Potential American Township development incentive discussed
According to the Ohio Department of Development, a CRA is an area designated for special tax exemptions for property owners who either renovate existing buildings or construct new ones, allowing such areas to serve as incentives for either revitalization or new development. The exemptions can reach up to 100 percent, but any exemptions beyond 75 percent would require consent from the local school district. The area designation can then be applied to properties in the selected area for up to 15 years.
In this case, the CRA would cover just under 400 acres of land bordered by Bluelick Road to the south, North Cole Street to the west, midway between Cole and North West Street to the east and Irvin Road to the north, except for just over 40 acres of land north of Irvin Road in Sugar Creek Township. This area of land has been a topic of discussion in recent meetings in American Township concerning the possible construction of a new data center.
According to Allen County Commissioner Cory Noonan, while multiple CRAs have been established throughout the city of Lima as well as in Spencerville and Delphos since the program's creation in 1977, this would be the first one created in an unincorporated area of the county, which means this is the first time the county commissioners have been involved in this program.
"Economic development is one of the most important things that we do," he said. "We look at tools all the time to help our existing businesses and also to bring in new businesses into the county. So we spent some time discussing CRAs and their implementation, how they come into effect, specifically looking at an industrial area on the north side of town."
Noonan emphasized that any potential creation of a CRA in this area does not guarantee instant development or even a specified tax incentive percentage for any new development.
"[Potential developers] would have to come to the board of commissioners, and that would need to be adopted on a case-by-case basis," he said.
Having a CRA designation for a portion of land is simply an added incentive for potential investors, telling them that there are greater economic advantages to choosing that site for development.
Friday's meeting did not yield any final decision regarding the creation of a CRA with those in attendance agreeing that more discussion is necessary. A subsequent meeting on this topic has not yet been scheduled.
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