With so many companies facing workforce challenges and housing shortages for their employees, the Director was happy to announce their Live in Ohio marketing campaign and housing study. As stated on the Live in Ohio website (liveinohio.org), the campaign focuses on community and opportunity in Ohio, from a thriving economy and job market to affordability and family-friendly communities. After viewing the new Made in Wayne video, Director Mihalik promised to add the video to the site.

Along with the Live in Ohio marketing campaign, Director Mihalik also spoke about the housing study that her department has been conducting. With a publish date by year end, the Director is hoping this study gives insight into future housing and lot size trends due to costs.

With the Ohio Department of Development’s mission, empowering communities to succeed, Director Mihalik also commented on the importance of their $230 M investment in broadband, to help connect more households in Ohio for the purpose of education and healthcare.

The director also commented on the importance of their investments in brownfields, a property that is or might be contaminated. Helping revitalize these sites brings forth new development in communities. “With Wayne County being the state’s third largest agricultural community, we know families still want to farm,” stated Director Mihalik. “Investing in brownfields allows for development in other areas.”

Along with these projects, the Ohio Department of Development’s Community Services Division continues to help build strong communities in Ohio with reliable infrastructure and strong, vibrant downtowns, while TourismOhio continues to promote Ohio as a place to live, work and play with their Ohio. Find It Here. brand. The Ohio Department of Development also supports Ohio’s businesses, as they maneuver in the global economy, supports the growth of small, minority and disadvantaged businesses in Ohio, and provides data and analysis on the economic, industrial, demographic and program trends in the state of Ohio, its businesses and its people.

To wrap up her visit, Director Mihalik used a quote from Governor DeWine, “Ohio, this is our time.”