A Cuyahoga County committee approved sending to full council a proposed economic-development loan of up to $2,000,000 to Famous Distribution Inc., doing business as Famous Supply, for the renovation and operation of a 349,000-square-foot distribution center at 5700 Lee Road South in Maple Heights.

Anthony Stella of the Department of Development presented the proposal, saying the project sits on roughly 25 acres, will create 83 new full-time jobs and include a training center for trade skills. "This is going to be their distribution hub and also a training center, for people to learn the trades," Stella said.

Stella gave a cost breakdown: the project totals about $41.5 million, with approximately $18 million in New Markets Tax Credit financing, about $21 million in equity, and a county loan request of $2 million to fill the remaining gap. He summarized proposed loan terms as $2 million at 4.5% interest, one year interest-only, then fully amortized over 10 years; the county would obtain a corporate guarantee from Famous Enterprises Inc. and take a lien on business assets, subordinated to existing lenders.

Kevin Carney, director of finance for Famous Supply, described plans to invest in technology and to use the site as the company’s main hub. "The training center is gonna go a long way for us to really achieving the founder's dreams of really just staying ingrained with the trade community," Carney said.

Maple Heights Mayor Blackwell and Melissa Fertchel, a consultant with MCM Company working on the transaction, spoke in support. Mayor Blackwell said the project was secured without asking for school-tax abatements and credited county staff for assisting the city during the deal process.

Paul Hurdick, a county staff member, clarified historical financing on the same site: he said a previous county loan authorized for another user was disbursed and paid back in full with interest, with no forgiveness. Hurdick and others described the site’s prior involvement in pandemic-era surface-sanitizer manufacturing and noted Famous Supply has purchased and finished out the building.

Committee members moved to approve forwarding the loan to full council and requested suspension of second reading; the motion was moved, seconded and approved. Committee discussion highlighted opportunities for local hiring and coordination with local workforce training programs such as Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C), and noted the training center could support contractor certification in HVAC and hydronics.

No final loan closing occurred at the committee meeting; staff indicated the county would take the described guarantee and lien and that the loan would be subordinate to other lenders. The committee recorded the procedural approval and will forward the legislation to full council for final action.