State approves Camaco tax break

Car seat maker to add 200 jobs, $8M in payroll

State officials have approved a financial incentive for a business expansion that will create 200 new jobs in Lorain.

Camaco LLC, which makes frames for car seats, will receive a seven-year, 1.417 percent tax credit as its Lorain plant grows and adds $8 million in new annual payroll.

The Ohio Tax Credit Authority approved the tax credit April 24, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich announced the approval that day.

Construction has started to add 67,000 square feet of space to the factory at 3400 River Industrial Parkway.

In the incentive agreement, the Ohio Tax Credit Authority requires Camaco to maintain operations in Lorain for at least 10 years.

Camaco supplies seat frame structures to car makers and suppliers. The company has become the world’s largest independent supplier of seat frame structures in the North American market, according to state information.

Lorain and Ohio competed with Canada for the project, which will add warehouse space and manufacturing space due to more business, according to the state information.

Camaco also will keep 463 jobs with more than $18.71 million in existing annual payroll in Lorain.

The tax credit will help the company save at least $708,000 for its term and its estimated value could be as much as $793,520, according to the Ohio Tax Credit Authority.

Camaco leaders have not commented publicly about the company’s growth plans in Lorain.

However, local officials for months have remarked

on the expansion plans.

The April 24 news spurred more positive comments from area lawmakers.

“This project both strengthens Lorain County’s infrastructure and creates 200 new jobs in our community,” said state Sen. Gayle Manning, RNorth Ridgeville.

Manning’s district includes the city of Lorain.

“Economic development partnerships like these demonstrate to companies across the country that Ohio is open for business and job creation is a top priority,” she said.

The Lorain County

Commission was pleased to work with the city and the Ohio Tax Credit Authority to create an “incentive environment” for Camaco to invest in Lorain, said county Commissioner Ted Kalo. They also worked with TeamNEO, a regional economic development organization, and JobsOhio, a nonprofit corporation that aims to help businesses across the state.

Lorain County participated in the project by using a U.S. EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant to pay for environmental reviews known as the Phase I and Phase II environmental studies, saving the company

$33,515.

In addition, the Lorain County Workforce Development Agency will assist in the project by offering employment job screening services and On the Job Training funds for those who qualify.

“Companies have lots of choices today when determining where to invest,” Kalo said.

“The county is committed to working diligently with all its local, regional and state partners on creating an economic development environment in which existing and new companies can invest in Lorain County.”