GE chooses Butler County

West Chester Twp site picked for consolidation of some operations.
By Dave Greber Staff Writer
Friday, August 15, 2008

WEST CHESTER TWP. — A loss for two Ohio cities has become this community's gain.

GE Aviation announced Thursday, Aug. 14, that it chose West Chester to house a portion of its $13.2 billion operation over competing cities Evandale and Springdale.

Earlier Thursday, county commissioners gave their approval on a 100 percent, 15-year property tax abatement for the company, the same deal offered by the Hamilton County cities.  "It's mixed emotions," said West Chester Twp. Administrator Judy Boyko about the announcement. "I'm extremely excited for West Chester to have GE as one of the anchors of our community, but of course I empathize with Springdale.  "At least GE is staying in the region, and that's paramount to maintain the success of the Greater Cincinnati economy," she added.

GE Aviation spokesman Rick Kennedy said the company chose West Chester Twp. because it offered a location for a new facility, room to expand, interstate access, among other reasons.  The company has selected the site of the former Queen City  Sports Complex, 9267 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, for a two-building, 400,000-square-foot facility, which is expected to house 1,400 employees with average annual salaries of $100,000.

GE Aviation will now consolidate three of its facilities, two of which are in Springdale and the other in West Chester.  The total investment is approximately $55 million, including $40 million on two "mid-rise office buildings," according to plans submitted to the county Thursday. Construction is expected to be complete late next year.

The tax abatement — roughly equivalent to $200,000 a year — will run for the length of its lease, expected to be 10, according to a company news release.  The company could bring $140 million a year in payroll to the area, said Brian Coughlin, the county's economic development director.

GE expects to begin moving employees in October, and continue through early 2010, the news release stated.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2112 or dgreber@coxohio.com.

 Source: middletownjournal.com

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GE chooses West Chester

By Dave Greber Staff Writer
Thursday, August 14, 2008

WEST CHESTER TWP. — A loss for two Ohio cities has become this community's gain.

GE Aviation announced Thursday, Aug. 14, that it chose West Chester Twp to house a portion of its $13.2 billion operation over competing cities Evandale and Springdale.   

Earlier Thursday, county commissioners gave their approval on a 100 percent, 15-year property tax abatement, the same deal offered by the Hamilton County cities.  "It's mixed emotions," said West Chester Twp. Administrator Judy Boyko. "I'm extremely excited for West Chester to have GE as one of the anchors of our community, but of course I empathize with Springdale.  "At least GE is staying in the region, and that's paramount to maintain the success of the Greater Cincinnati economy," she added. 

But West Chester has added amenities, according to GE spokesman Rick Kennedy: A new facility, room to expand, interstate access, among other reasons.  The company has selected the site of the former Queen City Sports Complex, 9267 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, for a two-building, 400,000-square-foot facility, which is expected to house 1,400 employees with average annual salaries of $100,000. 

GE Aviation will now consolidate three of its facilities, two of which are in Springdale and the other in West Chester.  The total investment is approximately $55 million, including $40 million on two "mid-rise office buildings," according to plans submitted to the county Thursday. Construction is expected to be complete late next year. 

The tax abatement — roughly equivalent to $200,000 a year — will run for the length of its lease, expected to be 10, according to a company news release.  The company could bring $140 million a year in payroll to the area, said Brian Coughlin, the county's economic development director.  GE expects to begin moving employees in October, and continue through early 2010, the news release stated.

Another important part of the deal is the creation of a joint economic development district, a partnership with nearby communities that allows townships to generate income tax.  The partnership joins townships with municipalities, who collect the income tax.  Commissioner Gregory Jolivette said he hopes West Chester Twp. officials "would give added weight to communities in Butler County" when they make their decision on a partner. West Chester could go with another city outside the county to administer the JEDD. 

"We're eager to work with a community in Butler County, but in order to maximize the benefit for residents of West Chester Twp, we're going to look at all possible partners," Boyko said.  West Chester officials said a decision about the JEDD isn't expected until later this month.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2112 or dgreber@coxohio.com.

Source: journal-news.com

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GE jobs go to Butler Co.
By Amber Ellis • aellis@enquirer.com •
August 15, 2008

WEST CHESTER TWP. - GE Aviation made it official Thursday - it's moving more than 1,100 jobs from Springdale to West Chester.  "We are excited. We're ecstatic. This is a huge win for West Chester," said township Trustee George Lang.  "This is going to be a catalyst. The growth is going to continue.  "West Chester Twp is proving to be what I'd call the economic epicenter, an incubator for business, in the Cincinnati-Dayton corridor."

Along with the obvious lure of bringing a big-name employer to town, GE Aviation has a reputation that could help attract other Fortune 500 companies to the township, local leaders say.  That, in turn, would boost development of remaining open land near the Union Centre Boulevard exit off Interstate 75.  GE expects to start moving its 1,130 employees from Springdale to its new campus in October 2009.

Combined with 270 workers from the current West Chester office, GE Aviation would become the township's second-largest employer, behind the Lakota school district, and one of the 10 largest in all of Butler County.  "This is a landmark project for Butler County. GE Aviation is a $13.2 billion company," said Brian Coughlin, director of Butler County's Economic Development Department.  "We hope this will set the table for future corporate and regional headquarters in the county."  GE chose West Chester Twp because of the plans for the new campus, plus the financial incentives offered by the township and the county.

Company officials say the new site will help attract more talent.  "GE's selection of West Chester is an outstanding example of local, county and state governments working together to help a company in our community be more globally competitive," David Joyce, GE Aviation president and CEO, said in a statement.   

The proposed site will occupy more than 403,000 square feet on the old Queen City  Sports Complex site, east of Interstate 75 and Union Centre Boulevard.  Eventually the development will grow to a four-building office complex totaling more than 800,000 square feet. The extra space leaves room for expansion. 

As part of the deal, GE Aviation will get a 100 percent property-tax abatement for up to 15 years.  This means a loss of $200,000 per year for West Chester Twp.  Township officials say they expect to make up that money with revenue from a new joint economic-development district.

The special tax district, which would involve a partnership with a nearby city, could bring in about $1 million per year with a 1 percent income tax, according to early estimates.  The new tax, less than the 1.5 percent paid by Springdale employees, will help ease the burden for homeowners in a township that relies heavily on property-tax revenue, said West Chester Twp Trustee Catherine Stoker.

Staff writer Mike Boyer contributed.

Source:  Cincinnati.com

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