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LISBON -- The Columbiana County Port Authority Board of Directors awarded the bid for a speculative building project at the Leetonia World Trade Park to C. Tucker Cope of Columbiana for $2,978,338.
The plan calls for construction of a 60,000 square foot building on Port Authority land at the World Trade Park to fill a need for industrial space that size, according to Port Authority Executive Director/CEO Penny Traina. The board had given Traina permission previously for ms consultants inc. to serve as the criteria engineer.
Requests for proposals were sought out for the design build project, with five companies submitting bids. Besides the winning low bid from C. Tucker Cope, other bids received included: The Albert M. Higley Group for $3,921,500; GreenHeart Companies for $3,860,000; J. Herbert Construction for $3,450,000; and Hively Construction Company for $3,435,000.
In other business, Traina reported the Global Investment Hub project at the industrial park property on Cherry Fork Avenue in Leetonia was nearly complete, with just the ordering of furniture and outside painting left to be done. She said a date will be set for a ribbon cutting.
"We are thrilled we have the renovation done," she said.
The Global Investment Hub project originally started in 2019 and experienced delays due to the COVID pandemic and then rising costs for materials. The hub is located in the middle section of the building and is a joint effort with the Youngstown State University Small Business Development Center and Export Assistance Network.
Traina previously said the goal is to bring new or existing businesses in 3D printing, technology and petrochemical clusters into the hub, marketing to foreign companies in those areas to locate here. Funding for the project included $400,000 from the state capital budget and an additional $250,000 secured from the Appalachian Regional Commission.
According to a stat sheet about the hub, the facility includes six private offices, three large conference rooms, co-working recreational space, fully-furnished office space, kitchen area and restrooms. Companies who sign on will receive one year rent-free, including WiFi and furnished office space. A YSU intern must be employed for an academic year as a requirement.
In other business, the board approved a revision to the 2023 budget for $133,271. Traina said additional funds were needed due to the additional building purchased for maintenance and increasing costs for utilities, such as garbage and telephone fees.
The board also renewed a $1 million CD at Consumers National Bank at a new rate of 5.20/5.34 percent for 12 months. The old rate was 4.16 percent.
The next meeting will be 5 p.m. Sept. 28.