News Summary

WEST CHESTER TWP. — A loss for two Ohio cities has become this community's gain.

GE Aviation announced Thursday, Aug. 14, that it chose West Chester to house a portion of its $13.2 billion operation over competing cities Evandale and Springdale.

Earlier Thursday, county commissioners gave their approval on a 100 percent, 15-year property tax abatement for the company, the same deal offered by the Hamilton County cities.

"It's mixed emotions," said West Chester Twp. Administrator Judy Boyko about the announcement. "I'm extremely excited for West Chester to have GE as one of the anchors of our community, but of course I empathize with Springdale.

"At least GE is staying in the region, and that's paramount to maintain the success of the Greater Cincinnati economy," she added.

GE spokesman Rick Kennedy said the company chose West Chester Twp. because it offered a location for a new facility, room to expand, interstate access, among other reasons.

The company has selected the site of the former Queen City Sports Complex, 9267 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, for a two-building, 400,000-square-foot facility, which is expected to house 1,400 employees with average annual salaries of $100,000.

GE Aviation will now consolidate three of its facilities, two of which are in Springdale and the other in West Chester.

The total investment is approximately $55 million, including $40 million on two "mid-rise office buildings," according to plans submitted to the county Thursday. Construction is expected to be complete late next year.

The tax abatement — roughly equivalent to $200,000 a year — will run for the length of its lease, expected to be 10, according to a company news release.

The company could bring $140 million a year in payroll to the area, said Brian Coughlin, the county's economic development director.

GE expects to begin moving employees in October, and continue through early 2010, the news release stated.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2112 or dgreber@coxohio.com.