Inside: Signature Health gets grant to expand.

Business relocating from Willoughby, adding jobs

It appears that Mentor is gaining another new business.

Signature Health Inc. seeks to move its Willoughby office across the border into a 23,000-square-foot space at 7232 Justin Way, part of the old Caterpillar building.

Mentor City Council on Oct. 16 approved awarding a Mentor Incentive Grant to assist the integrated health care provider in the move.

“We are pleased to be able to keep this company in Lake County, Signature Health, (which) will be relocating to the city of Mentor and undergoing a small expansion,” City Manager Ken Filipiak said.

The business has served Northeast Ohio for 27 years and has other locations in Painesville, Ashtabula and Maple Heights.

The project will involve a total investment of more than $1.15 million.

“While this project will retain more than $2.4 million in existing payroll, the administration is focusing on the new payroll for the purpose of calculating the Mentor Incentive Grant,” Economic Development Director Kevin Malecek said.

More than $5.2 million of new payroll is projected during the five-year grant term, resulting in about $475,390 in new payroll taxes.

According to the grant guidelines, Signature Health qualifies for a 30 percent grant on new payroll averaging $28,500 per year for the five-year period.

The administration is suggesting the grant payment be averaged over the grant period.

“This Mentor Incentive Grant will result in the retention of 137 jobs here in Lake County and the creation of 19 new jobs here in Mentor when they move to this new facility,” Malecek said.

Company officials intend to move within the next two months, he said.

Signature Health provides primary care and behavioral health services. The current location is at 38882 Mentor Ave.

Earlier this year, Mentor leaders approved a similar grant for Accurate Metal Sawing Services and Orbis Corp. to move into the former Caterpillar plant.

The grants are funded by nontax revenue sources in the general fund, such as charges for services at the Mentor Lagoons Marina, Black Brook Golf Course, Mentor Civic Arena, registration fees.