"The District"

INTRODUCING "THE DISTRICT"

Ohio is renowned for its business-friendly environment, characterized by the absence of inventory tax, personal property tax, and corporate franchise tax. Building on these advantages, we present "The District," a premier development within the Southern Ohio Industrial District, offering additional incentives. Strategically positioned between the Ohio River to the south and Norfolk Southern Rail to the north, complete with three lanes and multiple spurs to support industrial activities, "The District" is poised to become the future hub of development in the Midwest.

The Southern Ohio Industrial District, commonly referred to as "The District," is a collaborative initiative spearheaded by JobsOhio and the Lawrence Economic Development Corporation (LEDC). This project consolidates over 400 acres of prime industrial land, featuring eight vacant industrial buildings. The closure of a Dow Styrofoam plant, coupled with surrounding lands, has paved the way for this new development. Dr. Bill Dingus, Executive Director of LEDC, describes it as "a dream location for manufacturing and distribution." The area boasts exceptional logistics and accessibility, with over half a mile of frontage along the Ohio River and the same along Norfolk Southern's Heartland Corridor.

Moreover, The District benefits from excellent highway connectivity, being situated along the four-lane, limited-access U.S. Route 52. Interstate 64 is a mere 20 minutes to the south, while Interstates 70, 71, 75, 270, and 275, as well as the cities of Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio, and Lexington, Kentucky, are within a two-hour drive. The Huntington Tri-State Airport (HTS), which includes a major FedEx center, is only 30 minutes away, and both Lexington and Cincinnati Airports are within a two-hour reach.

Administered by the LEDC, The District serves as an ideal vantage point for businesses looking to expand or relocate, particularly those in the petrochemical and metal industries. The competitive edge of The District lies in its logistical advantages, proximity to supply chains, and diverse transportation options.

Dr. Bill Dingus, reflecting on his tenure as Dean at Ohio University, emphasizes, "A business's success often hinges on its connection to robust transportation networks, whether by road, water, or rail, to supply chains and markets." He further adds, "The potential of Southern Ohio's Industrial District is on the rise, supported by favorable logistical, financial, and labor force conditions. With a local workforce of over 400,000 residents, the area is continuously developing, contributing to the economic prosperity of Ohio. The positive economic impact for current and prospective businesses in The District will continue to grow."

In summary, "The District" offers a unique combination of logistical excellence, strategic location, and a supportive business environment, making it a prime destination for industrial growth and development in the Midwest.

Site Overview & Services

The Southern Ohio Industrial District provides key advantages to a variety of businesses and organizations, and the opportunities for those in the petrochemicals, energy, and metals industries are being capitalized on regularly. The District offers both green-field sites and fully­-developed buildings, complete with everything ready to just flip the switch. With 400,000 sf. of structures of multiple sizes, most small- to medium-sized business facility needs are easily accommodated. The District is currently home to businesses such as Dynegy, Rumpke, AmSty, and Sun Coke.

The Tri-State Area (Huntington, WV, Ashland, KY, Ironton and Portsmouth, OH) surrounding The District provides a vast spectrum of support services. With numerous industrial supply companies, industrial cleaning and rehabilitation services, steel manufacturers, distributorships, machine shops, tool and die makers, and training companies, The District's advantages appear to be unmatched in similar-sized communities. Additionally, varied housing is available to meet the needs of employees from corporate leaders to support staff.

Utilities

The District's local utility providers ensure the presence ofreliable infrastructure resources. With multiple 765 KV lines providing redundant power sources to one of Ohio's largest AEP substations, the 69 KV substation feeding The District offers the comfort of nearly guaranteed uninterrupted power to all District businesses. The District is crossed by an 8" line from Columbia Gas with 320 psi. The existing water line is a 12" 100+ psi line, proving more than capable to supply existing and incoming businesses. Since The District borders the Ohio River, an unlimited amount of process water is available. Along with these resources, The District has liquid process and storage tanks, multiple silos, and broadband services. Beyond economically­ beneficial logistics, The District proves to be economically-beneficial with respect to reliable utilities as well.

Workforce

The District's labor pool is abundant, hailing from within and beyond the Tri-State area
(Huntington, WV, Ashland, KY, Ironton and Portsmouth, OH) to represent a growing population that currently exceeds 400,000. This trained workforce specializes in production and technology to provide solid labor and operations for businesses to thrive. The abundant workforce, along with a low cost of living, has made area labor costs affordable for businesses.
With four universities, four vocational/career centers, numerous 2-year technical and community colleges, and three private schools, the area's training programs have enhanced local workforce skillsets. The educational and training institutions surrounding The District play an active role in following modem industry trends as well as skills required for these jobs. As technology evolves, human input also varies to increase efficiency. It's reassuring for businesses to know that The District's labor force possesses the skills necessary to adapt to their business practices.

Construction Services

The LEDC, which operates The District is accomplished in providing tum-key developments for manufacturing, logistics, and service companies. The LEDC development team, led by Associate Director Jeremy Clay, typically provides a contract guaranteeing both price and completion time. Their last industrial complex was 130,000 sf., 70 ft. at eves, with cranes, and it was completed in 210 days. Additionally, they include options where the owner can utilize the last 60 days of construction time to rough-in their manufacturing equipment. According to Dingus, "Jeremy consistently brings the buildings in 30% faster with 15% less cost than the market."

Incentives

Southern Ohio's Industrial District is a hot spot for growth and, coupled with Ohio's low business tax philosophy, LEDC openly trades land for jobs. The land is sold at a percentage of appraisal with that reduced percentage tied directly to job creation per acre.
Other incentives provided by Lawrence County include grants for infrastructure and partial real estate tax abatement. These County incentives, built upon local incentives, lay a solid foundation that is greatly complemented by the State of Ohio's incentive package-which normally includes low cost loans, training grants, access road support, a job creation tax credit, and numerous other ways to help warrant success for the business. It's easy to see how "The District" is a dream site.

Contact Information

International or Domestic companies interested in discussing expansion or relocation should contact:

Dr. Bill Dingus - 740.533.7280 - dingus@Ohio.edu
Jeremy Clay - 740.646.9338 - jeremy@LEDCorp.org