By Joshua Keeran - Urbana Daily Citizen
The local Tax Incentive Review Council (TIRC) voted Thursday to recommend local governments continue with all current enterprise zone, Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) and Tax Incentive Fund (TIF) agreements. In economically depressed areas of the city and county where business growth is encouraged, TIRC members unanimously recommended local government leaders continue their enterprise zone agreements with KTH Parts Industries, the American Pan Company and the Ultra-met Company. Marcia Bailey, economic development director for the Champaign Economic Partnership, presided over the meeting and said the deal with KTH, 1111 N. state Route 235 in St. Paris, is a 100 percent tax abatement for 10 years that expired Dec. 31, 2016, but will continue through through the current tax collection period. The company agreed to commit at least $3.07 million in real property over the 10-year period and retain 92 jobs. To date, Bailey said, KTH has invested $4.2 million in real property and kept the promised 92 positions. As for taxes abated thus far as a result of the agreement, Champaign County Auditor Karen Bailey reported the total stands at $1,299,616. Located at 417 E. Water St. in Urbana, the American Pan Company agreed to a 10-year, 75 percent tax abatement (through Dec. 1, 2022) in return for the creation of 33 jobs, retention of 154 positions, and a real property investment of $1.9 million. Marcia Bailey said the company has created 55 jobs, retained 154 and invested $1.9 million. To date, $158,729 in taxes have been abated. Ultra-met’s enterprise zone agreement involves the company, located at 120 Fyffe St. in Urbana, receiving a 75 percent abatement for 10 years in return for investments of $510,000 in real property and $1.5 million in personal property, as well as the creation of 10 jobs and retention of 30 positions. The company has met the requirements, having invested the pledged amounts, created 11 new jobs, and retained 30 positions. The amount of taxes abated to date under the agreement total $27,283. Community Reinvestment Area contracts The three active CRA agreements – tax exemption deals benefiting property owners who renovate existing or construct new buildings – currently on the books within the county received positive feedback from TIRC members, who unanimously voted to recommend the contracts remain in place. The longest running of the three CRA agreements involves the 10-unit T-hangar at Grimes Field in Urbana. Since 2002, $78,749 in taxes have been abated in a deal in which Gerald Shiffer, the original applicant, received a 50 percent tax abatement for 15 years on the hangar in return for an investment of $325,000 in real property, the creation of one job, and the retention of another job. Marcia Bailey said at the present date, $330,000 has been invested, one job was created, and one position retained. A CRA agreement granting White’s Service Center, 1325 N. Main St., Urbana, a 50 percent abatement for 10 years has been on the books since 2010, but the business has yet to request the tax abatement be activated, Bailey said. If the business were to ask for the abatement to take effect, it would need to meet its obligations. These include a $250,000 investment in real property, the creation of one job, and the retention of one job. The most recent CRA agreement to have gone into effect involves three buildings at KTH. In return for a 100 percent tax abatement for 15 years, the St.Paris-based company has committed to retain 815 employees, create 20 new jobs, and invest $6.7 million. To date, Marcia Bailey said, the company has retained 815 jobs, created 20, and invested $6.79 million. The amount of taxes abated since the tax exemption took effect in 2015 stands at $44,682. During the meeting, a KTH representative reported the company, as of the end of February, employs 1,139 individuals. Tax Incentive Fund TIRC members unanimously agreed that a 10-year TIF agreement used by the city of Urbana to help pay for improvements on Scioto Street through 2021 should continue. The six properties involved in the agreement have paid the following amounts into the fund since 2012 (listed by name of the business or businesses currently operating on the property): Aaron Rents ($44,199), Clark Station ($17,607), DaVita Midwest Urbana Dialysis/Mercy Memorial Wound Care Center ($44,480), McDonald’s ($48,393), Ohio Auto Loan Services ($22,814) and Family Dentistry/Wright-Patt Credit Union/Mary Rutan Hospital ($35,835).
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Champaign County employers and job seekers will have an easier experience posting and finding local jobs, thanks to a new Champaign County-exclusive job site, Community JobConnect.
In addition to simplifying local job posting and searching, the free-to-use site will help inform local schools and students about the range of local career opportunities – so students will be able to prepare for life after graduation. By connecting local employers, job seekers, schools and students, Community JobConnect will strengthen Champaign County’s economic development efforts, says Marcia Bailey, director of the Champaign Economic Partnership (CEP). “Community JobConnect further emphasizes our message that Champaign County is open for business,” she said. She added that the job site is the product of efforts by local organizations – the CEP Board of Directors, the Champaign County Manufacturers Human Resources Council, local schools and other partners – to coordinate economic development and workforce development initiatives. “Community JobConnect makes the connection between economic and workforce development. Businesses choose to establish or expand in communities that have the available workforce to help them succeed and grow,” she said. “Community JobConnect is a clear sign that Champaign County is ready to help businesses find the employees they need.” Set to launch March 18th, Community JobConnect will be featured on the home page of the CEP website, CEPOhio.com. While Community JobConnect is for all types of businesses and jobs, the site was created in answer to concerns expressed in meetings of human resources managers and executives of Champaign County manufacturing companies. How Community JobConnect was Created “One of the chief concerns shared at these meetings is how to attract and retain local talent for manufacturing jobs, which are often difficult to fill,” explained Jill O’Neal, human resources manager at WEIDMANN Electrical Technology, Inc. in Urbana. O’Neal approached Ashlie Starkey, human resources information systems (HRIS) and compliance manager at WEIDMANN, about the need for a local job site. Starkey told her, “I think we can make this on our own,” and began developing Community JobConnect. Starkey and O’Neal created the site on their own time, which they donated. How to Use Community JobConnect Employers and job seekers can set up free accounts on Community JobConnect to access all the site’s interactive features, Bailey said. Employers can: Set up a profile for their business with logo Post part- and full-time job listings and descriptions Post internships, summer jobs and job shadowing opportunities to help students prepare for the workforce in Champaign County – and stay in Champaign County after graduation. Accept applications and resumes from registered job seekers who reply to job listings Search the job site database for uploaded resumes that match their needs Job seekers can: Set up a profile Search the site for jobs that meet their interests and qualifications Sign up to receive notifications of new jobs that meet their criteria Apply online for jobs posted on the site Upload their resume to submit with online applications Use Community JobConnect’s resume creation tool if they don’t already have a resume Bailey said that Community JobConnect will make finding local jobs much easier, as it will include only Champaign County job listings. “This gives job seekers immediate access to jobs available in our local community.” Jobs posted on Community JobConnect will also appear on the Community JobConnect Facebook page and on the site’s Twitter account, @CommunityJobCon. The CEP will host public meetings over the next few weeks to train employers and job seekers on how to use this new community job board. For more information, contact [email protected] or call the CEP office at (937) 653-7200. By Jeff Kelley, WPKO/WBLL Radio (Bellefontaine, Ohio) The Champaign Economic Partnership has now been through its first full year. Several proposed building projects are set to bring additional jobs to Champaign County. Construction of a new 30,000 square foot Memorial Health Medical Building next to Wal-Mart on Urbana’s east side is on the horizon, and a proposed new Navistar Warehouse, with construction of an over 355,000 square foot facility at 915 Phoenix Drive just off State Route 55 near Damewood Enterprises. The Memorial Health of Union County/Hplex project will be construction of an outpatient facility, an approximately $9 million investment, adding 12 new employees ($1.4M) while retaining the current 16 employees ($1.16M) with a total payroll of $2.56 million. The Navistar/Damewood project will be new construction of a warehouse, around a $28 million investment, adding 13 new employees ($572,000), with 27 employees ($1.26M) being transferred here from Xenia, and retention of 114 employees ($4.95M) with a total payroll of nearly $6.8 million. Marcia Bailey is the CEP’s Economic Development Director. She said the CEP is the sole economic development agency for Champaign County. They bring together private businesses and local government to strengthen the local economy and quality of life for Champaign County residents.
The Champaign Economic Partnership (CEP) recently provided local government officials a free workshop, Tools for Successful Economic Development, about the variety of tax incentives available in Ohio to promote business development. Chris Schmenk, of counsel for Bricker and Eckler, LLP, and former director of the Ohio Development Services Agency, led the training at the Urbana office of Pioneer Electric Cooperative. City, village, township, county and school district officials attended. The economic development tools covered provide temporary tax exemptions in return for investing in business creation or expansion and retaining or creating jobs. CEP Director Marcia Bailey explained, “Tax incentives vary, but they typically exempt a portion of taxes on business improvements for a specific time, after which the business pays the full amount of the tax to support local government services and infrastructure. Tax incentives are designed to encourage business and job growth, which benefits Champaign County and local citizens.” Schmenk covered the following economic development tools: –Enterprise Zones (EZ), areas designated by municipalities and counties, in which businesses can be offered exemptions on real and personal property taxes for establishing, expanding, renovating or occupying a facility and creating or retaining jobs. –Community Reinvestment Areas (CRA), also established by municipalities and counties, in which real estate tax abatements may be offered for revitalizing existing business or residential properties or developing new structures. –Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts, which can be established by municipalities, counties and townships. Property owners may make payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs) that go into a TIF fund that finances public and infrastructure improvements. –Joint Economic Development Districts (JEDD), special purpose districts created through a contract between a municipality and township to promote economic development and employment opportunities. JEDDs enable a district-wide income tax and provision of municipal services to unincorporated areas without annexation. –Downtown Redevelopment Districts, a new economic development tool for municipalities to promote redevelopment of designated areas that must include at least one historic building. These may include property tax exemptions related to redevelopment. In conjuction with Champaign, Clark, Logan, Madison and Union Counties, the Champaign Economic Partnership invites you to join us for a 5-county regional “Roll Out” Meeting for a 2017 Wage & Benefits Survey. Date: Thursday, January 19, 2017 Time: 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm Location: Urbana University Sara Landess Room (Student Center) 579 College Way Urbana, OH Are you staying competitive for your workforce? Would you like to know how you compare with other like businesses? We are looking for community employers that want a better understanding of the project and to learn more about how to use the data collected and apply it to our current workforce. Wendy C. Gradwohl, Ph.D., Associate Professor & Chair of the Department of Business, at Wittenberg University, will be heading up the survey and providing the data collected to the participating businesses by the 3rd quarter in 2017. Please RSVP your attendance by January 16 to: Champaign Economic Partnership (CEP) 3 Monument Square Urbana, OH 43078 (937) 653-7200 [email protected] The Champaign Economic Partnership cordially invites you to its Economic Development Incentives Toolbox - Training Workshop. What type of tools are in the economic development toolbox for Our Community? When: Friday, January 13, 2017 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Where: Pioneer Electric Cooperative- Main Conference Room 767 Three Mile Rd, Urbana, OH 43078 Presenter Christiane W. Schmenk Of Counsel, Bricker and Eckler, LLP Chris Schmenk served under Governor Kasich as Director of the Development Services Agency from 2011-2013 and now practices Economic Development law with the firm of Bricker and Eckler, LLP. She works with political subdivisions, economic development entities and businesses throughout Ohio and enjoys helping communities reach their economic development goals. Chris has served as Mayor of Marysville from 2008-2011 and as Vice President of External Affairs or Scotts Miracle-Gro, thus offering experience in both the public and private sector. Please plan to attend this training workshop to learn more about the various incentives used for economic development (TIF, CRA, EZ etc.) throughout the State of Ohio. Gain a better understanding of how these incentives are used, the process for each, how they assist in boosting the economic development of an area, and the structure for taxes. Also, how do these incentives affect the school systems in our county and is it worth the loss of a potential tax base? Please RSVP your attendance no later than Thursday, January 12, 2017 to: Tiffany Couts, Administrative Assistant, Champaign Economic Partnership at (937)653-7200 Join us for breakfast to learn about the exciting initiatives Graham Local Schools, in partnership with Clark State Community College, the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce & CVB and the Champaign Economic Partnership, have created to provide you with a trained, skilled and ready workforce!
We value you as an industry partner, and we want to share with you the Career Gears and LEAN/Six Sigma training programs Superintendent Koennecke is implementing in Graham Local Schools. These programs are to ensure you have the skilled workforce needed to grow your business and our region, as well as, ensuring students are ready for successful careers. We want your opinion in making sure we are on the right track to make all of those things happen! When January 11, 2017 | 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. Breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m., program will begin at 7:45 a.m. Where Madison-Champaign ESC 2200 S. US Hwy 68 Urbana, OH 43078 ContactLesli Beavers Clark State Community College 937.431.7168 [email protected] FREE to attend | Registration is limited so register today! Register Now On Thursday, Jan. 5, at 1 p.m., the City of Urbana Community Development Office and the Champaign Economic Partnership will host a stakeholder meeting with downtown property owners, downtown business owners, and other interested parties. This meeting will be an opportunity to determine the feasibility and interest in applying for CDBG Downtown Revitalization Program funding through the Ohio Development Services Agency. Furthermore, this meeting will be held in the fire training room on the second floor of the Urbana Municipal Building, 205 S. Main St.
This grant program is competitive statewide, and projects funded through the program are designed to improve central business districts through targeted investment in facade improvements, remediation of building code violations and/or investment in streetscapes or other public infrastructure. At the present time, no specific projects have been identified that could benefit from this program. However, this meeting will be opportunity for all stakeholders to gauge interest in the program and to seek input on the feasibility and suitability of making an application to this program in 2017 or in the future. Please plan to attend and participate in this forum. If you have any questions or comments, please contact Doug Crabill, community development manager for the City of Urbana, by calling 652-4305, or Marcia Bailey, economic development director of the Champaign Economic Partnership, by calling 653-7200. Sincerely, Doug Crabill City of Urbana Community Development Manager; Marcia Bailey Economic Development Director of the Champaign Economic Partnership |
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