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LORDSTOWN -- Efforts to lure the proposed Homegoods Distribution Center to other communities have accelerated since it was announced TJX Companies Inc. was no longer seeking a zoning change for properties that had been considered for the $260 million project in Lordstown.
TJX officials last week informed Lordstown officials that it was no longer interested in obtaining zoning changes from residential to industrial on five properties located on Hallock Young and Ellsworth Bailey roads, near the Interstate 80 interchange. That decision has been interpreted locally that TJX, which is parent company of HomeGoods, TJ Maxx and Marshall's, is no longer interested in locating in the village.
Five members of Youngstown City Council sent a letter to Mayor Jamael Brown and his economic team to "put together a strong incentive package and sales pitch that offers TJX Companies Inc. every single tool in our tool box," to convince them to locate in the city.
The letter to Brown noted the city has the ability to do real estate deals, extend water and wastewater loans and capitalize on state and federal grants to prepare brownfield site for redevelopment.
"We understand that the Regional Chamber takes the lead on these kinds of development opportunities, but it is our job to make sure we market our incentive programs because they are what can tip the scale in Youngstown's favor," the letter states.
Council members Lauren McNally, Julius T. Oliver, Michael Ray, Anita Davis and Basia Adamczak signed the letter.
Sarah Boyarko, vice president of economic development at the Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber, emphasized the chamber has been working with TJX officials since 2016 and has continued to work with them since Friday's announcement.
"Since the beginning, we submitted a significant number of possible sites," Boyarko said. "We submitted 23 possible properties throughout Trumbull and Mahoning counties, including Lordstown, to TJX."
Boyarko said throughout the process, TJX officials have asked for additional information, which the chamber has submitted to them.
"They are reviewing the information we've provided them," she said. "As they noted in last week's announcement, the company is reconsidering its options for this distribution center project."
Warrren Safety Service Director Enzo Cantalamessa said the city has maintained contact with TJX officials about considering Warren as a possible location for the center if the company is no longer interested in building in Lordstown.
"We have not submitted a formal proposal," Cantalamessa said. "We've maintained telephone contact."
Earlier this week, Randy Seitz, president / CEO of Penn-Northwest Development Corp., a lead economic development agency in Mercer County, said the agency will increase its effort to convince TJX officials that a location off Interstate 80 at Exit 15 in East Lackawannock Township is ideal for the distribution center.
Seitz said the site was submitted to TJX officials two years ago, but at the time, it seemed they were more interested in placing it in Lordstown.
Officials in Campbell and East Liverpool also have reached out to the company about locating in their cities.