- The latest U.S. gross domestic product figure landed at a strong 4.3% annualized rate, far above what had been expected (at least until possible future revisions).
Buckle up for 2026.
In this newsletter:
- Investors see promise in area manufacturing sites.
- Anomalous activity at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base?
- A Dayton mayor’s swan song.
Investors see promise in local industrial sites
What happened: Area investors have purchased local industrial sites, in Brookville and in Dayton.
Brookville: A Darke County limited liability company has purchased a Brookville plant for $1.2 million, new Montgomery County property records show.
And Dayton: In another recent purchase, county auditor’s records show that an LLC, Willow Creek Holdings, bought light-manufacturing properties at 1944 and 1960 Troy St. in Dayton for a total of $1.1 million.
Son of former Charlie’s Deli owners buys Moraine HVAC company
Lessons learned: As Craig Vangas tells it, his earliest business school was Charlie’s Deli and Catering, courtesy of his parents, Rodney and Becky Vangas,
Straight out of the Miami Valley: The Oakwood resident and 2006 Chaminade-Julienne High School graduate grew up working at Charlie’s Deli in North Dayton, working for his parents at the counter, before graduating from Ohio State University and starting a career in marketing and finance.
“It’s very unique. It took a lot of twists and turns,” he said of his career.
Former Dayton mayor bids farewell
Mayoral goodbye: The last day of 2025 also was the last regular city commission meeting for Dayton Mayor Jeffrey Mims Jr., who said he felt blessed and honored to serve in the city’s highest elected office.
Investment: Mims, the 57th mayor of Dayton, said the city has seen huge investment in the last several years.
The business of healthcare in 2025
Credit: Jim Noelker
Credit: Jim Noelker
Looking back: Health care is often an unavoidable aspect of people’s lives — and one of the biggest industries in the region.
From a major cyberattack at a local hospital system to new trends, here is some of the top healthcare news from last year.
ALSO: Local theater triumphs in 2025.
ALSO: Major investigations in 2025.
The ‘spooky side’ of Wright-Patterson?
High (-flying) strangeness: Wright-Patterson Air Force looms large in the lore of (you name it) unidentified flying objects, unidentified anomalous phenomena, hidden alien bodies, “high strangeness,” etc.
Hear his story: Author and former base employee Ray Szymanski says he has a story to tell, and he’ll tell it Jan. 17 at the Winters-Bellbrook Community Library, 57 West Franklin St. The event is free.
What he told us: “Nobody marched me in front of an alien and said ‘Hey’,” Szymanski said.
Newsletter quote
“A lot of economists, myself included, have a lot more questions than answers. It’s a messy picture right now. There’s a lot of uncertainty.” Nancy Haskell, an economics professor at the University of Dayton. Read the story.
Newsletter numbers
$3.35 million: A.M. Scott Distillery in Butler Twp. has less than $500,000 in estimated assets and around $3.35 million in liabilities, a new bankruptcy filing shows. Read the story.
14.1%: What Harvard economists recently concluded was the effective U.S. tariff rate at the end of September, lower than rates announced by the federal government in April.
Contact me: Tell me what’s in store for your business in 2026. Drop a line at tom.gnau@coxinc.com or at X, where DMs are always on. I’m also on LinkedIn and on our Dayton Business page, with my colleagues. Find me as well on my Facebook page.
Newsletter roundup
Uptown: New details on Centerville projects.
Looking ahead: Business leaders survey 2026.
WATCH: Check out Second Street Market on a recent busy morning.
Arch: The incredible journey of Grace Okih.
The flu: It’s hitting hard across the region.
About the Author
