Steel distribution company tohire 35

A new distribution center in Franklin will hire 35 people, with thelongtermgoalofhiringupto50.

Allied Crawford, the U.S. arm undertheumbrellaofOntario-based CrawfordMetal, is building its 11th location and first Ohio steel distribution site at 213 Industrial Drive with the help of state incentives.

Allied Crawford is expected to make a nearly $3.6 million fixed asset investment building in exchange for a $85,000 revitalization grant from the state.

“The Cincinnati area has been on our radar for a long time,” said Alex Kovacs, chief operating officer with Crawford Metal.

He said the privatefirm’snearest locations to the area are inHarrisburg, Penn., andinNashville, Tenn.

Kovacs said the company has posted job ads online and will be conducting interviews at the Industrial Drive locationOct. 16-18, looking for the following positions: general manager, financial controller/ office manager, experienced and entry level sales personnel, secretarial administrative workers, administrative assistants, and CDL truck drivers.

The goal is to have the building ready for operations by the end of December. The site sits next to Interstate 75 near the Ohio 123 exit.

Allied Crawford also plans to make the existing building about 50 percent larger and add another warehouse on site.

Lebanon-based Schueler Group is general contractor on the project. Eric Joo, SchuelerGroup chief operating officer, said its an advantage to the region to have an international company pick the area for its next location.

“I think it’s really neat to have an international company come down to Franklin, Ohio, and set up shop,” said Joo.

Kovacs said the building is about 60,000 square feet, is getting a 34,000 square foot addition and thereisanadditional54,000square footoutdoorstoragebuildingunder construction.

Kovacs said Crawford Steel’s Franklin project is also benefiting the community by working with local contractors on the job.

“There’s a lot of local guys getting work out of this. The whole thing is a big impact to the community,” he said.

The Franklin projectwas one of two to be granted money through JobsOhio to bring jobs totheregion.

Adare Pharmaceuticals will create 29jobs with apayroll of $1.6million and a fixed asset investment of $14.2 million, in exchange for a $100,000 state grant. The company will have nearly 250 workers at 845 Center Drive, Vandalia, before the end of 2020, said spokeswomanLaurenPanasewicz.

“We’re really focusing on our research and development effort across our growing pipeline. And thenwe also of course continue to advance our capabilities intermsof our manufacturing and those are both key initiatives at our Vandalia site,” Panasewicz said.