Kirke’s Homemade Ice Cream Expands in St. Clairsville

If you scream for ice cream in the Upper Ohio Valley, you’re probably screaming for Kirke’s Homemade Ice Cream.

Kirke’s Homemade Ice Cream is a second-generation, family-owned food manufacturer based in St. Clairsville in Belmont County. Founded in 1992, the company has spent more than 33 years building a strong reputation across the Ohio Valley for premium, small-batch ice cream made with locally sourced ingredients. Today, the business is led by second-generation owner Mark Porterfield, who has been involved in all aspects of the company’s operations and is now guiding Kirke’s from a successful local brand into a larger regional food manufacturer.

Kirke’s Homemade Ice Cream, Inc., in collaboration with JobsOhio, Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE) and the Belmont County Port Authority, today announced an investment of over $900,000 to construct a new production facility, creating 9 new jobs.

“We are incredibly grateful to OhioSE and JobsOhio for this opportunity and for investing in the future of Kirke's Homemade Ice Cream,” said Mark Porterfield, owner of Kirke’s Homemade Ice Cream. “Thanks to this grant, we'll be able to expand our ice cream production capacity, create new jobs, and continue growing our business here in Ohio. Increasing our production capabilities will allow us to open more scoop shops and bring Kirke's Homemade Ice Cream to grocery stores throughout Ohio and the surrounding states.”

“As a second-generation, family-owned business, we're proud to continue growing right here in Ohio while supporting local dairy farms and strengthening our local economy,” said Porterfield. “We're honored to partner with OhioSE and JobsOhio as we take this exciting next step."

Kirke’s currently operates two company-owned scoop shops and supplies ice cream to 32 active wholesale customers across Ohio and West Virginia, including restaurants, retailers, and entertainment venues. They also have plans to offer franchise opportunities, which will become available early spring of 2027. The company produces more than 100 year-round and seasonal flavors using fresh dairy sourced through a long-standing partnership with United Dairy, creating a strong connection to Ohio’s regional agricultural supply chain.

"Kirke's Homemade Ice Cream is exactly the kind of homegrown success story that makes Belmont County so special," said Larry Merry, Executive Director of the Belmont County Port Authority. "What Kirke Porterfield started back in 1992 has grown into a beloved part of life across the Ohio Valley, and it has been a real joy to watch Mark build on that foundation and take the company to the next level. The Porterfield family has poured more than three decades of hard work and heart into this business, and we are proud to stand alongside them as they expand, create new jobs, and reinvest right here at home."

The construction a new 5,000 square foot facility along with upgraded processing equipment will modernize operations, improve consistency, increase output, and allow the company to move from continuous seven-day production to a more efficient manufacturing process. The investment will also expand cold storage and packing capacity to support wholesale distribution and future retail packaging opportunities.

This investment is supported by a $50,000 JobsOhio Small Business Grant. The JobsOhio Small Business Grant offers financial assistance to eligible small businesses in Ohio looking to grow their operations. To qualify, the company must have an eligible project and meet business size and industry requirements.

“Kirke's Homemade Ice Cream is an excellent entrepreneurial success story for Eastern Ohio,” said OhioSE President and CEO Matt Abbott. “Mark and his family have much to be proud of and have set the bar high for their industry. We and our partners at JobsOhio welcome the company’s continued growth in service and impact in Belmont County.”

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Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE) is the JobsOhio Network Partner for southern, eastern, and southeastern Ohio, providing economic development work and resources in 25 rural counties. Geographically the largest of the seven regions across the state, OhioSE partners closely with regional development districts, local economic development offices, state agencies, and other entities to expand, retain, and attract businesses in the counties they serve.