Resin distributor Ravago Americas LLC will invest up to $36 million in Medina, Ohio, for a new, large distribution center.
The project cost will be $31-$36 million, estimated Ravago Americas President James Duffy in a Sept. 20 phone interview. It will cover 500,000-600,000 square feet. The facility could create as many as 70 new jobs in Medina.
"We have a large presence in Ohio and our company is investing heavily in itself there," Duffy said. "We're breaking ground as we speak."
Duffy said his company has outgrown a distribution facility in Barberton, Ohio, and the time has come to consolidate. The company also has manufacturing and other operations in Ohio. Medina is about a 30 minute commute from Barberton.
Duffy said the new Medina facility will include pulverizing equipment to make rotational molding grades of plastic resin. The site will include 17-20 silos, railway sidings and boxing and bagging equipment. He predicts the facility will be finished in mid-2019.
The new center will be able to handle up to 100 rail cars at a time, according to a report in the Medina Gazette.
The Medina County Port Authority will issue up to $50 million in bonds to Ravago. Other possible incentives may include payroll tax credits and property tax abatement, said Bethany Dentler, executive director of the Medina County Economic Development Corp. Assistance may also be available from Jobs Ohio, she said in a phone interview.
Ravago examined other states and locations in Ohio before choosing Medina, Ravago Vice President of Operations Sean Williams noted in the local news report.
The new Medina operation is the third expansion move revealed by Ravago this month. It previously announced it acquired resin distributor Bolcof-Port Polymers of Azusa, Calif., and I. Stern & Co., a distributor and reseller of commodity resins in Clark, N.J.