City of Columbus - File #: 0710-2025

• File #: 0710-2025
• Version: 1
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Second Reading
• File created: 3/6/2025
• In control: Economic Development & Small and Minority Business Committee
• On agenda: 4/7/2025
• Title: To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a Job Creation Tax Credit Agreement granting a tax credit of sixty percent (60%) for a term of up to five (5) consecutive years with Safelite Group, Inc., in consideration of the company’s proposed total capital investment of $19,200,000.00 and the creation of twenty-five (25) net new full-time permanent positions with an estimated annual payroll of approximately $1,040,000.00 and the retention of three-hundred twenty-nine (329) full-time permanent positions with an associated estimated annual payroll of approximately $37,917,250.00.

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
3/31/2025	1	Columbus City Council	Read for the First Time

Explanation

BACKGROUND: The need exists to enter a Job Creation Tax Credit Agreement with Safelite Group, Inc. (“Safelite”). The Ohio Tax Credit Legislation (Section 718.15 of the Ohio Revised Code) authorizing such agreements became effective January 14, 1993 and requires the City to enter a Council-approved agreement between the City and a participating company.

Safelite Group, a subsidiary of Belron group SCA, is a multifaceted auto glass and claims management service organization with their national headquarters based in Columbus, Ohio. The company was founded in Wichita, Kansas in 1947 and is composed of two major business operations: Safelite Fulfillment, LLC and Safelite Solutions LLC. Safelite Fulfillment, LLC operates under the trade name Safelite AutoGlass and specializes in auto glass repair and replacement and vehicle sensor and safety systems recalibration. Safelite Solutions LLC is Safelite Group's claims management operation and provides complete claims management solutions for the nation's leading fleet and insurance companies.

Safelite is proposing to invest a total capital expenditure of approximately $19,200,000.00 in real property improvements which include $5,400,000.00 in additions/new construction, $12,000,000.00 in improvements to existing buildings, and $1,800,000.00 in furniture & fixtures in order to make the facilities ready for its associates to return to the office, including, among other things, the construction of an inter-building connecting structure between the existing structures in the City of Columbus. With this investment, The Developer is modernizing two buildings located at 2500 Farmers Drive, also identified as Franklin County Tax Parcel 590-192107 and 7400 Safelite Way, also identified as Franklin County Tax Parcels 590-189916 and 590-189915 (the “Project Site”). The proposed project will allow Safelite to modernize and expand their current facility in the Columbus region by creating twenty-five (25) net new full-ti...