At the annual 2022-2023 State of the City presentation, Mayor Robin Oda discussed the importance the City’s investment in global outreach efforts to retain, grow and attract international companies. Troy's continued economic development success is due in large part to our rich history of global partnerships, which Mayor Oda strengthened in 2022.
In July, Mayor Oda, City Director Patrick Titterington and Troy Development Council CEO Joseph Graves welcomed Japan's Consul General
Yusuke Shindo and his wife, Seiko, making a visit to Troy from the Japanese Consulate in Detroit. In mid-September, Mayor Oda and Mr. Titterington welcomed the three top executives of Micropower Group, a multinational corporation headquartered in Vaxjo, Sweden. Micropower subsidiary company Ecotec, Ltd is an electric battery plant located on Marybill Drive, which is exploring expansion opportunities in Troy. The very next week, Mayor Bogdan Kelichavyi from Kopychyntsi, Ukraine, hometown of Troy's own muralist and sculptor Aka Pereyma, toured our business and cultural sites, including several where Mrs. Pereyma’s artwork is displayed. We had the pleasure of introducing him to Aka's family here in Troy, even facilitating a video call with a cousin back in Kopychyntsi.
Troy has been a committed partner with all of our international companies for many decades. Last summer 2022, Mr. Titterington and Mr. Graves traveled to France, Sweden and Germany to visit the corporate headquarters of three important Troy businesses: Novacel, Ecotec and SEW Eurodrive. All three companies are exploring growth opportunities in Troy, which is exciting for our future job growth and resident employment.
In March of this year, Mayor Oda met Dr. Dorcas Rigathi, wife of the Deputy President of Kenya, who was in the United States promoting her country's coffee bean production. Dr. Rigathi’s visit took her to the Troy area to promote continued importing activities to Dayton region coffeehouses, including Boston Stoker, a franchise of which is located on South Dorset Road.
For over 30 years, Troy has hosted many Japanese businesses, including 9 companies that call Troy home. The City continues to participate closely with the Japan External Trade Organization, or JETRO, which promotes investment between Japanese companies and the rest of the world. Next month, after a four-year hiatus due to Covid, Mayor Oda, Mr. Titterington and Mr. Graves will travel to the Tokyo area to meet with executives in the headquarters of four of our Troy Japanese companies: Honda, F-tech/F&P, Honda Logistics, and Troy’s newest Japanese company, Lintec. Lintec (known as Mactec in the U.S.) recently purchased Spinnaker and is looking at consolidation and expansion opportunities here in Troy.
Integral to maintaining strong relationships with those companies is our Sister city partnership with Takahashi city in southern Japan. Established in 1990, that partnership has shared government, business, educational, and cultural exchanges for 33 years. A visit to Takahashi is also planned next month as part of this important trade mission. And, as part of our Japan trade mission, we will once again visit our Sister City of Takahashi, with whom we've had a very important relationship since 1990. We did a Zoom meeting with them in 2022, but they are quite anxious and excited to have us visit in person, and are also getting their next visit to Troy planned.
“We value every one of our companies that have chosen to do business in Troy. The number of international companies is simply staggering for a city of our size and we continue to do everything we can to make sure they are appreciated for their continued investment in our great community. The opportunity in 2022 to reestablish our partnerships was much needed after the Covid-related closures but, even though our efforts take time, effort, and money, we know in the end it pays off with big dividends for our residents and workers,” stated Mayor Oda.
To view the entire 2022-2023 State of the City presentation, click
here.