Ottawa, OH –Angela Zimmann, Democratic candidate for Ohio’s newly competitive Fifth U.S. Congressional District, made jobs and renewable energy the center of her Putnam County tour Thursday.

In a visit that included Unverferth Manufacturing and Poet Biorefining, Zimmann expressed her support for Northwest Ohio’s agricultural and manufacturing communities, saying she would stand behind farmers and small business owners when elected to Congress.

“Putnam County represents how agriculture and manufacturing can work together to attract jobs that allow our communities to grow,” Zimmann said. “Northwest Ohio deserves a representative who will work hard to continue building on our infrastructure so that places like Leipsic and Kalida remain a prime location for folks to establish their businesses and raise their families.”

While touring Poet Biorefining, Zimmann spoke with General Manger Mark Borer on how renewable energy such as corn-based ethanol lessens America’s dependence on foreign oil while providing jobs to nearby communities.

Poet Biorefining, which was founded in 2008, is a state-of-the art ethanol production plant located in Leipsic, OH. The facility, which employs roughly 40 individuals, uses locally-grown corn to produce 68 million gallons of ethanol each year.

Zimmann’s opponent, Republican incumbent Bob Latta, has failed to help companies such as Poet develop in Northwest Ohio, preventing new job creation and stalling advancements in energy independence.

“My opponents has repeatedly voted against measures that give incentives to companies looking to invest in renewable energy,” Zimmann said. “With more renewable energy jobs, we could put more people here in Ohio back to work. But Bob Latta continues to stand in the way.”

Latta’s voting record on renewable energy issues has also received national criticism, making him the target of a recent ad campaign sponsored by the Sierra Club. According to the ads, which began airing Monday, Representative Latta’s failure to act to extend the wind energy tax credit risks wind energy jobs in his district, which is home to Ohio’s largest commercial wind farm.

In addition to job creation and renewable energy, Zimmann also focused on other local economic trends in a meeting with county officials at the Putnam County Courthouse.