URBANA — Manufacturing will continue to be the backbone of Champaign County’s economy, but healthcare and retail service jobs are expected to outpace manufacturing growth over the next decade.

And the county could benefit from the Dayton Development Coalition’s regional push for technology-based work.

Locally, the manufacturing industry has been hit hard in the last decade, said Jeff Hoagland, president and CEO of the Dayton Development Coalition, which represents 14 counties and 1.7 million residents in the region. The group met at Urbana University on Wednesday morning.

In particular, losses in Champaign County’s paper and auto parts manufacturing industries overshadowed growth in other areas, including furniture products and machinery.

Healthcare could add as many as 240 local jobs in the next decade, about 22 percent growth. Technical services could add 122 jobs, amounting to about 51 percent growth, Hoagland said.

Regionally, the Dayton Development Coalition is paying special attention to industries including aerospace systems, advanced materials and advanced manufacturing, advanced data management and biosciences, Hoagland said.

Each of those industries saw job growth in 2011, ranging from 2.4 percent in IT and advanced data management to nearly 5 percent in advanced materials and advanced manufacturing.

In the next five years, those industries are expected to account for the creation of nearly 8,000 jobs, Hoagland said.

The region could also see a boost if it is selected to be one of six sites nationwide to test unmanned aerial vehicles. Springfield and Wilmington are likely sites where testing on the UAVs would be conducted. Although 26 states are competing, Ohio is one of about 10 serious contenders, Hoagland said.

Numerous industries, including manufacturing, would likely benefit if the region is selected.

“That’s the gold at the end of the rainbow,” Hoagland said.

Champaign County officials said manufacturing will continue to provide the bulk of local jobs moving forward.

Marcia Bailey, economic development coordinator for Urbana, said the majority of jobs created since the recession come from manufacturing firms that have moved to the area or that have expanded.

“It’s because of our manufacturing industry that we’re here and we’re able to do the things we do,” said Bill Bean, mayor of Urbana.

Still, officials said they think the county can do a better job of promoting its local manufacturing companies. By doing so, they also hope to encourage more skilled workers to take a closer look at the kinds of jobs available locally and encourage others to gain the skills needed to get those jobs.

Recently, the Champaign County Public Library agreed to display items produced by local companies. The county is also planning to host a manufacturing expo this fall, said Mary Lee Gecowets, president of the Champaign County Community Improvement Corp.

The expo would not be a job fair but would display a variety of items produced by local companies to help residents understand the diversity of the local manufacturing industry, Gecowets said. The county has also hosted a manufacturing summit in recent months, allowing local business owners to discuss barriers to job growth, along with possible solutions.

“The good news is we didn’t stand still,” Bailey said. “We moved forward.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0355 or msanctis@coxohio.com