When you drive by the Ivy Pointe Campus today, it's hard to believe that 10 short years ago it was undeveloped land with few prospects.The land had lots of potential thanks to its proximity to Interstate 275, but it took foresight, planning and cooperation to turn it into the 99-acre business park it is today: Headquarters of Total Quality Logistics (900 jobs), the Senco/Tata Building (400 jobs), and, coming up, Mercy Health (see the latest Business Courier article here) and Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Andy Kuchta, Director of Community and Economic Development, details in this white paper how Clermont County partnered with Cincinnati United Contractors and TQL to create Ivy Pointe and spur the rebirth of the Eastgate area.

Students at groundbreaking last May.

In another innovative financing measure, the Clermont County Port Authority will issue in early October $99.255 million in bonds for the new West Clermont High School project, which is being built on 78 acres at the corner of Clough Pike and Bach Buxton Roads in Union Township. It is the first time in Southwest Ohio that a port authority has issued bonds for a public school infrastructure project.

The new school, which is projected to cost $100 million, will accommodate 2,500 students as it consolidates two existing high schools, Amelia and Glen Este. Expected to open in the fall of 2017, West Clermont High School will include a 4,500-seat stadium and 1,002-seat performing arts center. Tax increment financing arranged through Union Township is paying for the bulk of construction. Union Township will get the current property where Glen Este High School is located, and plans to use it for housing and commercial development.

The Port Authority bonds allow the school district to finance the project over 40 years, rather than traditional 30 years, said Andy Kuchta, CED director. 

Overland Express LLC and Stewart Filmscreen Corp., both in Clermont County, have received job creation tax credits from the State of Ohio.

Overland Express, a transportation logistics broker in Union Township, plans to invest $10,000 and create 35 full-time jobs with an average salary of $46,000. Stewart Filmscreen, headquartered in Torrance, Calif., with a manufacturing operation in Union Township, plans to create 30 full-time jobs with an average salary of $30,000. Stewart makes custom projection screens and has manufactured the largest glass screen in the world.