Staff photo / Brandon Cantwell Kimberly-Clark plant manager Trey Simpson volunteered to be the board’s secretary. Simpson is serving a one-year term on the board.

WARREN — Small talk was short as the newly formed Warren-Howland-Warren JEDD Board got straight to work at its first meeting at the Trumbull County Planning Commission Office Thursday.

The Joint Economic Development District board, led by John Albers for its first meeting, handled its first order of business by nominating Nicholas Coggins to serve as the board’s fifth member. Coggins is the Trumbull County Planning Commission’s assistant director and director of economic development.

Coggins will serve a minimum four-year term on the board and will also be its chairperson.

Former Howland Township Administrator Darlene St. George, who was subsequently named vice-chairperson, nominated Coggins to the position.

“He has been with the JEDD from the very beginning; he’s been with us, and he’s the prevailing wage coordinator for the county,” St. George said. “It all makes sense that he should be the chairman.”

Coggins, who couldn’t be at the meeting, said afterward that it was an “honor” that the board thought of him to be their fifth member.

“This is an important joint venture between these three communities that’s gonna work with a company that has a generational investment in the Valley,” Coggins said. “I look forward to sitting on the board and getting all the economic plan implemented to benefit not only Kimberly-Clark, but the three communities and hopefully future companies to come.”

Despite being named the vice chair, St. George allowed Albers to handle the first meeting, as the board appointed Trey Simpson, a local businessman, Kimberly-Clark plant manager and graduate of the University of Dayton, as its secretary.

The board made a series of other motions as well, including approving an agreement for reimbursement with Howland Township for expenses to establish the JEDD and a second one for “certain expenses for future and expected expenses of operation of the JEDD.”

Michael Keys, the community development director for the city of Warren, abstained from every motion made by the board.

He explained later that a technicality in the city’s ordinance didn’t put him on the board until next week.

“Being as today was our inaugural meeting and everything was resolutions, and there was a quorum that didn’t really need my vote, it was just better to play it safe,” Keys said. “Make sure that there’s no questions about it.”

THE PROJECT

On May 1, Kimberly-Clark, 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.

About a year before Kimberly-Clark purchased approximately 560 acres from the Western Reserve Port Authority, Executive Director Anthony Trevena and his staff received a phone call. He said the company declined to identify itself.

“We all signed NDAs (nondisclosure agreements),” Trevena said when the announcement was made. “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.”

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 WRPA 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 the Lake to River economic group assisted in the early stages and throughout.

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.