'This is our Intel' — Mayor Matt Miller on Charles River's $212 million expansion project
Ashland City Council
Tuesday, June 7 meeting
KEY ACTION Approved a 75% property tax reduction for 10 years for Charles River Laboratories, which announced plans in late May for a $212 million expansion project that will add 200,000-square feet to its Ashland facility at 1407 George Road.
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DISCUSSION As part of the tax abatement agreement, the research and drug development company is expected to hire at least 500 new employees in the next three years, which Mayor Matt Miller said Charles River believes will happen before that.
"This project is comparable to Intel in Ohio. This is Ashland's Intel," said Miller, touting it as the biggest expansion project in the city's history.
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Intel is planning to invest more than $20 billion in the construction of two new leading-edge chip factories spanning nearly 1,000 acres in Licking County, just outside of Columbus.
Miller said "Ashland's Intel" agreement means Charles River "still will pay 25% on that $212 million" and will add $24 million in additional paychecks to a current $58 million payroll of 1,000 employees, Ashland County's biggest employer.
Previous Ashland Council tax abatement agreements helping to fill apartments near Charles River the past few years helped make the $212 million project a reality, Miller added. Charles River looks to start construction on the new facility in July.
"Our efforts have paid off," council President Steve Workman said. "This is our Intel. This is a company that could go anywhere, but they chose Ashland for their expansion."
The Ashland County Commissioners also will need to vote on the 75% tax abatement Ashland Council approved.
Ashland Police Division to receive 30 body cameras
OTHER BUSINESS Council authorized the mayor to enter into a contract for the purchase of 30 body cameras for the Police Division, not to exceed 120,000 for fiscal year 2022.
Some of the costs associated with the body cameras include a little more than $49,000 for the body cameras, which will be offset by a $30,000 donation from the Ashland-based nonprofit Norma Foundation; about $23,000 for training; and around $17,000 for ongoing maintenance.
FOR YOUR INFO Even though the Claremont Avenue paving project fell through for now because the single bid on it was about $1 million more than anticipated, Miller said the worst sections of the road will be milled down an inch and a half and patched for about $137,000, with the hopes of opening the bidding again at a later date.
UP NEXT Meets at 7 p.m. June 21 in the municipal building.
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Charles River Laboratories receives tax abatement from Ashland Council
