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LISBON -- The village of East Palestine and the Columbiana County Port Authority are partnering up to develop an 85-acre parcel of land into an industrial park just north of the village, north of state Route 14 off of Howell Road in Unity Township.
"We've been working with the village and believe this will be very important towards the economic recovery," CCPA Executive Director Brittany Smith said.
During the CCPA Board of Directors meeting Monday night, the board authorized Smith to negotiate a development agreement with the village of East Palestine and the East Palestine Community Improvement Corporation and in a separate motion, to negotiate a purchase agreement for the purchase of the property.
Similar to how the Leetonia World Trade Park is set up, the plan calls for the port authority to own the land and handle all onsite infrastructure development, such as roads, electrical, water lines and sewer lines. The village of East Palestine will handle off-site infrastructure to extend water and sewer to the site from the village.
"Getting to 14, that's the future. We have the ability to do this now," East Palestine Village Manager Antonio Diaz-Guy said. "Having a good partner makes things better."
The East Palestine CIC holds the option to purchase the land from the estate of Mary Beth Carlson. As part of the negotiation, Smith explained a decision will need made on whether the CCPA will assume the EPCIC option or have a new purchase agreement drawn up for the CCPA to purchase the land. Either way, the CCPA will own the land.
"We're looking to do this very soon," she said.
The port authority will seek funding from Jobs Ohio, regional partners and other sources for the infrastructure on site. Diaz-Guy said the village will use U.S. Economic Development Agency funds, in-kind and cash from the village and stack other grants to pay for the offsite work.
The village has already been laying the groundwork, according to Diaz-Guy, with a feasibility study already completed and proposals secured for Requests for Qualifications (RFQ) for an engineer. He said they were awaiting the scope and fee for the top-graded company. Once chosen, he estimated the design phase will take 12 to 18 months. The plans include five projects in the package, including a water tower, extension of a water distribution line, sanitary sewer line extension, upgrade of water distribution facilities or lift stations and pump stations and an upsizing of pipes to allow for better flow.
He estimated the cost for the off-site infrastructure at roughly $20 million and said the village has already secured a substantial amount of the funding, with enough already in place for the design and about 35% of the funding for construction in place.
The project is at least two years out before it will be ready for tenants.
Smith said the idea will be to divide the property into lots, dependent on what a company may need.
"Pretty exciting project -- it's a game changer for this part of the county," CCPA Board of Directors Chairman Charlie Presley said.
When asked if there was a particular company coming or a data center, he said emphatically, "This industrial park has nothing to do with a data center."
Diaz-Guy answered a question on whether the village would annex the property, saying "we have no intention of annexing that land."
What's in the works is a Joint Economic Development District, known as a JEDD, with the village and Unity Township working together. A letter sent to property owners and business owners of commercial, agricultural or undeveloped or vacant structures in May outlined the efforts of the entities to work together for coordinated economic development. Parcels included in the proposed JEDD will receive police, fire and EMS services from the village, with the new industrial park to be part of the proposed JEDD. No residential properties can be included. Employees or businesses operating within the JEDD will be subject to a 1.5% income tax.
Information related to the JEDD can be found on the village's website at eastpalestine-oh.gov under news & alerts. Each entity will need to formalize legislation to form the JEDD and hold public hearings, then vote whether to approve it or deny it. Participation by property owners is strictly voluntary.
The JEDD, along with the industrial park, are part of the longterm economic development plans for the area, along with all the development that's happening inside the village, such as the train station interior transformation project which is underway.
When asked what the industrial park will mean to the village, he said jobs, higher per capita income and a traffic boost. There may be residential development, too. The key is bringing the water and sewer to the state Route 14 corridor, which is close to the border with Pennsylvania. He said it's cheaper to do business in Ohio.
Smith said there's not a lot of land available for growth and the port authority has been working to identify opportunities and sites to bring opportunities to the citizens.
"There's pent-up demand for industrial property," Diaz-Guy said.
Smith said she's hoping to have the development agreement and purchase agreement finished in two months, possibly for the next CCPA board of directors meeting, which is set for 5 p.m. Sept. 28.