Sprague named to AEDG post

LIMA - The new vice president at the Allen Economic Development Group will be a familiar face to most of the community.

Jeff Sprague, formerly director of Solutions Etc. at Rhodes State College, has been named the vice president for AEDG. The Lima native and Bath High School graduate takes over Monday for former VP Kristi Clouse, who left to take a job with the Ohio Department of Development.

Sprague comes to the post with 10 years in work force development at Solutions Etc. and another decade of experience with the Ohio Department of Development. That experience was more than AEDG President Marcel Wagner expected to find when he posted for the job.

"To have somebody with this kind of experience, I'm excited to have him here. Jeff is very well-known in the community and brings a strong economic development background to the job," Wagner said.

That local experience means he knows the businesses as well as other county assets, Sprague said. He's excited about his chance to spread the word on both.

"We have a great deal of assets available here, it's just a matter of marketing that and letting people know what's here," Sprague said.

With Sprague's addition, the AEDG is now up to a staff of three. Wagner said he had earlier talked of adding another person to handle business retention and finance, but with Sprague's hiring, that may change.

"Because of the talents Jeff brings, we may be looking for something different. We're going to give it some more consideration," Wagner said.