Trumbull County approves 10-year, 60% tax abatement for proposed Kimberly-Clark plant; multiple routine items also approved

The Trumbull County Board of Commissioners on April 16 approved an enterprise zone agreement granting Kimberly-Clark Corporation a 60% property tax incentive for 10 years to support construction of a proposed 1,157,261-square-foot manufacturing and warehouse facility on two parcels along Pine Avenue in Howland and Warren townships. The motion passed unanimously, with Commissioners Malloy, Bernard and Rick Hernandez voting yes.

The incentive covers parcel numbers 28-903738 and 43-316888 and was discussed as part of item 15 on the agenda. County and regional officials who spoke during the meeting said the abatement, together with a $17,000,000 award from the state’s Ohio Future Fund, strengthens the project's financial case as Kimberly-Clark continues its internal decision process. "The $17,000,000 award from the state of Ohio from the Ohio Future Fund is monumental," said Anthony Trevena, executive director of the Western Reserve Port Authority, thanking local and state partners who worked on the proposal. Charles Smith, director of strategic capital development for North America for Kimberly-Clark, thanked the board for approval and said the incentive was intended to "help the financial case for this proposed facility and more news to come in the future."

Why it matters: Commissioners and economic-development partners said the agreement is intended to attract a major manufacturing employer to the Mahoning Valley and to make the county competitive in recruitment. County officials and private-sector partners credited multi-year outreach by the port authority and Lake To River (a regional economic-development entity) and said the abatement and state funding are intended to help land the project. Several public commenters, local economic development officials and port authority representatives publicly thanked the commissioners for the vote.

Details and local endorsements - The board recorded the enterprise zone agreement as item 15. The incentive request is for a 60% tax abatement lasting 10 years for construction of a facility described in county materials as approximately 1,157,261 square feet of manufacturing, warehouse and office space. The parcels named were 28-903738 and 43-316888 on Pine Avenue in Howland and Warren townships. - The board, Port Authority and Lake To River representatives noted a $17,000,000 award from the Ohio Future Fund as a material part of the project package; state Representative Nick Santucci was thanked by officials for assisting with that award. - Speakers during public comment included Anthony Trevena (Western Reserve Port Authority), Sarah Boyarco (vice president of economic development, Lake To River), Charles Smith (Kimberly-Clark), Samantha Enzminger (Trumbull County tourism) and several local residents who praised the potential investment. - Charles Smith said Kimberly-Clark’s North American leadership and partners had completed several years of due diligence and thanked regional partners for advancing the proposal.

Other approved items (consent and routine business) During the same meeting the board approved routine agenda items and contract amendments including the following (motions passed unanimously unless otherwise noted):

Votes at a glance 1) Dispense with reading and accept video recordings of the workshop (04/08/2025) and regular meeting (04/09/2025) as official minutes — approved (3-0). 2) Approve bills — approved (3-0). 3) Adopt resolution approving submitted list labeled ORC 5705.41D (then-and-now purchase orders) — approved (3-0). 4) Transfer monies (general transfers) — approved (3-0). 5) Approve additional appropriations — approved (3-0). 6) Approve transfer of appropriations — approved (3-0). 7) Receive and place on file the 2024 annual report for Girard Municipal Court (Judge Jeffrey Adler) and forward a copy to the Trumbull County Auditor — approved (3-0). 8) Receive and place on file the 2024 Trumbull County Juvenile Court annual report (Judge Samuel Bluedorn) — approved (3-0). 9) Receive and place on file the 2024 annual report for Newton Falls Municipal Court (Judge Philip Vigorito) — approved (3-0). 10) Concur with the County Engineer and advertise for bids for the Braceville Number 11 Bridge replacement on Barclay Messerly Road in Braceville Township — approved (3-0). 11) Concur with the County Engineer to grant special annual supplier fleet permits to Always Construction, Arms Trucking Company, Trumbull County Logging Company, Inc. — approved (3-0). 12) Concur with the County Engineer to grant a right-of-way permit to Jerry Byler — approved (3-0). 13) Grant special hauling permit to Jaro Jaro Transportation Services Inc. to haul steel coils — approved (3-0). 14) Intend to enter into a general liability insurance contract with CORSA (County Risk Sharing Authority) on or about May 1, 2025 — approved (3-0). 15) Approve enterprise zone agreement with Kimberly-Clark Corporation (60% tax incentive for 10 years; proposed facility ~1,157,261 sq ft at parcels 28-903738 and 43-316888 on Pine Avenue, Howland/Warren townships) — approved (3-0). 16) Receive and place on file the Trumbull County dog kennel monthly activities report for March 2025 — approved (3-0). 17) Accept donation of dog food for Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit from Family Farm and Home (cited under Ohio Revised Code section 9.2 in the meeting) — approved (3-0). 18) Amend contract with Prout Boiler Heating & Welding for courthouse HVAC upgrades (additional $4,635.30 required for unforeseen repairs discovered during boiler work) — approved (3-0).

Discussion vs. direction vs. decision - Discussion: Commissioners and public commenters repeatedly framed the Kimberly-Clark action as an economic-development opportunity; port authority and regional partners emphasized multi-year outreach and state funding. Members of the public offered support and cited local infrastructure advantages. Questions raised during the public comment period about other county matters (for example, allegations concerning the Clerk of Courts office) were addressed by the commissioners as matters for the prosecutor or other investigative agencies, not for immediate commission action. - Direction: No formal new direction to staff was recorded for follow-up on the Kimberly-Clark item at the meeting; speakers said approval would be part of the package Kimberly-Clark would use as it proceeds with internal approvals. - Decision: The board’s formal decision was to approve the enterprise zone agreement and all listed consent items; each recorded as approved with a 3-0 vote.

What remains open The enterprise zone approval is an incentive decision by the county; the transcript records that Kimberly-Clark must still complete its internal decision-making. County and port authority representatives said they hope the vote helps Kimberly-Clark’s board of directors finalize a location decision, but the transcript does not record a company commitment or construction timeline.

Ending Commissioners and regional partners described the vote as a major step in local recruitment efforts but did not announce definitive commitments by Kimberly-Clark beyond the company’s public gratitude and expectation of further announcements. The board adjourned after receiving public comment on several other county matters.