YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Warren City Council, the Howland Township Board of Trustees and Warren Township will each hold public hearings Wednesday to provide an opportunity for members of the community to learn about and weigh in on a proposed joint economic development district to incorporate the site of Kimberly-Clark Corp.’s planned $800 million plant in Trumbull County.

The communities would be part of the proposed Warren-Howland-Warren Joint Economic Development District, which would encompass just shy of 644 acres of the former BDM Steel property, which is in Howland and Warren townships. 

Warren City Council members will consider the JEDD proposal at a meeting scheduled to follow the public hearing, according to a meeting agenda. Howland Township Administrator James Pantalone could not say early Tuesday whether the trustees would take up the JEDD after their public hearing.

A representative of Warren Township said later Tuesday that a hearing on the proposal will be held at 1 p.m.  

Consumer products giant Kimberly-Clark announced plans May 1 to build a 1-million-plus-square-foot plant on BDM property it acquired from the Western Reserve Port Authority.

The contract proposes a 2% income tax within the JEDD on wages paid to persons employed within the district and a 25% tax on net profits generated by businesses within the district.

Once created, the priority of the district would be to generate needed financial resources to “provide appropriate governmental services and public infrastructure in support of commercial and industrial growth” within the JEDD and the region generally. It would be governed by a three-person board of directors initially, with that number eventually growing to five.

Under the terms of the agreement, the city of Warren would provide water, sanitary sewer and waste collection services within the JEDD. The two townships would provide police and fire/emergency medical services, including the continuation of any mutual aid agreements in effect with the JEDD parties.

JEDD board members would be paid $100 per meeting, plus any expenses deemed authorized and necessary. The board would meet at least once annually, with special meetings called by the chairperson as needed or upon written request by a majority of the board of directors.

Pictured at top: A rendering of Kimberly-Clark’s proposed facility in Trumbull County.