Lima dumpsters.

Lima, a city in Allen County, is home to about 36,000 residents. Lima's Joint Systems Manufacturing Center — the sole U.S. facility producing M1 Abrams tanks — drives specialized defense-sector industrial construction, facility upgrades, and infrastructure maintenance that shapes the local construction economy. Lima's oil refinery heritage, which once included one of the largest refineries in the country, left petroleum-contaminated brownfields throughout the city that require Ohio EPA Voluntary Action Program remediation before redevelopment. Allen County's glacially deposited soils are predominantly silty clay loam with moderate bearing capacity, but periodic flooding from the Ottawa River affects low-lying areas. Northwestern Ohio's freeze-thaw cycle creates significant frost heave issues — footings must be set below the 36-inch frost depth. Ohio requires a building permit for all structural work over $500. The Lima Refinery site's ongoing remediation and the region's manufacturing base provide steady work for environmental and industrial contractors.