Clermont County Ohio
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December 2014
Your latest economic development news
Welcome to Clermont County's economic and community development newsletter. This will be be published quarterly, and feature the latest news about the county's economic development efforts. We will have standing features such as quarterly demand analysis and a featured site ready for development. We'll keep you apprised of the businesses in the county that are expanding, and the new ones that will be opening here. The county also puts out a general interest monthly newsletter; if you'd like to subscribe to that, please click on the button in the header above, where you can also follow our Facebook page, Twitter feed and YouTube channel. 

We wish all our businesses and employers in Clermont County a happy and prosperous 2015!

 

Andy Kuchta

[email protected]

Director
Community and Economic Development

 

Community and Economic Development website
More development near Jungle Jim's
Eastgate Station to boast new look and new retailers
Illustration of renovated Eastgate Station.

In a little more than a year, another Eastgate shopping center will have a fresh look -- and several new stores including one new to Southwest Ohio, Gordmans.

 

Eastgate Station, a 155,000-square-foot retail strip center, across the street from Jungle Jim's, is being redeveloped by PEBB Enterprises of Boca Raton, Fla. In July, Clermont County Commissioners approved a petition to create a Community Reinvestment Area, and on Sept. 22, the State of Ohio approved it.
 

PEBB is investing approximately $24 million to redevelop the center. Of that, $14.7 million is eligible for tax exemption, which is the cost of the new construction and additions. The exemption is approved for 15 years and will result in approximately $2 million in savings over the life of the abatement.
 

The developer has pledged that the retail center will employ 59 full-time and 266 part-time employees for a total payroll of $3.5 million.
 

The first announced tenant is Gordmans, a store similar to Kohl's. The developer, who works with national retailers, is in negotiations with other retailers that will be announced soon. Michael's, a current tenant, will remain.

 

What is a Community Reinvestment Area?

 

The  Ohio Community Reinvestment Area program is an economic development tool administered by municipal and county government that provides real property tax exemptions for property owners who renovate existing or construct new buildings. To find out more, visit the State of Ohio's Development Services Agency website 

Key Resin, Multi-Color expanding
Both companies approved for job-creation tax credits

Clermont County companies Key Resin and Multi-Color Corp., both located in Union Township, will receive tax incentives to expand their operations and add more jobs. The Ohio Tax Credit Authority approved the job-creation tax credits on Dec. 3.

 

Key Resin Co., founded in 1993, manufactures decorative and industrial polymer floor and wall systems and coatings. The company hopes to add 23 new jobs to its existing workforce of 31. The company would retain $2.1 million in payroll and generate another $770,480 with the new positions. The Ohio Tax Authority approved a 35%, 5-year job-creation tax credit.

 

Multi-Color, founded in 1916, is a specialty label maker, with markets around the world. Its headquarters are in Union Township and it has a facility in Norwood as well. It employs about 300 locally and is considering adding 130 new jobs between the two locations. The company would retain $21.7 million in payroll, and add $5.1 million in new payroll. The Tax Credit Authority approved a 55%, 7-year job-creation tax credit.

 

The Ohio Job Creation Tax Credit Program provides a refundable tax credit against a company's insurance premiums tax, Commercial Activities Tax, or an individual's Ohio personal income tax obligations.

2 Batavia Twp. companies expanding
Spectra-Tech sees growing demand for circuit board assemblies
Scott Reilman, President and CEO of Spectra-Tech, and one of the company's newest machines, the Flying Probe In-Circuit Tester. 

Two companies in Clermont County are set to expand, and have been approved for tax abatements as they add employees.
 

Spectra-Tech Manufacturing, Inc., will soon add 50% more space to its 18,000-square-foot facility on Borman Drive in Batavia Township. When the addition is completed in April, the company will have approximately 27,000 square feet -- and 9 more employees. Spectra-Tech is investing $650,000 into the addition plus $1 million in new equipment.

 

 

Inspector Coy Irwin examines the soldered joints on a board.

Spectra-Tech builds printed circuit boards assemblies -- between 50,000 and 60,000 a month -- for its many customers. CEO and President Scott Reilman, one of the four founders of the company, gave us a tour of his high-tech operation recently. The company, which launched in 1998, does between $15 million and $20 million in sales each year.


"Everyone in the company is responsible for the quality of the products we build," Reilman emphasized as he walked through the plant. The company employs about 40 full-time and 40 contract workers, many of them skilled workers certified to industry standards, he said, including ISO-9000, IPC-A-610 and J-STD-001.


Spectra-Tech annually  purchases millions of dollars worth of electronic components -- including thousands of blank circuit boards from China -- to meet the demands of its customers, which range from makers of radar detectors and environmental sensors, to high-tech medical imaging machine controllers.


One of its newest machines, from Fuji, can place up to 54,000 electronic components per hour. 

Completed circuit boards.


Reilman said that most of the company's customers are within a 250-mile radius. China might offer slightly cheaper products at higher volumes, but Spectra-Tech offers their customers competitive pricing with high quality, personal service and the flexibility that offshore suppliers cannot. 

 

"They want to visit our facility to see our capabilities, observe their products being built, and discuss their products' technical requirements," Reilman said.


On Dec. 3, Clermont County Commissioners approved a tax abatement for Spectra-Tech of 50% over 8 years, with an estimated tax savings of $69,000 over the life of the abatement.

 

Savor Seasonings to build new headquarters

 

Savor Seasonings, which is currently located across the street from Spectra-Tech on Borman Drive, will build a 20,000-square-foot plant on Armstrong Boulevard to accommodate its growth.

 

The company, which is a leading supplier of snack seasonings (its newest include salted caramel chipotle and honey Cajun), will retain its current 14 employees and has pledged to create 10 new jobs.


 
Savor Seasonings will invest $2.25 million in its new building and property. It will maintain its current payroll of $850,000 with an additional $350,000 for the new jobs.

 

On Dec. 3, Clermont County Commissioners approved a tax abatement of 60% over 8 years, with an estimated tax savings of $286,000 over the life of the abatement.

OMJ-Clermont offers HR workshops
Ohio Means Jobs Clermont County will be offering several HR classes in 2015. Anyone whose job involves human resources is invited to attend. OMJ-Clermont is located at 756 Old State Route 74, Cincinnati.

 

Human Resources Law 101

 

8:30-9:30 a.m. March 4

 

Speakers Lee Geiger and Nick Ziepfel, legal counsel with Graydon Head, will cover the legal issues that HR professionals deal with every day. Also, practical tips on hiring, social media, reductions in force, etc.

 

1.0 hour of HRCI credit is pending approval.

 

Background Checks: Best Practices and New Developments

 

8:30-10:30 a.m. April 8, 2015

 

Speakers Matt Messersmith, Signet Pre-Employment Screening, and Karl Ulrich, Esq., Sebaly, Shillito & Dyer, will present on the key legal rules governing the use of background checks. Also, basic rules governing the hiring process, the nuts and bolts of background checks and emerging trends and new laws.

 

To register to attend please contact Business Services Representative Sherri Bowling at [email protected] or 513-943-3734.


The Clermont County economic development newsletter is published quarterly.
Clermont County Ohio
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ANDY KUCHTA
ADELE EVANS
Clermont County, Ohio | 101 East Main Street | Batavia | OH | 45103