Monroe’s economic growth continues
NuWaves Engineering plans to add jobs, invest money to expand.
A Butler County community is continuing to see economic development expansion during the coronavirus pandemic.
Recently, NuWaves Engineering announced plans to add eight fulltime equivalent jobs and invest $445,000 to expand its products and services for its growing client base throughout the Midwest.
NuWaves is a veteran-owned developer and supplier of advanced communications technology based on Edison Drive in Monroe.
Over the last few years, Monroe
has seen nearly $100 million invested by businesses that are attracted to the city’s location near Interstate 75.
Earlier this year, Gov. Mike DeWine attended the ribbon-cutting at Kroger’s new $55 million, 335,000-square-foot fulfillment center in Monroe that employs 400 and has hundreds of robots zipping around the facility moving groceries.
Kroger Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen said the company aims to double its digital business by 2023 from $10 billion to $20 billion.
Company officials praised the state, its private JobsOhio development organization and southwest Ohio’s REDI Cincinnati development group for the location choice.
Monroe also has celebrated a $33 million Bed, Bath and Beyond e-commerce center located on 62 acres off Salzman Road, across from the Kohl’s Distribution Center.
Jeff Wells, NuWaves president and CEO, said the company was excited to invest in the local economy through advancing technology initiatives and operational with “a talented workforce.”
Founded in 2000, NuWaves provides turnkey solutions primarily to aerospace clients, including the U.S. Navy, Boeing, Lockheed, and L3Harris.
Wells said the company’s technology securely extends the range of aerospace communications equipment in aircraft and its technology can be found in some unmanned aerial vehicles.
The company plans to enhance its IT infrastructure and add engineering test equipment, which will support the company’s growing cybersecurity measures, he said.
Bill Brock, Monroe city manager, said the company’s innovation and investment is “an important part” of moving southwest Ohio forward as a leading technology center.
JobsOhio is providing assistance with a JobsOhio Inclusion Grant. The grants exist to provide financial support for eligible projects in designated distressed communities and/or for businesses owned by underrepresented populations across the state, according to JobsOhio.
Kimm Lauterbach, REDI Cincinnati president and CEO, said the grant “is the perfect economic tool” to support NuWaves’ growth in Monroe.
Two other businesses are getting closer to opening in Monroe.
Construction continues on an Arby’s location at 200 Hamilton Lebanon Road and a gas station/convenience store on one acre at 595 S. Main St., just north of the police station.