Tax Abatements Approved for Liberty, Girard Projects

WARREN, Ohio – Trumbull County commissioners on Wednesday approved two tax abatements for business projects in Liberty Township and the city of Girard.

Steel & Liberty LLC applied for a tax abatement through the Community Reinvestment Area Agreement. The company was approved for a 75% tax abatement for 10 years for its plans to build a new hotel near the Metroplex Expo Center on Motor Inn Drive. 

The Community Reinvestment Area Agreement is a partnership between the Trumbull County commissioners and the Liberty Township Board of Trustees that serves businesses and future projects on Belmont Avenue. Liberty trustees approved their side of the agreement during their meeting on May 16.

According to Nick Coggins, assistant director of the Trumbull County Planning Commission, the hotel would be 55,000 square feet, with 89 to 99 rooms. The project would cost an estimated $8 million to $12 million investment for Steel & Liberty.

Nisarg Patel, owner of Steel & Liberty, said he will consider local contractors for construction. 

“We are waiting on the bids. Local [work] is helpful for us as well because it makes construction progress well,” Patel said. “When we have somebody come from the outside, we would have to pay for travel as well. Local [work] will be heavily considered.”

Yellowstone Industrial LLC, a highway and bridge guardrail manufacturer, is looking to renovate and restart operations at the Syro Steel building in Girard. To grow its own company, Yellowstone officials decided they needed to be able to galvanize their own products. 

Yellowstone applied for the Enterprise Zone Agreement application for a 75% tax abatement for 10 years. Through resolution, local jurisdictions also negotiate for abatements.

Girard City Council passed the abatement on May 9. 

David Bryce, president and owner of Yellowstone, said his company was seeking tax abatements because renovations and equipment for the old Syro Steel building would cost several million dollars.

“The first step was to get the galvanize facility, then rehabilitate it and get it operational, then be able to start to run our own product and experience growth,” Bryce said. “In the first five years it’ll bleed us dry. We won’t be profitable in the first five years because of the cost until we really get it going.”

The Trumbull County commissioners approved both tax abatements and said they were pleased to be able to do their part to bring in more than 50 jobs to the Trumbull County area.

Pictured at top: The former Syro Steel building in Girard.

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