Owned and operated by Nathan Hogue and Waite Frye, Cliff's Lake is a pay lake and bait house business located in Scioto County. Although business was good, Nathan and Waite foresaw the need to diversify their business into a multiple enterprise operation in order to continue to be profitable.
One area they were interested in exploring was aquaculture. With water resources already on site, they sought a way to effectively use those resources. Nathan and Waite partnered with the OSU South Centers SBDC and Aquaculture Program and soon became collaborators on a funded research project. The project involved adopting technology for freshwater prawn production - developed in Kentucky - to farms in Southern Ohio. After a successful fall harvest, they have plans to further expand their shrimp and catfish culture operation. They have even changed their name to Cliff's Lake and Shrimp Ranch.
Clientele repeatedly commented on the scenic location of the pay lake and the myriad of business and recreational opportunities that it could provide. Nathan and Waite wanted to explore other opportunities to utilize their existing resources and soon began meeting with the SBDC counselors at the OSU South Centers. During consultations, they accessed technology at the South Centers' Learning Center enabling them to get current information geared toward their entrepreneurial efforts. They currently are expanding their operation to include camping, an RV park and a pumpkin patch. They plan to utilize small farm technologies developed at Ohio State University in order to enhance their success.
Due in part to the positive impact of technology transfer and the Ohio SBDC small business counseling, we can all look forward to the annual Shrimp Festival at Cliff's Lake and Shrimp Ranch each fall.
The Ohio SBDC at the OSU South Centers works with a variety of businesses, including forestry and other agribusiness. Other success stories include a farmer who added a rotating trellis for his blackberry operation and doubled his production! With technology tested at the OSU South Centers and transferred to local agribusinesses, through the help of the Ohio SBDC team, new and existing business owners reap the rewards of a positive bottom line. Additional Information: Portsmouth, OH 45662 740-776-1010
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