ThisWeek CW 08/13/2015
http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/08/10/canal-winchester-haire-incentives-paying-off-with-1615-new-jobs.html
Development Director Lucas Haire credits tax-incentive programs with bringing 1,615 new jobs to Canal Winchester.
Haire gave Canal Winchester City Council members a report on the annual Tax Incentive Review Council business tour at the Aug. 3 meeting, explaining that the tax-incentive investments have been paying off.
“We have two different CRAs (community reinvestment areas) and two different TIFs (tax increment financing agreements) in place right now — one CRA in Fairfield County and the other in Franklin County, along with the TIFs,” Haire said.
The Fairfield County CRA includes agreements with 15 different companies and allows for 100 percent of the property taxes to be abated for a total of 15 years. The abatements are given based on employment commitments and in Fairfield County, this represents an addition of 650 employees, according to the report.
The Franklin County CRA includes agreements with 11 different companies, the majority of which receive 100-percent property tax abatements for 10 years. Four of the companies receive the abatements for 15 years.
According to the report, the abatement agreements in Franklin County have resulted in a total addition of 965 employees.
Haire said these incentives have saved the companies a total of nearly $800,000 to date. Canal Winchester still collects its 2-percent payroll taxes on company employees, he said.
Olan Industries, the Panoquin Co. and TS Trim Industries Inc. — one of the largest employers in Canal Winchester — are all scheduled to roll off their tax incentives this year, he said, which will mean an increase in property tax revenues going to the city.
Haire also reported that groundbreakings were held recently for a new Primrose School, Buckeye Powerand Goodwill store in the city and that a building expansion at manufacturer Manifold & Phalor is underway.
Residential investment has returned to the city as well, he reported, with construction starting on the second phase of the Winchester Ridge Apartment Complex beginning this fall for additional 104 units. Canal Westport Homes has also submitted development plans for The Cove sections three and four adjoining downtown, he said.