Jaguar Transport to invest $12 million in Marion County distribution center

In a $12 million investment to Marion County, logistics company Jaguar Transport Holdings is to build a 150,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution center near the intersection of State Route 309 and 98.

After months of planning, conversation, public meetings and negotiation with Jaguar Transport Holdings, the company who has owned the Marion Industrial Rail Park since 2020, the Marion County Commissioners voted unanimously Thursday for a resolution to reimburse the logistics company up to $1 million to offset the cost of the public infrastructure needed for the new development.

Infrastructure needs include projects like storm water and retention systems, a fire line water system and a parking lot along with installing a gas line and sewer system. The reimbursement is allowed by the Ohio Revised Code's legislation through Tax Increment Financing.

The new warehouse will house Sika Corporation, a global company specializing in sealants and bonding agents. Sika currently has a manufacturing facility at 1682 Marion-Williamsport Road and leases several facilities from Jaguar Transport Holdings in the Marion Industrial Rail Park.

Ken Lengieza, the director of special projects with Marion County Regional Planning Commission, shared the excitement and anticipated impact of the coming development with the commissioners at the Thursday meeting.

"I am in favor of this - I think this is great. The good thing for the county is you don't pay anything until the taxes come in from this facility," Lengieza said. "The only negative is this will be a few years down the road."

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This new 150,000 square foot facility will allow the corporation to consolidate its warehousing and distributing operations, and has been in the planning stages since the project was first presented to the commissioners Nov. 16 by representatives from Sika and Jaguar Transport in an administrative meeting.

This development is a mark of economic growth for Marion, as Sika is a rapidly growing company and Marion is one of its strategic sites.

In the 10 years between 2011 and 2021, the corporation nearly doubled its number of employees - from 94 to 180 - and likewise increased its payroll from $4.1 million to $10 million.

Executive Director of Marion CAN DO! Gus Comstock said this marks a promising direction for the economic direction of Marion.

"Marion is strategically located - this is one of their most productive plants," Comstock said. "Really, this is a big deal in the world of economic development."

In the Thursday commissioners meeting, Comstock expressed his gratitude for all parties involved in moving the project forward, including the commissioners and community partners.

"I just want to thank everybody. This was a very robust discussion and a very robust process. I think it sets us up as a community that is open to development and open to detailed, in-depth discussions," he said.

Sika has projected it will hire 15 more employees and add $900,000 to its payroll over the next three years within the Marion manufacturing facility.

The terms of the county's reimbursement include Jaguar Transport needing to submit invoices to be approved by the county engineer, county auditor and fire chief.

Jaguar Transport must also receive an Occupancy Permit from the First Consolidated Fire District for the 150,000 square foot building by January 2024, when the public infrastructure projects must be completed for reimbursement.

Story by: Sophia Veneziano (740) 564 - 5243 | sveneziano@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Jaguar Transport to build $12 million warehouse in Marion County