Middletown vs. Moeller
Pyramid Hill light show preparation
Were you spotted tailgating?
Home > Blogs > West Chester News and Issues > Archives > 2008 > August > 13 > Entry
GE facility coming to West Chester Twp.
In case you haven’t checked the headlines of the Journal-News today, here’s the big story:
West Chester Twp. approved last night an incentive package to bring GE Aviation’s engineering division to a new site in the township. Here’s a link to the story I wrote last night, but in a nutshell, this could mean a $55 million investment in the township, and over 1,000 jobs with six-figure salaries relocating to the area.
Another interesting item connected with the announcement is that, if all goes well, this will the the township’s first venture into a Joint Economic Development District, or JEDD. I wrote a story about that here.
Read the stories, then come back and share your thoughts; what do you think about GE’s move? How about the township’s incentive package? What impact will this have on West Chester Twp?
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: Around West Chester
Comments
By Ida Tarbell
August 13, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this
I enjoyed reading your article in ‘The Journal” regarding GE’s potential move to Westchester Township. However, it left me with several of questions. 1) What formula did the JEDD use to calculate that the township would receive $1 million dollars per year in revenue, as a justification for granting GE a 100 % tax abatement for 10-15 years? 2) What impact will this have on Hamilton County (and its school district) when GE relocates its tax-paying, $55 million dollar facility to Butler county? 3) Who would be reimbursing the Lakota school district? And why would there need for reimbursement?
By A. C.
August 13, 2008 6:12 PM | Link to this
Once again, a major employer is ready to move a large number of its area employees from one local tax district to another. In this day of rising commuter costs, business should be moving back into the city center, not further out. West Chester Township has been a blight on the region, a role it has made clear it intends to play out until every last acre has been transformed into an unplanned sprawl where traffic is terrible and green space is under private ownership. Way to go, sprawl lovers, leave no stone unturned in a grab for development dollars. We will all laugh in 30 years when West Chester becomes the slum of Butler County, a wasteland of poorly constructed condos and homes on tiny lots.
By Erasmus
August 15, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this
Amen to A.C. Those people in West Chester are like the nobility of ancien regime France. Living in blissful oblivion.Wait ‘till the bubble burst! The shameless Butler County Commissioners are like King Louis XV- “apres me le deluge.” Let them all eat cake in their Weatherington Mc Mansions with Lords Boehner and Cates as all of us peasants sit back and wait to storm the Bastille.
By Faisal, M
August 17, 2008 7:03 PM | Link to this
I think this is a great news for Butler county and Ohio in general. One thousand new job will bring more prosperity and improve the local economy. GE should also focus on hiring local talent and more publicly and openly announce their plans. West Chester is among fastest growing township and many national and international companies are setting up their corporate offices.