Trumbull County hears request for 75% abatement for Everest Aluminum; commissioners take statements under advisement

Trumbull County commissioners on April 15 heard a public hearing on a proposed enterprise zone agreement that would give Everest Aluminum LLC a property-tax abatement of 75% of improvements for 10 years, county planning official Nick Coggins said.

Coggins, who identified himself as representing the Trumbull County Planning Commission, said Everest has submitted an application for property-tax incentives and that the planning commission verified the company and the property owner listed in the agreement as active Ohio corporations with no Uniform Commercial Code filings. "Everest Aluminum LLC has executed an application for property tax incentives for the amount of 75% of the improvements pledged for 10 years," Coggins said. He told commissioners the application meets the Ohio Revised Code definitions for a qualifying facility, new employees and full‑time employees under Ohio Revised Code 5709.61, and noted that affected school districts had been notified under Ohio Revised Code 5709.83.

Coggins said the company plans to invest between $19 million and $33 million and create 70 jobs with an average salary of about $70,000. He described the project as still proposed and said the tax-incentive package is intended to make the project more feasible for Everest to decide whether to locate in Warren. Coggins also said that, should an abatement be granted, the company would be required to report annually to the countytax-incentive review council on investment and job-creation metrics identified in the agreement.

An architect who identified himself as "Bruceic," representing Philips Secanic Architects, spoke in favor of the agreement, saying he had worked with Everest over the past eight months and that the company had been doing due diligence on properties across northeast Ohio. "We strongly support that effort and, uh, hope that, uh, you'll grant the abatement," he said, and described the initial building as roughly 150,000 square feet.

Commissioners asked questions about alternative sites and timing. Coggins said one potential Trumbull County site had been discounted because of wetlands and a Summit County site had been discounted for floodplain concerns. Under the terms presented, Everest would reach 70 employees within three years of construction completion; Coggins estimated construction could finish in summer 2027, making the full staffing target within three years after that date. Coggins also said the company intends to buy properties listed in the agreement's exhibit C in the West Warren development and that the parcel size is approximately 50 acres. He said traffic routing and ingress/egress decisions will be handled by the city of Warren street department.

Warren City Council consented to the agreement on March 25, 2026, Coggins said. The planning commission advised that the agreement meets statutory requirements as transcribed at the hearing, but Coggins emphasized the project remains conditional on Everest's final decision and completion of the incentive package negotiations.

A commissioner moved to take statements under advisement; the motion was seconded. Commissioners Mallaloy, Hernandez and Bernard each voted yes and the motion carried. The county did not adopt a final abatement at the hearing; the record indicates the commissioners will need to concur with the community negotiating powers or deny the agreement if statutory or contractual requirements are not met.

Next steps include finalization of the company's incentive package and any subsequent formal action by the county commissioners if and when required.