Concord Road Equipment expanding

A manufacturing business is expanding in Painesville as a result of acquiring land from the city.

An ordinance that allowed the city manager to sell real estate owned by the city that it no longer needed for municipal purposes to Concord Road Equipment was approved at the most recent Painesville City Council meeting.

Concord Road Equipment will pay $5,700 for about .38 acres of land from the southern property line of 434 North Saint Clair Street to the CSX Railroad property line at the southernmost part of the existing roadway.

Concord Road Equipment President Jeff Warfield said he has been in business in Painesville for more than 30 years and has outgrown the current facility.

The land is essential for the growth of future operations, he said.

According to the ordinance, the expansion of this business is also vital to the city’s economic development strategy.

“The sale or lease of land will result in the investment by Concord Road Equipment, LLC in the City of Painesville, the creation of job opportunities and additional revenue to the municipal utilities,” the ordinance states.

More than 40 new employees will be added, Warfield said.

According to its website, Concord Road Equipment, which is located at 348 Chester St., serves customers around the world in many industries, including municipal, industrial, commercial, agricultural, construction, transportation, mining and manufacturing. Other services offered includes consulting, design, fabrication, welding, installation, maintenance, repair and assembly.

With no questions or concerns from the public or council, the ordinance was passed on the first reading on Aug. 21.