In partnership with the South-Western City School District and our region’s innovative manufacturers, the Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to connect students with the future of modern manufacturing.
Students will step inside real workplaces for an immersive, behind-the-scenes experience—featuring interactive tours, dynamic presentations, hands-on activities, and meaningful conversations with industry professionals. More than 100 SWCSD students will discover how today’s manufacturing is driven by cutting-edge technology, creativity, and opportunity.
This is more than a field trip—it’s a chance to spark curiosity, inspire career pathways, and showcase the powerful role manufacturing plays in our community.
Join us in building excitement for the next generation of makers, problem-solvers, and innovators.
Learn more about National Manufacturing Day at: mfgday.com
About MFG Day
Celebrated annually on the first week in October, MFG Day—Manufacturing Day—is a national grassroots movement that demonstrates the reality and future of modern manufacturing careers. Thousands of companies and educational institutions nationwide are invited to open their doors to students, parents, educators and community leaders.
Get Involved
Interested in being a part of Manufacturing Day? Email Shawn at shawn@gcchamber.org to secure your sponsorship. Have a table at our Manufacturing Day event and introduce yourself and educate South-Western City School Students on your advanced manufacturing business.
2026 Partners & Sponsors
It was back in 1961 when Patrick J. Castro joined Electro-General Plastics as national sales manager. His drive and aptitude soon enabled him to purchase the Columbus location in 1981 and begin a three-generation family legacy. Patrick A. Castro Sr. started with Electro-General Plastics in the late 1960’s in Cleveland and was soon transferred to the Columbus location as plant manager in 1976, where he joined Patrick J. Castro in buying a share of the Columbus location in 1981. And finally, the third leg of the family trilogy, Patrick Sr’s sons, Patrick A. Castro Jr. & Robert Castro started with Electro-General Plastics in the mid 1990’s working on the production floor. Both worked from the floor up where Patrick Jr is now Vice President and Robert is Director of Operations.
Our Solutions
Electric-General Plastics is a multi-faceted thermoforming solutions company. EGP can form virtually any thermoplastic, including TPO (thermoplastic PolyOlefin), HDPE (High Density Polyethylene), LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene), HMWP, ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene Styrene, fire retardant included), HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene), PE, PETG, PVC, Acrylic and Polycarbonate.
Our Equipment
Electro-General Plastics is committed to being your complete solutions provider for all things vacuum formed. To that end, we’ve not only secured relationships with top industrial design firms to help you design the exact piece you need and want, but we’ve invested heavily in state-of-the-art equipment to ensure that we manufacture the piece you’ve spec’d.
Our mission is to enable access to life-changing gene therapies and help bring them from idea into reality. We partner with innovators in the gene therapy community and bring expertise in gene therapy manufacturing and therapeutics development to the table, helping champion teams that are navigating the long road from the lab bench to the bedside. With a patients-first approach, we are forging new models for working together to better accelerate these transformative medicines to reach those who need them the most.
Forge is a CDMO built for gene therapy developers, by gene therapy developers. We provide the scale, manufacturing expertise, and technology to accelerate gene therapies for genetic diseases.
Forge is redefining the concept of a genetic medicine CDMO. For our team of industry veterans, developing successful genetic medicines is about enabling access for patients faster, safer, and at scale. We are gene therapy developers, researchers, and clinicians, that built Forge to solve for the pain points we experienced when developing gene therapy programs. Our goal is to provide our collective expertise, services, and technology so that your therapies can get to patients who need them the most and create lasting impact. We see ourselves as partners in this endeavor and look forward to playing a role in bringing your mission to life.
As a hybrid contract manufacturing and clinical-stage therapeutics development company, we are a true gene therapy development engine bringing together access to quality, in-house manufacturing, the experience of our team in gene therapy product development, and an exciting pipeline of new therapies for patients.
DRIVING HIGHER EXPECTATIONS OF STRENGTH, SAFETY AND STYLE.
There are no shortcuts or half measures here. For those who expect and require only the best, Horton redefines and reimagines safety, design and style with the ultimate customized ambulance.
Our one-of-a-kind ambulances are built to exceed standard safety requirements, with a higher level of structural strength, for the protection and durability your department demands. Horton and its dedicated dealer network back it up with the kind of comprehensive warranties and service commitment that inspire confidence and make your decision easy. Choosing a Horton ambulance is choosing to invest in your crew, your department, your mission and to do it better every day.
Tosoh America, Inc.
Established in 1989, twenty-five years after Tosoh set up its first US office, Tosoh America, Inc. is today the parent company to the rapidly expanding number of Tosoh group companies within North America. In addition to integrating the corporate activities of its subsidiaries, this regional headquarters is working to expand Tosoh's business lines and operational capabilities within North America. Tosoh America is headquartered in Grove City, Ohio.
The Tosoh Group America companies, held under Tosoh America, are engaged in advanced technology fields ranging from the manufacture and sale of semiconductor and solar materials, to the sale of medical diagnostic instruments, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and bio-separation media, and a wide range of other chemicals and advanced materials. These operations encompass manufacturing, distribution and sales, regulatory and technical support as well as equipment servicing, serving customers in the IT and high-tech, chemical, pharmaceutical and medical industries.
Tosoh Corporation
Tosoh Corporation evolved from humble beginnings in 1935 as a domestic producer of caustic soda and soda ash in Japan. The Japanese characters for “Tosoh”, in fact, are an abbreviation for oriental soda. For more information, please visit Tosoh at www.tosoh.com.
WHO WE ARE
It is the parent of the Tosoh Group, which comprises over 130 companies worldwide and a multiethnic workforce of over 12,000 people.
WHAT WE DO
Tosoh is one of the largest chlor-alkali manufacturers in Asia. The company supplies plastic resins and an array of the basic chemicals that support modern life. Tosoh’s petrochemical operations supply ethylene, polyethylene, and functional polymers, while its advanced materials business serves the global semiconductor, display, and solar industries. Tosoh has also pioneered sophisticated bioscience systems that are used for the monitoring of life-threatening diseases. In addition, Tosoh demonstrates its commitment to a sustainable future in part by manufacturing a variety of eco-products.
Stock Exchange Ticker Symbol: JP: 4042
Email: info@tosoh.com
About Our Government
The form of government established by City Charter is a strong Mayor, City Council and Administrative Assistant Plan.
- About the Mayor
- About the City Administrator
- About City Council
Our Vision and Mission Statements
Our Vision (What we want to achieve)
- A hometown where all are welcome.
Our Mission (How we achieve our vision)
- Provide programs and services that support a lifelong community.
Our Strategies (How we carry out the mission)
- Deliver superior and sustainable community services.
- Prevent crime and disorder.
- Support housing opportunities across all tiers.
- Increase economic development with an emphasis on retention and expansion.
- Preserve and enhance the character and viability of our Town Center.
- Continue to develop community partnerships.
Our Core Values (How our behaviors, beliefs and values guide the process)
- Integrity in all we do.
- Ensure fiscal responsibility and efficiency.
- Respect for all.
- Exceed expectations.
he South-Western City School District is located in the southern gateway of Central Ohio. The 119-square-mile district encompasses most of the southwestern quadrant of Franklin County, including a substantial portion of the City of Columbus. South-Western is the second-largest public school district in the County and the sixth-largest in the State of Ohio, serving approximately 21,000 students and their families.
The SWCSD is comprised of 16 elementary schools, five intermediate schools, five middle schools, four high schools, one career-technical academy, a special needs preschool..
The History of the South-Western City School District
In 1954, only one high school was in existence in the area now called the South-Western City School District. Six boards of education governed the individual school districts serving the area.
The population was growing at a rapid pace and the schools faced difficulty in meeting the needs of the growing enrollment. As a result of these growing needs, a committee of citizens representing the six districts was formed. Meetings were held with members of the six boards of education as well as county and state officials.
On January 1, 1956, the South-Western City School District was formed. It consolidated five local school systems and one exempted village school system: Grove City-Jackson Exempted Village District, Franklin Township Local District, Prairie Township Local District, Pleasant Township Local District, Urbancrest Village District, and Georgesville Local District. The consolidation was planned for: 1) economy of operation; 2) expediency to provide an adequate education for the children of the area; 3) opportunity for a greater financial base of the newly-combined district; and 4) potential for support of a quality school system.
In February of 1976 the founder, Wayne Ulrey, purchased a small, existing pizza shop in West Jefferson, Ohio called “Tonni’s Pizza for $19,000. With no previous experience in the pizza industry, Wayne and his family were supposed to fail! The plan was, by the former owner and broker who sold the business to the Ulrey’s, to buy it back at a drastically reduced cost within a year. Sales were $173.22 on their first day of ownership and they have never looked back since!
In 1987, the West side of Columbus was rapidly expanding. The family saw a need and opened their second location at the corner of Hall & Norton Roads. In 2002, they moved the location into a new 2200 square foot facility nearby.
In 1992, their third store opened in Hilliard at Hilliard Rome & Roberts Road. It was at this point that the name was changed to Flyer’s because of marketing concerns. This location will be expanded and refurbished in 2011.
Since the story began, the original location in West Jefferson has been moved twice. In 1997, a new 3400 square foot building with 84 seats was built which today has become that community’s gathering place. A major remodel occurred in 2009 adding a new buffet and a pick up window.
In July of 2002, the fourth store opened on Hoover Road to allow Flyers Pizza & Subs to service the Grove City area. Opportunities then opened up in the Powell area in 2006, in Blacklick in 2007, and then in Groveport in April of 2009. Our eighth store opened in 2018 on State Route 665 near US Highway I-71 in Southern Grove City. Then, this year in April, we were excited to open in the Hayden Crossings Plaza on Hayden Run Road in the North Hilliard/Southern Dublin area.
People have often asked about the keys to their success. From the very beginning, there was a commitment to give their customers the best products and service at a fair price. The foundation is their family recipe pizza sauce, dough, pepperoni and italian sausage. Building on this base, the finest meat toppings, provolone cheese, and blanched mushrooms are purchased to ensure uncompromising quality. In addition, the Ulreys, their management team and staff strive to deliver unmatched service to their market area. But the story doesn’t end there…
Community involvement has always been at the forefront of the Flyer’s experience. Hundreds of pizzas are discounted each year to support their local schools through booster and lunch programs. They also sponsor youth sports teams, award academic scholarships, and are involved in other worthy causes including Autism Speaks (we created a heart shaped pizza a while ago that we give back a portion of the sale of those pizzas during the three weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day), organizations, churches and events.
T-Shirt Providers