Cynthia Booth, a recognized Cincinnati business leader and veteran entrepreneur, has founded Emerge Manufacturing to bring onshore Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) manufacturing to the Roselawn-Bond Hill neighborhood of Cincinnati. Under Booth’s leadership, a new 50,000-square-foot manufacturing plant will be built in the Roselawn-Bond Hill area, providing jobs and economic stimulus to a population of approximately 14,000 residents, while also addressing our nation’s problem of overdependence on offshore resources for critical life-saving supplies and equipment
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, the reliance on offshore manufacturing from outside of the United States became increasingly evident to hospitals and other industries,” said Booth, president and CEO of Emerge Manufacturing. “At the same time, I experienced the impact of the supply chain crisis as a 20-year owner of a business that employed essential workers. It was during this time that I decided to launch Emerge to bring PPE onshore sourcing and manufacturing to my hometown of Cincinnati.”
Once operational, Emerge Manufacturing will produce products that will help protect and save the lives of first responders and essential workers in the health care industry and, eventually, other industries. Emerge plans to manufacture face masks, surgical masks, and N95 masks, among other PPE products. The plant will run multiple production lines, manufacturing PPE from chemical-free woven fabric supplied by U.S. companies. Additionally, there will be space in the facility where medical professionals and others can provide training and information on health care related topics to the community. Emerge expects to create more than 100 jobs in the company’s first three years. Construction of the facility is scheduled to begin during the first quarter of 2023, with an expected opening in early 2024.
Bon Secours Mercy Health (BSMH), one of the 20 largest health systems in the U.S., has formed a strategic collaboration with Emerge, to support and advance U.S.-based sourcing and manufacturing of PPE to the health care industry. BSMH’s 60,000 employees who serve patients in 48 hospitals and 1,200 care sites across seven states, will use Emerge PPE as they care for their patients and communities.
“By investing in Emerge Manufacturing, we are supporting ongoing job creation in Ohio,” said Brian Smith, president of Bon Secours Mercy Health. “Emerge Manufacturing is a minority-owned business that aligns to Bon Secours Mercy Health’s Mission and core values. Health equity, diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and in our communities, are top priorities for our health system. Domestic sourcing and PPE production means a smaller carbon footprint, which supports our commitment to long-term environmental sustainability.”
Advantus Health Partners, a health care solutions company designed to make supply chain easier for its clients, will be one of Emerge Manufacturing’s initial clients. Advantus is a subsidiary of BSMH and operator of supply chain services for the health system.
“Bon Secours Mercy Health and Advantus Health Partners are proud to be part of Cynthia Booth’s vision to bring U.S.-based sourcing and manufacturing of PPE to the health care industry,” said Dan Hurry, chief supply chain officer for BSMH and president of Advantus Health Partners. “The pandemic highlighted the need for more sophisticated supply chain organizations to support our health care infrastructure with solutions that make supply chain easier and more cost efficient. There has never been a more important time to help mitigate the economic pressures faced by hospitals and health systems.
