Ross County manufacturer announces expansion

Maggie’s Farm and Aromatics LLC, a woman-owned company specializing in home body products, announced Wednesday a significant expansion of its operations in Chillicothe.

Founded in 2020, the company is based out of the historic Union Block building in downtown Chillicothe and manufactures bath & body, home fragrances and personal care products for wholesale, supplying over 113 boutiques nationwide and serving customers in all 50 states and Canada.

To meet the growing wholesale demand, the company is revitalizing the second story of its facility, creating an additional 2,000 square feet of production, warehousing and distribution. With this increased production capacity, they can meet the wholesale demand for e-commerce and supply their two retail operations in Downtown Chillicothe and Polaris (Columbus, Ohio).

“The support we’ve received from Ross and our neighboring counties made it possible for our business to grow and try new things,” said owner Jessie Richmond. “Going to work every day in historic downtown Chillicothe and being part of the small business community here is inspiring. We want to be here for a long time, and we want to keep making space for the people in our community as an employer.”

This investment is supported by a $50,000 JobsOhio Small Business Grant in collaboration with JobsOhio, Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE), and Greater Chillicothe and Ross County Development. OhioSE helped the company through the process of obtaining the grant.

“This all started in the kitchen of an old farmhouse a few years ago. It’s hard to describe how much of yourself goes into running and growing a small business,” said Richmond. “There are always difficult things to do, and it’s rare for anything to go according to plan. That’s probably why any form of support that you show a small business is felt so deeply. We’re so thankful to JobsOhio for access to this grant funding and to OhioSE and Greater Chillicothe and Ross County Development for helping us work through the process.”

The company will create two new full-time positions once the new space is ready to use.

“The JobsOhio Small Business Grant has played a major role in helping us assist companies in our region grow and increase its workforce,” said Katy Farber, vice president for OhioSE. “This project is another example of how valuable the program is in Ohio Southeast.”

The JobsOhio Small Business Grant provides financial support for projects in eligible communities and/or for businesses owned by underrepresented populations across the state.

“Maggie’s Farm and Aromatics is a small-town success story,” said Tammy Eallonardo, Director of Greater Chillicothe & Ross County Development. “They have grown their passion into a successful business. We are proud that they call Ross County their home.”

Greater Chillicothe and Ross County Development promotes industrial, economic, commercial and civic development of Ross County by focusing on the following objectives: industry attraction, business retention and expansion, available sites and buildings and workforce development. Learn more at www.gcrcd.com.

Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE) is the JobsOhio Network Partner for southern, eastern and southeastern Ohio, providing economic development work and resources in 25 rural counties. Geographically the largest of the seven regions across the state, OhioSE partners closely with regional development districts, local economic development offices, state agencies and other entities to expand, retain and attract businesses in the counties they serve. Learn more at OhioSE.com.

JobsOhio, Ohio's private nonprofit economic development corporation, enhances company growth and personnel development through business attraction, retention and expansion across 10 competitive industry sectors. With a team of seasoned professionals, JobsOhio utilizes a comprehensive network to foster talent production in targeted industries and attract talent through Find Your Ohio. Collaborating with seven regional partners, including Dayton Development Coalition, Lake to River Economic Development, Ohio Southeast Economic Development, One Columbus, REDI Cincinnati, Regional Growth Partnership and Team NEO, JobsOhio delivers world-class customer service to provide companies with a competitive advantage. Learn more at www.jobsohio.com. Follow JobsOhio on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

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