Grants available for business expansion, investment in Greene County

Credit: Chuck Hamlin

Credit: Chuck Hamlin

The Greene County Community Improvement Corporation is rolling out a grant incentive program for businesses expanding or relocating to the county.

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The Economic Development Incentive Program is aimed at creating jobs and grants are awarded based on that factor as well as additional payroll, fixed-asset investment commitment, return on investment and alignment with the county's strategic goals, the county development department announced today.

“The EDIP program provides us another tool to further our goals of attracting diverse businesses and assisting our current businesses with growth," Greene County Development Director Paul Newman Jr. said in a prepared statement. "At the end of the day, it’s about creating job opportunities for our citizens in Greene County.”

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Grant money can be used for workforce training, infrastructure improvements, purchase of land, site development, acquisition of equipment and relocation costs, according to the release.

A pilot program last year led to five companies, with a combined payroll of $380 million, receiving a total of $525,000 in grant money, according to the release. That money was used to create more than 600 jobs in the county and assisted those companies with $9 million in facility improvements, according to the release.

Development officials said companies looking to expand will be considered for grants twice a year, and new or relocating companies will be considered at any time.

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A company that receives an EDIP grant commits to staying put for at least 10 years and achieving projected payroll and job goals during that time, according to the release.

Businesses involving retail will not be considered, nor will start-up businesses or companies that previously received an EDIP grant, according to the release.

Applications can be found at the Greene County Department of Development website. Completed applications are due by 4 p.m. Oct. 31 and should be sent to county economic development coordinator Eric Henry, ehenry@co.greene.oh.us.

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