Tipp City approves $1.2M incentives for Abbott plant

Health products maker expected to boost tax revenue for city, schools.

TIPP CITY — The city approved an incentive package this week worth more than $1.2 million to allow Abbott Laboratories to continue building its $270 million plant on S. County Road 25A.

The incentives, which will cost the city $1,229,190, include building an East-West access road on the south side of the Abbott lot. The road is being partially funded by the state and partially “from the income tax fund we will receive from Abbott,” city manager Jon Crusey said. “We’re getting a $600,000 grant from the State of Ohio Road Development fund. Part of the remaining money will come from the capital improvement fund, electricity fund and street lights.”

The package also includes waiving $34,595 in city intervening user fees and $28,595 in city inspection and subdivision fees.

Income taxes from the expected 240 employees at the plant, which is expected to open sometime next year, will more than cover the incentives from the city, said Crusey.

Projected estimates indicate Tipp City’s school system alone could realize $97,000 a year, Crusey said.

Official ground-breaking will be April 16, although earth is already being moved for the building that will be so high-tech, officials said it will take only 18 months to build instead of the more usual three years.

Abbott, which manufactures health care products such as Similac, Ensure and EAS sports drink, is more than 120 years old and operates 14 global manufacturing plants. Tipp City’s will be the seventh in the United States and the first built in this country since 1983, according to company officials, who said adult shakes such as Ensure and Glucerna will be produced here.

Abbott’s world headquarters are in north Chicago and its U.S. headquarters are in Columbus.

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