WARREN, Ohio – An official with Kimberly-Clark Corp. said he anticipates a proposal for the former steel mill property the company owns in Trumbull County to go before its board of directors within the next six months.
Chuck Smith, director of strategic capital projects with the consumer paper products manufacturer, attended Wednesday’s meeting of the Western Reserve Port Authority Board of Directors, which was considering action items to assist the potential project.
The port authority board approved executing a ground lease agreement Wednesday with Kimberly-Clark, which purchased 560 acres of the former BDM Steel property in December 2023 for “proposed construction” of a plant, warehouse and offices.
“This is one element of a number of pieces of incentive packages that need to come to fruition to be able to evaluate the financial economics of a potential investment within this community,” Smith said at the port authority meeting. Whether Kimberly-Clark moves forward with a project at the site is at the discretion of the company’s board of directors.
The port authority also approved selling an additional 5.3667 acres, the former Linde Gas & Equipment property, to the company for $1,000 per acre for future potential developments that the company would like to consider at the site.
In related business, the board approved entering into an agreement with Norfolk Southern for a new southern access to the BDM property and discussed road and bridge upgrades to be funded by a $17.2 million All Ohio Future Fund grant.
The funds will be used in combination with other state, local and private funds to pay for site preparation and construction of regional transportation improvements, and to remediate brownfield environmental conditions at a cost totaling nearly $23.58 million at the 1,000-acre site. The breakdown for how the funds will be spent is $14.91 million for surface transportation, $6.62 million for environmental remediation and $2.04 million for sewers.
“The majority of this project is upgrading and improving an existing truck route,” said Anthony Trevena, WRPA executive director. The project also will include construction of a new road and new bridge at the property.
The port authority meeting preceded a public hearing on authorizing an enterprise zone agreement with Kimberly-Clark, which the Trumbull County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved. The agreement, which previously was approved by trustees in Warren and Howland townships, will provide a 10-year, 60% tax abatement for new construction at the site.
Earlier this week, Nicholas Coggins, assistant director/director of economic development for the Trumbull County Planning Commission, said the proposed 1.1 million-square-foot plant is expected to cost between $650 million and $875 million and would employ more than 400 workers. About 75% of the property where the proposed plant would be built is in Howland, with the remaining property in Warren.
Trumbull County Commissioner Dennis Malloy called the approval of the enterprise zone agreement a historic day for the county.
“We hope this seals the deal,” Malloy said. “Trumbull County is rolling out the red carpet.”
Commissioner Tony Bernard thanked state Rep. Nick Santucci of Niles, R-64th, for helping to secure an All Ohio Future Fund grant, and Commissioner Rick Hernandez called the proposed project the biggest thing to hit the area since the General Motors Lordstown complex.
After the meeting, the Trumbull commissioners accompanied Smith to the proposed plant site.
In an emailed statement, Guy Coviello, president and CEO of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, praised the actions taken Wednesday and credited the efforts by Lake to River Economic Development, the port authority, Trumbull County commissioners and the Trumbull County Planning Commission, as well as the trustees of Warren and Howland townships.
“The votes today by Trumbull County commissioners and the Western Reserve Port Authority are critical in getting this proposed project – which has the potential to revitalize the site while creating hundreds of jobs and encouraging future development there in the meantime – across the finish line. Creating a business-friendly environment takes a team effort, and that is exactly what happened in this case.”
Actions taken by the port authority, townships, state government and county commissioners demonstrate commitment to Kimberly-Clark’s board “that our community came forward and created an opportunity for them here … to make their final decision of what they want to do here,” Trevena said.
“We have felt very welcomed and impressed,” Smith said.
Business Journal reporter Deanne Johnson contributed to this report.
Pictured at top: Chuck Smith, director of strategic capital projects at Kimberly-Clark.