LIME CITY — The Perrysburg Township Trustees approved a tax incentive enterprise zone agreement with First Solar for a 100% tax abatement for 10 years on a new plant to be created in the township.
The income expected to be generated by the project is $11.1 million in new full-time annual employee payroll, by May of 2027. It is expected to generate an additional 100 full-time employees in the township.
Wood County Economic Development Development Commission Director Wade Gottschalk made a presentation on the tax abatement at the regular township trustees meeting on Wednesday.
“I have good news, from a long time good corporate citizen, First Solar. While they have done their last two recent projects in Lake Township, they are looking to do their next project in Perrysburg Township,” Gottschalk said. “The 1.5 million-square-foot facility is going to be predominantly research and development with a little bit of warehousing and production space.
“It will be the largest solar manufacturing campus outside mainland China,” Gottschalk said.
The tax abatement was approved because of the contribution to the general economic welfare improvement for the township, Wood County and the State of Ohio and tax exemption is expected to begin in 2025.
Construction cost for the new research and development center is budgeted at $210 million, with a total project investment of $371 million. The project was previously announced on Oct. 27.
For 10 years, the company will be giving annual sums of $1.3 million to Rossford school district and $93,000 to Penta Career Center.
Located near the First Solar Perrysburg facility, groundbreaking for the new campus, to be based on Oregon and Tracy roads, is expected to take place later this month with completion by May 2024.
The six parcels of agricultural land, which is 78 acres, were purchased by First Solar on Oct. 25, for a total of $3.3 million.
The trustees approved the abatement unanimously.
“It’s great what they have done in Lake Township. It always seemed a little unfair that everything landed in our township and there was such a dividing line, in terms of capital investment, but to see what they have done there and to have this one land in our township is great for everybody,” Trustee Bob Mack said.
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