Home improvement retailer
Menard, Inc. plans to add up to 350 jobs at its distribution center in Williams County, thanks largely to a 55 percent, 10-year tax credit from the Ohio Tax Credit Authority. The credit was a key factor in the company’s decision to expand in Ohio.
State development officials said the additional jobs, coming over the next three years, will add $8.2 million in payroll to the facility’s current $10.6 million payroll. Menards agreed to maintain that payroll for at least 13 years, starting in 2013. The average wage for the new positions is $11.30 per hour, plus $2.12 per hour in benefits, according to the Ohio Department of Development.
“We decided to expand our distribution center because Holiday City is a great community and pleasant area to do business, plus we had the room to expand,” said Jeff Abbott, spokesperson for the privately-held chain based in Eau Claire, Wis. Menards was founded in 1960 by John Menard. The second generation of the family now operates the company.
“It would appear that Ohio is having a lively debate over balancing practical fiscal responsibility with the needs of the citizenry. The growing awareness of economic responsibility on the part of the state bodes well for future growth of the economy in Ohio,” said Abbott.
“We’ve found Ohio’s workers to be hard working team players and are the number one reason we are expanding in Ohio.”
The company has 17 stores in Ohio.