January 26, 20223 yr This will be the second large vertical farm recently announced for the city. Pennsylvania vertical farm company plans Columbus location “The Pennsylvania indoor farm company Fifth Season plans to build a farm in Columbus. The company, whose salads and other products can be found in some Kroger and Giant Eagle stores, has picked a site near John Glenn Columbus International Airport to build a 180,000-square-foot farm that will employ about 50 workers. The company did not identify the specific location. This will be the company's second farm, following one in the Pittsburgh suburb of Braddock. The Columbus farm will be about three times the size of the Braddock operation. Fifth Season said it hopes to open the Columbus farm next year. Founded at Carnegie Mellon University in 2016, Fifth Season is heavily automated. The Columbus farm will include about 250 robots, compared with 100 in Braddock.” https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/01/20/columbus-getting-salad-greens-vertical-farm-fifth-season/6587008001/
January 26, 20223 yr https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/01/26/columbus-region-unemployment-falls-2-8-december-near-record/9210086002/ Columbus unemployment fell to 2.8%, the lowest in 23 years and near the all-time record lowest. The metro seems to have finally reached a pre-pandemic employment level, and total unemployed is the lowest its been since 2001, despite hundreds of thousands more people living in the area. Some of this is likely due to the number of retirements that occurred during the pandemic, as well as increased self-employment, but overall, some good news.
January 31, 20223 yr https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/01/28/huntington-steve-steinour-fy2021-earnings.html Interesting quote at the end of this article. Steve Steinour is CEO of Huntinton bank, and also Co-Chair of the Columbus partnership. Kenny is Kenny McDonald, the new CEO of the Columbus Partnership. "This Intel announcement is huge, but Kenny and team will have other announcements coming in the course of ’22," Steinour told Business First. "It’s a very exciting time to be here in Central Ohio."
January 31, 20223 yr On 1/26/2022 at 8:33 AM, jonoh81 said: https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/01/26/columbus-region-unemployment-falls-2-8-december-near-record/9210086002/ Columbus unemployment fell to 2.8%, the lowest in 23 years and near the all-time record lowest. The metro seems to have finally reached a pre-pandemic employment level, and total unemployed is the lowest its been since 2001, despite hundreds of thousands more people living in the area. Some of this is likely due to the number of retirements that occurred during the pandemic, as well as increased self-employment, but overall, some good news. This is good news, but the labor force is still down in total. So depending on which rate was used to calculate the 2.8%, it may not be capturing the entire picture. Here's for the metro area: But things are certainly trending in the right direction. With all of the covid deaths (or just excess deaths) and layering on population gains, it's hard to get an accurate picture of the total labor force eligible population. How many people are aged ~15-62 but simply out of work and not looking for a job (which means they wouldn't get picked up in the unemployment rate if they use U6 - I think)? As has been discussed ad nauseum, the economy in Columbus is set up in such a way that it's able to recover more quickly from downturns. There are a pretty steady stream of articles about more job openings than people available in the area. Very Stable Genius
January 31, 20223 yr Job creation tax incentives approved by the Tax Credit Authority today impacting the Greater Columbus area: Vertiv's 100 new jobs could land in Westerville instead of Columbus “Vertiv Holdings Co. is considering Westerville for an office consolidation and expansion that would create 100 jobs, according to the Ohio Department of Development. But in response to questions from Columbus Business First, the publicly traded IT infrastructure company said it still is exploring whether to move its longtime Columbus headquarters within the region. Vertiv's R&D and manufacturing operations would stay in Columbus, the state agency said. The expansion would add another 100 jobs and $8 million payroll over four years to a baseline of 706 jobs with $75 million payroll in Westerville, according to the state. Missouri also was competing for the HQ, the Development Department said.“ In addition: - Simpson Manufacturing Company Inc., a maker of wood products for the construction industry, plans to add 125 jobs over four years and expand its manufacturing facility on the far West Side of Columbus, where it currently has 380 employees. - Pluto Healthcare Staffing is adding 65 jobs to a staff of 11 and moving to a larger 10,000-square-foot space at Grandview Yard. - Benchmark Industrial Inc. plans to double by adding 40 jobs to a staff of 37 in Gahanna. https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/01/31/vertiv-westerville-move-among-tax-credits.html
February 1, 20223 yr The company behind the very first bone broth K-Cups is relocating to Columbus “The formerly San Diego-based company Lonolife—well know for crafting a wide variety of easily consumable beef and chicken bone broth products—is opening its new headquarters in Merrion Village this month. According to President and co-founder Brian Hoppe, Lonolife was created when another co-founder, Paul Taparauskas, was searching for ways to care for his sick wife in 2015. While Hoppe is a Columbus native and had hoped the company would relocate back to Central Ohio, he noted the move is one that makes a great deal of sense for the growing company as well. “The reality is, Columbus is within 500 miles of most major metro areas; that’s a 10 hour drive or one hour flight to 50 percent of our consumers,” he said. “It’s just a no -brainer to relocated from a coast to a central located hub.”’ https://614now.com/2022/food-drink/the-company-behind-the-very-first-bone-broth-k-cups-is-relocating-to-columbus?fbclid=IwAR06ei8igxdglRC030_hKyq-pe_AkiR3B4xOaQdF9iyD35w9fNZU2jDlef4
February 1, 20223 yr 21 hours ago, drtom1234 said: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/01/28/huntington-steve-steinour-fy2021-earnings.html Interesting quote at the end of this article. Steve Steinour is CEO of Huntinton bank, and also Co-Chair of the Columbus partnership. Kenny is Kenny McDonald, the new CEO of the Columbus Partnership. "This Intel announcement is huge, but Kenny and team will have other announcements coming in the course of ’22," Steinour told Business First. "It’s a very exciting time to be here in Central Ohio."
February 1, 20223 yr Hyperion chooses Columbus for headquarters location https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/columbus/hyperion-chooses-columbus-for-headquarters-location/ Hyperion Inc., a hydrogen electric technology and transportation company, is scheduled to announce Tuesday that it will be bringing its global headquarters to the Columbus area. A release from Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther’s office says the company will create nearly 700 research and development, engineering, design and manufacturing jobs to the area, and will be the largest manufacturing project in the city limits in a decade.
February 1, 20223 yr 3 minutes ago, GCrites80s said: Haha, "Does he have a car?" Only people of a certain age....lol. I loved Rizzo in that the best. "Some people are so touchy"
February 1, 20223 yr 10 minutes ago, cbussoccer said: Hyperion chooses Columbus for headquarters location https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/columbus/hyperion-chooses-columbus-for-headquarters-location/ Hyperion Inc., a hydrogen electric technology and transportation company, is scheduled to announce Tuesday that it will be bringing its global headquarters to the Columbus area. A release from Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther’s office says the company will create nearly 700 research and development, engineering, design and manufacturing jobs to the area, and will be the largest manufacturing project in the city limits in a decade. See! Here is the relocation I was just talking about! Bring on our 60 story tower!!! lol.
February 1, 20223 yr 32 minutes ago, cbussoccer said: Hyperion chooses Columbus for headquarters location https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/columbus/hyperion-chooses-columbus-for-headquarters-location/ Hyperion Inc., a hydrogen electric technology and transportation company, is scheduled to announce Tuesday that it will be bringing its global headquarters to the Columbus area. A release from Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther’s office says the company will create nearly 700 research and development, engineering, design and manufacturing jobs to the area, and will be the largest manufacturing project in the city limits in a decade. Wow, yet another potentially transformative project for Central Ohio! The official announcement will be held in the former Dispatch printing facility, which I guess will be repurposed for this company. Columbus Business First just released an article about the decision: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/02/01/hydrogen-car-company-hyperion-brining-700-jobs-to.html It sounds like the company has 3 divisions - energy, automotive, and aerospace. It isn't clear if one of those will HQ here, or if it'll be the whole company. Though their prototype vehicle is expected to make an appearance at the announcement. The article also makes note not to get hopes up too high. Other futuristic companies like Coda Automotive and Venturi announced grand plans for expansion in Central Ohio, only for them to never come to fruition. Hopefully, like Intel, this one is different and does produce the economic activity anticipated.
February 1, 20223 yr 4 minutes ago, CMHOhio said: Wow, yet another potentially transformative project for Central Ohio! The official announcement will be held in the former Dispatch printing facility, which I guess will be repurposed for this company. Columbus Business First just released an article about the decision: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/02/01/hydrogen-car-company-hyperion-brining-700-jobs-to.html It sounds like the company has 3 divisions - energy, automotive, and aerospace. It isn't clear if one of those will HQ here, or if it'll be the whole company. Though their prototype vehicle is expected to make an appearance at the announcement. The article also makes note not to get hopes up too high. Other futuristic companies like Coda Automotive and Venturi announced grand plans for expansion in Central Ohio, only for them to never come to fruition. Hopefully, like Intel, this one is different and does produce the economic activity anticipated. 1. Which company is locating here...I see numerous Hyperion companies when searching including one in Reston, VA, one in Worthington, etc.? 2. So they might move to the site off of Georgesville rd.? That area? Really? 3. Apparently a not so slight chance that this ends up a bust. Oh well.
February 1, 20223 yr 35 minutes ago, CMHOhio said: Wow, yet another potentially transformative project for Central Ohio! The official announcement will be held in the former Dispatch printing facility, which I guess will be repurposed for this company. Columbus Business First just released an article about the decision: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/02/01/hydrogen-car-company-hyperion-brining-700-jobs-to.html It sounds like the company has 3 divisions - energy, automotive, and aerospace. It isn't clear if one of those will HQ here, or if it'll be the whole company. Though their prototype vehicle is expected to make an appearance at the announcement. The article also makes note not to get hopes up too high. Other futuristic companies like Coda Automotive and Venturi announced grand plans for expansion in Central Ohio, only for them to never come to fruition. Hopefully, like Intel, this one is different and does produce the economic activity anticipated. Nice reuse for the Dispatch printing facility. That's actually a really great location with easy access to 270.
February 1, 20223 yr 1 hour ago, cbussoccer said: Hyperion chooses Columbus for headquarters location https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/columbus/hyperion-chooses-columbus-for-headquarters-location/ Hyperion Inc., a hydrogen electric technology and transportation company, is scheduled to announce Tuesday that it will be bringing its global headquarters to the Columbus area. A release from Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther’s office says the company will create nearly 700 research and development, engineering, design and manufacturing jobs to the area, and will be the largest manufacturing project in the city limits in a decade. If this comes to fruition, this is more huge news for Columbus! Like Intel, it sounds like these will be high paying, high skilled jobs. I hope Ohio’s educators and developers are ready for all this!
February 1, 20223 yr 23 minutes ago, Columbo said: Nice reuse for the Dispatch printing facility. That's actually a really great location with easy access to 270. But...but...it is already so hard to get off of Georgesville Rd. into the Kroger in Georgesville Square! The traffic is just too much as it is. This is just too much-it wasn't like this 40 years ago-too much development!-what has happened to our little town! This was always meant to be a nice suburban area on the edge of everything...to many people moving here...our quality of life! Wahhh!!!! lol
February 1, 20223 yr 1 minute ago, Toddguy said: But...but...it is already so hard to get off of Georgesville Rd. into the Kroger in Georgesville Square! The traffic is just too much as it is. This is just too much-it wasn't like this 40 years ago-too much development!-what has happened to our little town! This was always meant to be a nice suburban area on the edge of everything...to many people moving here...our quality of life! Wahhh!!!! lol Plus Hyperion will ruin "The Uncool Crescent".
February 1, 20223 yr Just now, Columbo said: Plus Hyperion will ruin "The Uncool Crescent". That's right! And what about our property taxes? We will be forced out-Gentrification!!. "They" will start moving in and before you know it, this area will be like California! The Sodom of the heartland! *sobs while enraged*
February 1, 20223 yr More from the Dispatch, whose former printing facility will indeed be the home of this new plant: Hyperion fuel-cell company to open largest Columbus factory in a decade Jim Weiker The Columbus Dispatch A California company plans to move its headquarters back to Columbus in an operation that will employ nearly 700 workers developing hydrogen fuel cells. Hyperion Cos., now based in Orange, California, plans to relocate next year to the former Dispatch printing plant, 5300 Crosswinds Dr., which was closed in March 2020 when printing moved to Indianapolis. The 65-acre Far West Side plant will be the largest new factory in Columbus in a decade. https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/02/01/hyperion-add-700-jobs-far-west-side-hydrogen-fuel-cell-facility/9296467002/ It looks like this will actually be a return to home for the company, which was founded locally be an OSU graduate. Very interesting why they specifically chose to reactivate this facility - apparently the layout lends itself well to that used to coat fuel cell membranes.
February 1, 20223 yr I didn’t know that Hyperion already had strong ties to Cbus. Makes me feel like there’s a better chance of this one happening. Hyperion fuel-cell company to open largest Columbus factory in a decade “A California company plans to move its headquarters back to Columbus in an operation that will employ nearly 700 workers developing hydrogen fuel cells. Hyperion Cos., now based in Orange, California, plans to relocate next year to the former Dispatch printing plant, 5300 Crosswinds Dr., which was closed in March 2020 when printing moved to Indianapolis. The 65-acre Far West Side plant will be the largest new factory in Columbus in a decade. Hyperion plans to invest nearly $300 million in the facility to research and manufacture hydrogen fuel cells, which will be used to power a line of energy storage products, including Hyperion's XP-1 sports car, unveiled in August. Hyperion said the facility will create more than 680 jobs over the next six years, with an annual payroll of up to $58 million. For Hyperion CEO Angelo Kafantaris, the move is a return home. Kafantaris grew up in Warren and studied philosophy and engineering at Ohio State University. He founded Hyperion in 2011 while in Columbus. “After 10 years of development, we are thrilled to bring our hydrogen technology back to Columbus where it all started," Kafantaris said in a news release.” https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/02/01/hyperion-add-700-jobs-far-west-side-hydrogen-fuel-cell-facility/9296467002/?fbclid=IwAR3N_-ARN0LHZe37bGziKjB-ddGU2NPPLnJ-DipTEW-w8vxzEkkgKNXLgrE
February 1, 20223 yr 2 minutes ago, CMHOhio said: More from the Dispatch, whose former printing facility will indeed be the home of this new plant: Hyperion fuel-cell company to open largest Columbus factory in a decade Jim Weiker The Columbus Dispatch A California company plans to move its headquarters back to Columbus in an operation that will employ nearly 700 workers developing hydrogen fuel cells. Hyperion Cos., now based in Orange, California, plans to relocate next year to the former Dispatch printing plant, 5300 Crosswinds Dr., which was closed in March 2020 when printing moved to Indianapolis. The 65-acre Far West Side plant will be the largest new factory in Columbus in a decade. https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/02/01/hyperion-add-700-jobs-far-west-side-hydrogen-fuel-cell-facility/9296467002/ It looks like this will actually be a return to home for the company, which was founded locally be an OSU graduate. Very interesting why they specifically chose to reactivate this facility - apparently the layout lends itself well to that used to coat fuel cell membranes. Oops, guess we were posting at the same time lol
February 1, 20223 yr 5 minutes ago, CMHOhio said: More from the Dispatch, whose former printing facility will indeed be the home of this new plant: Hyperion fuel-cell company to open largest Columbus factory in a decade Jim Weiker The Columbus Dispatch A California company plans to move its headquarters back to Columbus in an operation that will employ nearly 700 workers developing hydrogen fuel cells. Hyperion Cos., now based in Orange, California, plans to relocate next year to the former Dispatch printing plant, 5300 Crosswinds Dr., which was closed in March 2020 when printing moved to Indianapolis. The 65-acre Far West Side plant will be the largest new factory in Columbus in a decade. https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/02/01/hyperion-add-700-jobs-far-west-side-hydrogen-fuel-cell-facility/9296467002/ It looks like this will actually be a return to home for the company, which was founded locally be an OSU graduate. Very interesting why they specifically chose to reactivate this facility - apparently the layout lends itself well to that used to coat fuel cell membranes. So it really is a company from Orange California(nice little Orange County namesake town btw)that is moving here and will create a Global Headquarters and 700 good paying tech-ish manufacturing jobs...here in Cbus? Better not let another certain area of the state here about this....not this soon after the Intel news...shhhhh!!! lol(just harmless joshing about here). * Quote For Hyperion CEO Angelo Kafantaris, the move is a return home. Kafantaris grew up in Warren and studied philosophy and engineering at Ohio State University. OOOhhh this makes it worse! lol. /joking Edited February 1, 20223 yr by Toddguy more joking around
February 1, 20223 yr 1 minute ago, amped91 said: Oops, guess we were posting at the same time lol News this good deserves a second post!
February 1, 20223 yr More, albeit sometimes cryptic, information on the Hyperion announcement, courtesy CBF: Hyperion investing $297 million in new Columbus HQ - It actually IS apparently a full HQ move: “Hyperion Co, which was founded in Columbus but later relocated to California, is converting the former Columbus Dispatch printing plant at 5300 Crosswind Dr. on the city’s southwest side into a hydrogen fuel cell factory that could begin production as soon as next year. Columbus will also once again be the company's headquarters.” - More announcements coming soon: “The focus of Tuesday’s news was the company’s arrival here and the jobs it expects to create. Additional details, including key partner announcements, are expected in the next six weeks.” Hopefully we’ll see a lot more spin-off development for this business as well. - Job type breakdown: “Hyperion projects to have nearly 700 employees in Columbus, including 10 executives relocating from California, 100 engineering jobs and approximately 350 in production, warehouse and facilities and an annual payroll of $60 million.” - Perhaps these details involve the forthcoming partner announcements? “Kafantaris, a Warren native, founded the business in Columbus a decade ago. Hyperion only ever had a handful of employees here, he said. It relocated to California in 2013 because California had the infrastructure for hydrogen vehicles and Ohio didn’t. Ohio still doesn’t, beyond a few private stations in locations like Ohio State, but Kafantaris said that is going to change with those details still to come.” - On what Cbus DOES have: “The company explored options in multiple states for more than two years before being drawn to the “perfect blend” of technology, manufacturing and research capabilities and partners offered in Columbus.” - On what separates Hyperion from previous announcements that didn’t come to fruition: ‘“The difference with us is that we’ve been around for a decade,” Kafantaris said.“ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/02/01/hyperions-columbus-fuel-cells-to-power-cars-more.html
February 2, 20223 yr 10 hours ago, Toddguy said: But...but...it is already so hard to get off of Georgesville Rd. into the Kroger in Georgesville Square! The traffic is just too much as it is. This is just too much-it wasn't like this 40 years ago-too much development!-what has happened to our little town! This was always meant to be a nice suburban area on the edge of everything...to many people moving here...our quality of life! Wahhh!!!! lol The Georgesville Road area north of 270 is sooo weird. It's like, it was important for like six months in 1992. So they sank a bunch of money into road improvements and strip malls that year and one Big Bear opened up for a short time and that's it besides a couple pizza places and a tanning salon. They thought it was going to be Lewis Center or something.
February 2, 20223 yr 23 hours ago, Columbo said: Nice reuse for the Dispatch printing facility. That's actually a really great location with easy access to 270. When I posted this yesterday, I didn't realize that this former Dispatch / future Hyperion site is also a great location because Bolton Field is located only one mile south. Bolton Field is used for private and business flights and is operated by the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, which also operates John Glenn and Rickenbacker airports: According to the articles written about this, the former Dispatch printing facility at 5300 Crosswinds Drive opened in 1980. But the Dispatch really put some money into improving this site - back when print newspapers were making big money. In addition to the 400,000 sq. ft. printing facility, a modern two-story, 35,000 sq. ft. office building was built in front and connects to it. So that's a real advantage for Hyperion to move their HQ offices here and be next door to their main manufacturing facility: The articles also mentioned the 65-acre site has lots of open space for expansion - and it does. Here's the county auditor map showing the extent of the 5300 Crosswinds property: And here's a close-up aerial of the existing facility at 5300 Crosswinds with the surrounding business in this bustling office/industrial park. The large unmarked warehouse just west of the Hyperion site was formerly a Sears distribution facility (since sold off to someone else):
February 3, 20223 yr On 1/31/2022 at 9:17 PM, amped91 said: The company behind the very first bone broth K-Cups is relocating to Columbus “The formerly San Diego-based company Lonolife—well know for crafting a wide variety of easily consumable beef and chicken bone broth products—is opening its new headquarters in Merrion Village this month. According to President and co-founder Brian Hoppe, Lonolife was created when another co-founder, Paul Taparauskas, was searching for ways to care for his sick wife in 2015. While Hoppe is a Columbus native and had hoped the company would relocate back to Central Ohio, he noted the move is one that makes a great deal of sense for the growing company as well. “The reality is, Columbus is within 500 miles of most major metro areas; that’s a 10 hour drive or one hour flight to 50 percent of our consumers,” he said. “It’s just a no -brainer to relocated from a coast to a central located hub.”’ https://614now.com/2022/food-drink/the-company-behind-the-very-first-bone-broth-k-cups-is-relocating-to-columbus?fbclid=IwAR06ei8igxdglRC030_hKyq-pe_AkiR3B4xOaQdF9iyD35w9fNZU2jDlef4 Not quite as exciting as the Hyperion and Intel announcements, but I still thinks it’s a good thing to see more and more companies relocating here. CBF has a few more details on the LonoLife move: Bone broth brand LonoLife relocates from California to Columbus “LonoLife, makers of powdered bone broth among other high-protein foods, has moved its headquarters and operations from San Diego to the south side of Columbus, where it now runs a 15,000-square-foot warehouse employing 15. “We had a warehouse two blocks from the beach,” said Brian Hoppe, the brand's president and co-founder. “But the reality is, that’s just not the best hub to grow a business.” Hoppe admits Central Ohio did have a leg up on the competition. He and co-founder Craig Leslie are natives, but the business decision isn’t a sentimental one. If it didn’t also make sense for the company, it wouldn’t be happening. “We’re expanding all parts of the business. We’re going to grow into this space. Then we’ll grow out of it.” LonoLIfe hopes to double its employment over the course of the year.“ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/02/03/lonolife-relocates-from-california-to-columbus.html
February 8, 20223 yr On 2/2/2022 at 12:10 AM, GCrites80s said: The Georgesville Road area north of 270 is sooo weird. It's like, it was important for like six months in 1992. So they sank a bunch of money into road improvements and strip malls that year and one Big Bear opened up for a short time and that's it besides a couple pizza places and a tanning salon. They thought it was going to be Lewis Center or something. I remember back in the 70's when they had Georgesville Rd. as a 4 lane boulevard all the way to Norton, and there was nothing there, and everyone wondered "why did they build this road out like this?". This was one of the few times that road infrastructure was improved way before development came. That area is kind of messy for traffic sometimes, but nothing like Hilliard-Rome Rd.-which as most people know is a mess. Remember the exploding buildings associated with the Cash/ trash burning power plant! lol. This HQ will be great for the area-a shot in the arm for it. Something good for the Uncool Crescent! *shock* Now it they can just do something with the Westland site.
February 8, 20223 yr Oh boy, the trash burning power plant. You cannot burn bleach or else you get dioxin. And there's no way people's trash isn't going to have bleach in it or things made with bleach.
March 3, 20223 yr Pharma packaging startup for hospitals building $50M Columbus-area plant, adding 300 jobs “A startup that compounds custom pharmaceuticals and prepackages them for hospitals plans to open a $50 million facility just west of Columbus and add 300 jobs. One Columbus, the regional economic development group, also helped find the site: A warehouse at 255 Phillipi in Franklin Township. It's been vacant since Express Scripts shut its warehouse there in 2018. Franklin County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a 50% property tax abatement on newly added value for 10 years. The property is within a broader west side Community Reinvestment Area the county created a year ago to bring back manufacturing in the area, where commercial developments have fallen into disrepair, Emanuel Torres, assistant economic development director, told commissioners in the recorded meeting. The county deal calls for adding 150 jobs over the first three years. Walker and Bagan said it could grow to double that.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/inno/stories/news/2022/03/03/staq-pharma-denver-expand-columbus-area.html
March 9, 20223 yr Grove City glove manufacturer raises $105M in financing “American Nitrile, a disposable glove manufacturer, will receive $105 million in debt financing from Orion Infrastructure Capital to support the completion of its Grove City factory. American Nitrile was founded by CEO Jacob Block in 2021 in an effort to overcome personal protective equipment shortages in the United States, specifically nitrile gloves, during the pandemic. Once completed, the company is estimated to produce 3.6 billion medical and non-medical latex-free gloves annually for health care, government and industrial use. With the $105 million investment, American Nitrile will finish construction of its 527,000 square-foot factory— a former warehouse at 3500 Southwest Blvd.—and obtain any necessary equipment. The company also raised an additional $35 million in equity from local investors, including Crawford Hoying, Block says. Block says construction is expected to be completed soon and manufacturing will begin with six functioning production lines this summer. By the end of the year, he anticipates there will be about 250 to 280 employees. Currently, there are around 15. An additional six production lines, for a total of 12, will be up and running next year, he says, at which point he plans to reach 400 total employees. American Nitrile will have the capacity to produce around 40,000 gloves per line per hour.“ https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/03/09/columbus-based-glove-producer-american-nitrile-receives-105-million/9432223002/
March 11, 20223 yr Walgreens to invest $30M, bring 200 jobs to Canal Winchester “Walgreens plans to invest $30 million and create 200 jobs at a regional pharmacy distribution center in Canal Winchester. City Development Director Lucas Haire told City Council during its March 7 meeting Walgreens has leased 71,000 square feet at 6215 Winchester Blvd. That accounts for roughly half of the more than 145,000-square-foot office flex warehouse constructed by developer Tenby Partners LLC. Work is preliminarily scheduled to begin in July, with the center opening early next year, Haire said. “The payroll is about $8.5 million, and they anticipate 10% to 15% more jobs and payroll associated with the site once it’s opened and operating,” he said. “It’s a good project with more professional roles, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians. There will be a lot of automation. Twenty-five million (dollars) of that investment is in equipment, the automated pill counters. A good project all around.’” https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/communities/canal-winchester/2022/03/11/walgreens-invest-30-m-bring-200-jobs-canal-winchester/6998070001/
March 21, 20223 yr So I posted this over in the Intel thread, but it probably fits here a bit better. I was browsing the airliners.net forum when I came across this post. The user claims to have had some discussions with community planning folks at City Hall who claim there will be more "higher profile" like Intel who will be coming to Central Ohio. This is obviously quite vague, but definitely something to keep an eye on.
March 28, 20223 yr Pretty good for the city if this happens. Hope to here several more relocation announcements over the year. BareMinerals owner could open Columbus corporate office “The owner of the BareMinerals beauty brand may open a corporate office in Columbus. New York-based Orveon Global US LLC is up for an incentive that could be valued at nearly $1 million from the city; Columbus City Council will hold a first reading on that incentive Monday. According to information from the city, Orveon may renovate 22,000 square feet of office at 343 N. Front St., suites 100 and 200, in the Arena District. The company expects to create 150 jobs with local payroll of around $15 million. Work could begin as soon as May and wrap up by August.“ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/03/28/bareminerals-owner-could-open-columbus-corporate-o.html
March 28, 20223 yr The rest of the job creation tax credits in Central Ohio approved by the state today: BareMinerals owner, Behr paint approved for Ohio incentives “New York-based Orveon Global U.S. LLC was approved for a 2.057%, 10-year tax credit valued at up to $3.9 million for up to 150 new jobs. California-based Behr Process Corporation was approved for a 1.38%, seven-year tax credit valued at up to $400,000 for up to 90 new jobs. California-based Ortal USA Inc. was approved for a 1.259%, six-year tax credit valued at up to $105,000 for up to 24 new jobs. Behr makes house paints and wood care products. According to information from the state, it is planning to build a new state-of-the-art manufacturing and distribution operation in Heath. It could employ 90 full-time equivalents with annual payroll of $4.39 million. It would need to keep operations at that location for at least 10 years. Ortal USA plans to relocate its corporate headquarters to Columbus, which it sees as a more central location for North American distribution, according to information from the state. The company, which designs and sells modern fireplaces, would retain one local employee (and $400,000 of payroll) and create 24 new jobs with annual payroll of $1.5 million. It would be required to stay at the project location for nine years minimum.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/03/28/bareminerals-owner-behr-paint-approved-for-ohio-i.html
March 31, 20223 yr Industrial vacancy reaches new all-time low in Central Ohio “For the fifth quarter in a row, industrial vacancy rates in Central Ohio is at an all-time low. The first quarter's industrial vacancy rate was 1.6%, according to JLL Managing Director Brian Marsh. That's down from the fourth quarter of 2021's 2.1% vacancy rate. "It’s good that there’s this much demand. The negative is we don’t have space available, at some point if there’s still demand that demand is going to go somewhere else," Marsh said. "You’re gonna miss deals because you just don’t have facilities for people and that‘s the negative part. The positive part is it’s very healthy for the market and developers." Weeks said another challenge is land availability. He told Columbus Business First it is difficult for developers to find land that has the appropriate entitlements and utilities for industrial development, which is causing developers to have to look further and further outside of the region's traditional submarket.“ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/03/31/industrial-vacancy-rate-reaches-record-low-for-q1.html
April 4, 20223 yr Two stories: Glad Olive plans on keeping their downtown location. However, I can’t help but feel disappointed this expansion won’t be downtown as well. Olive AI revitalizing long-vacant former Anthem HQ in Worthington as 'convening' space “Rapidly growing Olive AI Inc. is revitalizing one of Central Ohio's largest suburban office properties – largely empty for four years – as a new headquarters and conference space. Now at 1,400 employees nationwide, the Columbus health IT company bought the former Anthem headquarters at 6700 N. High St. on Friday, according to the Worthington City Council agenda for Monday. Olive doesn't immediately plan to leave its original headquarters at 99 E. Main St. in Columbus, Lane said. He has also used a small Worthington office as an "annex" in recent years. The company bought the 231,000-square-foot Worthington office on 20 acres from an affiliate of Columbus-based Lawyers Development Corp., according to a release. The developer bought it for $6.5 million from health insurer Anthem at the end of 2017 and had done extensive renovations. The Franklin County Recorder's website has not yet updated to reflect the sale.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/04/04/olive-ai-worthington-hq.html But downtown is getting another law firm: This Cleveland-based law firm is expanding to Columbus “Cleveland-based law firm Flannery | Georgalis LLC is expanding to Columbus. The fast-growing firm, which focuses on criminal defense, internal investigations and complex civil litigation, was founded in 2017 and has grown to include more than 20 lawyers with offices in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Charlotte and now Columbus. The founding partner-in-charge of the firm's new Columbus office is Matthew Jalandoni, who had served as assistant attorney general for the state of Ohio from 2017 to this year. The new Columbus office is located on South 3rd Street in downtown Columbus, near the Ohio Statehouse.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/04/04/cleveland-based-law-firm-is-expanding-to-columbus.html
April 8, 20223 yr Two more tenants claiming more space downtown. I hope to see more news like this throughout the year, since I don’t think we’ll get the downtown density we want without the jobs headquartered there. Arena District lands local offices for two out-of-state firms “Epstein Becker & Green PC will open a 13,351-square-foot office on a half-floor at 250 West St. for its first local location in Columbus. It expects to relocate in September. Global architecture and engineering firm DLR Group will open a 4,635-square-foot office at 250 West St. as well. The Omaha, Nebraska-based firm is moving from a coworking space at 629 N. High St. because it's business is expanding in Central Ohio. It is expected to move in July. "The building that both tenants will reside in offers an extensive amenity package and the ability to retain and recruit top talent by being in the Arena District," Savills Senior Vice President Darin Manning said in an email. Manning said there is a continued flight to quality in the market as major office occupiers and their employees still want to be downtown.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/04/08/two-new-companies-coming-to-the-arena-district.html
April 18, 20223 yr ^Yeah, I didn't think WFH was going to take over the general idea of office life which has existed forever. This is great for the Arena District.
April 19, 20223 yr New York-based auto parts company acquires Lockbourne warehouse for $35M “Premium Guard, a New York-based after-market auto air and oil filter company, has purchased a warehouse on 9.24 acres in Lockbourne for $35.26 million. The land and warehouse are located at 2750 Creekside Parkway. “Premium Guard is in growth mode, and we look forward to bringing new jobs and tapping into the robust Central Ohio logistics market,” Byron Howard, vice president of operations at IPC Global Solutions, a company Premium Guard acquired this year, told Columbus Business First. Howard estimated the purchase will bring at least 40 jobs initially, and that the number could grow.“ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/04/19/premium-guard-purchases-lockbourne-warehouse.html
April 19, 20223 yr A lot of the Rickenbacker warehouses are rentals so it's kind of interesting to see someone buy their own building. People always say thing's like "Look at that huge building Amazon's putting up!" and I'm sitting there like, "Um..."
April 26, 20223 yr California-based company investing $35M in new Licking County facility “Irvine, California-based Prudential Cleaning Services is making a $35 million investment in Licking County. The company bought a 66,715-square-foot speculative industrial facility at 650 International Dr. in Heath from developer Southgate Corp. for $5.2 million, Robert O'Neill, Southgate's president, told Columbus Business First. It plans to create around 80 jobs at the facility, where workers will clean the garments worn by people involved in the direct production of pharmaceutical products and semiconductor chips, said Jerry Martin, Prudential's vice president of sales and marketing. Those are two industries where Central Ohio has notched a couple of big recent wins. Most notably, Intel Corp. plans to invest $20 billion in a pair of semiconductor factories about 20 miles west of Prudential's facility, while biotech giant Amgen is building a $365 million pharmaceutical plant nearby in New Albany.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/04/26/prudential-cleaning-services-announces-ohio-site.html
May 13, 20223 yr Alternative fuels company expands manufacturing in Union County “A sustainability company that turns waste products into jet fuel is expanding its manufacturing facility and more than doubling staff in Union County. Velocys Inc. has signed a 15-year lease for a $10 million, 52,000-square-foot production facility off Warner Road in Jerome Township, just northwest of Dublin. The company is investing $2 million while developer Pagura Co. covers the rest. Velocys currently employs 15 in the region and plans to add 19 jobs, according to a presentation to Union County – Marysville Economic Development. It's hiring in engineering, operations, chemistry and technical services. The county approved a 10-year, 75% property tax abatement that will save the company about $283,000 over the life of the deal if it creates the pledged jobs and meets other terms.“ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/05/13/velocys-expands-union-county.html
May 19, 20223 yr At least Vertiv will be staying in the area, and plans to add more jobs as well. Public company Vertiv moving HQ to Westerville from Columbus “Consolidating corporate offices in the Westar development creates a walkable three-building campus with more efficient and improved communication and collaboration, the public company said in a news release. Vertiv (NYSE: VRT) signed a lease this spring for 72,000 square feet at 505 N. Cleveland Ave., and after renovations expects to move in some 300 employees this fall, the release said. The office also will have a customer demonstration center and social gathering spaces. It's near existing company offices that Vertiv owns at 610 Executive Campus Dr. and 530 Westar Blvd. The 350 existing jobs in the suburb already made it one of the city's top 10 employers, according to Westerville's annual report. Economic incentives approved by Westerville in November and the state Department of Development this January presaged the move, although the company at the time said it had not made a final decision. Combined the incentives save the company a projected $3.6 million over the life of the deals, in return for a pledge to create 100 new jobs.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/05/19/vertiv-westerville-hq.html
May 23, 20223 yr Battelle gene therapy spinout expanding to New Albany, adding 260 jobs “Responding to soaring demand for regenerative medicine, Battelle spinout AmplifyBio LLC plans to build a research center in New Albany and create 263 jobs in Central Ohio. The contract research organization for cell and gene therapies also is expanding its West Jefferson headquarters and is hunting a site for a corporate office, according to a release from economic development organization One Columbus. About 132 new jobs are slated for the $150 million facility the company is building at 9885 Innovation Campus Way in New Albany. The 30-acre West Jefferson campus, 1425 Plain-City Georgesville Road, will add 99 jobs to the current 155 employees. The remaining 32 new jobs are for the future HQ.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/05/23/battelle-spinout-amplifybio-new-albany.html Put the HQ Downtown, please and thanks.
June 1, 20223 yr Kroger to extend greater Columbus home delivery reach with Lockbourne facility “Cincinnati-based Kroger has opened a delivery facility near Rickenbacker International Airport, extending the grocer's reach for delivery services in the Columbus area. The 61,000-square-foot delivery hub at 6658 Shook Rd. in Lockbourne extends fulfillment to customers up to 200 miles away in more than 250 ZIP codes in Columbus and beyond. The facility can employ up to 200 workers, with 70 associates at the hub currently. The opening of the Lockbourne fulfillment center represents an extension of Kroger's partnership with U.K.-based e-commerce company Ocado and follows the opening of a fulfillment hub in Monroe, Ohio, last year. Amazon similarly opened a fulfillment center in Lockbourne earlier this year. Kroger plans to open a third Ohio fulfillment center in Cleveland, in addition to centers in California, Maryland, Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, and North Carolina.“ https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/06/01/kroger-open-delivery-facility-lockbourne/7455194001/
June 6, 20223 yr Atlanta cowarehousing company Saltbox plans Dublin fulfillment center “An Atlanta-based cowarehousing developer is bringing its first-ever fulfillment center to Columbus. The company, Saltbox, typically offers small warehouse, offices and other amenities to its clients, but because of growing client demand, the firm will be launching a fulfillment center at 7001 Discovery Blvd. in Dublin, Steve Sawicki, the firm's director of real estate, told Columbus Business First. Sawicki said the firm chose Columbus because its proximity to a large portion of the nation's population would allow for faster and cheaper delivery options. Moving forward, he said Saltbox would consider expanding operations in Columbus, but it's currently focused on this fulfillment center. The Dublin space is more than 80,000 square feet, according to a news release.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/06/06/saltbox-columbus-fulfilment-center.html
July 7, 20222 yr Yike. OhioHealth to eliminate 637 jobs in its biggest layoff ever “OhioHealth is eliminating 637 jobs, its biggest layoff ever, as part of a plan that the Columbus-based healthcare operator says is necessary to drive improvements in patient care. Of the 637 jobs, 567 are in information technology and the rest are in a unit called revenue cycle that handles such things as billing, coding and accounts receivable. Most of the jobs are based in Greater Columbus. OhioHealth says the IT work will be handled by the professional services company Accenture. AGS Health will handle the revenue cycle business. OhioHealth says the moves aren't meant to save money. Instead, the layoffs are intended to drive improvement in patient care and services, and position the health care system for a future where patients rely more on telemedicine and cell phones to organize their health care.” https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/07/07/ohiohealth-announces-biggest-layoff-company-history/7829847001/
July 18, 20222 yr Design firm Ware Malcomb opens Columbus office “Design firm Ware Malcomb has moved into an office in the Short North. The office, at 875 N. High St., is the firm’s third in the Midwest and will support its growing client and project base in the region, the company said in a media release. The firm had not previously been in Columbus. The firm did not disclose how much space it's taking in the building, which was developed by Pizzuti Cos. Dubbed The Offices at The Sutton, the 875 N. High St. property has 45,000 square feet of office and 12,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. Sound + Light Creative, Frazier Consulting Services and Jump Legal also have offices in the building. Ware Malcomb, a 50-year-old firm, provides architecture, planning, interior design, civil engineering and branding services to its clients. The firm has offices throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Brazil.“ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/07/18/design-ware-malcomb-opens-columbus-office.html
July 27, 20222 yr Columbus Income Tax Revenue Rebounds Significantly - Workers Return to Offices "Columbus city income tax receipts have rebounded significantly above estimates over the first five months of 2022 as many at-home workers returned to their former offices and workplaces, and they also are being paid on average 11% more than last year, including some workers' bonuses." Edited July 27, 20222 yr by Gnoraa
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