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File #: 1352-2015    Version: 1
Type: Ordinance Status: Passed
File created: 5/14/2015 In control: Development Committee
On agenda: 6/8/2015 Final action: 6/9/2015
Title: To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into an Enterprise Zone Agreement with Coulter Properties LLC and Coulter Ventures, LLC dba Rogue Fitness for a tax abatement of seventy-five percent (75%) for a period of ten (10) years in consideration of a proposed total investment of $36.45 million, creation of 90 new full-time permanent positions and the retention of 337 full-time jobs.
Attachments: 1. ORD1352-2015 Rogue Fitness - EZA Fact Sheet, 2. ORD1352-2015 Rogue - EZA Project Site Map
Explanation

BACKGROUND: The need exists to enter into an Enterprise Zone Agreement with Coulter Properties LLC and Coulter Ventures, LLC dba Rogue Fitness (“Rogue”). The Ohio Enterprise Zone law O.R.C. Section 5709.62(C) requires the City to enter into a Council-approved agreement between the City and participating companies.

Rogue is a national leader in the manufacture and distribution of high quality strength and conditioning equipment, including weightlifting bars, plates, racks and other related equipment. The company was originally started in 2007 in a garage in Toledo, Ohio by the current owner Bill Henniger. Rogue quickly grew into a 5,000 square foot facility adjacent to an existing business that Mr. Henniger operated at the time in Columbus. The rapid growth has continued each year, as Rogue expanded its product offerings and brought more manufacturing processes in-house. Rogue has quickly grown from one employee to over 300 plus employees. A lot of Rogue’s growth was originally and continues to be from the popularity of Crossfit, to which it is the leading provider of equipment, but also comes from personal gyms to professional sports teams. Coulter Properties LLC is the real estate holding company for Coulter Ventures, LLC dba Rogue Fitness.

Coulter Properties LLC is proposing to acquire a vacant land parcel (the former Timken site located on the corner of 5th and Cleveland Avenues) to construct a new corporate headquarters for all of Rogue’s North American operation. The new facility will include office space for administration as well as house the manufacturing and distribution of the company’s operation. The company will consolidate its current operation from three separate buildings into one facility consisting of approximately 600,000 +/- square feet on 30 +/- acres of vacant land. Rogue will be the employer of record and will create 90 new full-time permanent positions with an estimated annual payroll of approximately $3.9 million, and retai...

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