Collaboration is the common thread that pulled the Kimberly-Clark project to Trumbull County, according to those affiliated with the project.

On Thursday, the personal care and hygiene product producer announced a five-year, $2 billion investment in its North American operations. That included an $800 million advanced manufacturing facility at the former RG Steel property located in Howland and Warren townships.

“Nobody can deny that Kimberly-Clark announcing to the world … that they’re spending $2 billion and the primary focus is on Warren, Ohio,” said Anthony Trevena, executive director of the Western Reserve Port. “People and companies that never looked at the Mahoning Valley are going to be paying attention and looking here.

“What really excites me is, after seeing the collaboration to get here, we’re ready for it. I mean, really ready for it.”

About a year before Kimberly-Clark purchased approximately 560 acres from the port authority, Trevena and his staff received a phone call. He said the company declined to identify itself.

“We all signed NDA (nondisclosure agreements),” Trevena said. “We’re driving around with these people and showing them the site. Talking. Everything,

“We literally have no idea what they do. Where they’re from. What they’re about. Nothing, just answering questions.”

Trevena said the topics covered rail service, energy, water, sewer, roads and more.

“It’s very collaborative from the very beginning. I mean, everybody just was saying what we could do, not do, limitations of the property and all that sort of thing.”

Port officials reached out to local experts, economic partners and government officials to assist the unknown company.

Trevena said Warren attorney Daniel Daniluk and his staff guided the port through real estate issues involving the property, such as well leases. From tax maps to surveys, the Trumbull County Planning Commission expedited port authority requests for information. The Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber and a fledgling Lake to River economic group assisted in the early stages and throughout.

“I’ve watched so many people come in and out of this project that just stepped up in ways that you could never imagine,” Trevena said. “So it looks easy on the outside, but if you saw how many people really showed up to deliver it’s incredible. It really gave me faith to realize that now we’ve been exposed to the global scene.”

As the project progressed, Kimberly-Clark obtained 10-year, 60% tax abatements from Trumbull County, along with Howland and Warren townships. The Ohio Tax Credit Authority approved a 1.837%, 10-year tax credit, with the state providing $17.2 million from the All Ohio Future Fund for site readiness and road upgrades at the former steel property.

“So the collaboration shows that we’ve really evolved as a community.” said Guy Covielllo, the Chamber’s president and CEO. “But it also sends a message that we are a good place to do business.

“So we feel very good right now that we are continuing to see growth and opportunity that we haven’t seen in maybe 50 years.”

Coviello said the last five years have been about economic growth in the Valley.

Ultium Cells, the area’s largest employer, announced its intention to open for business in Lordstown on Dec. 5, 2019. Electric-vehicle cell production launched in 2022.

Amazon broke ground to construct a warehouse in Bazetta earlier this year. Funding for the Youngstown Innovation Hub for Aerospace also was announced earlier this year.

“I think this is a continuation, not the beginning,” Coviello said. “So this is a continuation, and I do think that there’s certainly more to come.

“So I think we’re in a good position now for the runway that people like Kimberly-Clark have given us. They’ve got a couple of years to build their factory. Amazon has a year-and-a-half to build its factory. I think we’ll be able to keep up, but it will be a challenge to have enough people or enough houses for everybody.”

Like the Chamber and port authority, Lake to River has its focus on “What’s next?”

“I think excitement is is a good response, not only for this opportunity and what it means for the community, but next steps with regard to the redevelopment of that site, potential suppliers, other companies that are maybe taking note or taking notice that a company of this caliber is locating in the Lake to River region and Trumbull County,” said Sarah Boyarko, Lake to River’s vice president of economic development.. “What does the county have to offer?”

At its beginning, which corresponded to Kimberly-Clark’s initial visit to the county, Lake to River was a local economic group looking to expand its reach.

With Gov. Mike DeWine’s support, the agency became a network partner of JobsOhio, Ohio’s private economic development corporation.

Boyarko said the process to attract new business ventures doesn’t stop.

“It is constantly rebuilding and working toward populating your pipeline,” she said. “A lot of it has to do with marketing sites and buildings to companies outside of the market as well as those inside of the market.

“So we can work to support local expansions or regional expansions, in addition to attracting new investment to the region.”