ASHLAND – A Columbus-based commercial healthcare laundry company plans to open a facility in Ashland, creating approximately 100 jobs at the Ashland location.
Ashland City Council members unanimously approved an ordinance at a special meeting Friday to approve a 75 percent property tax abatement for 10 years for Central Ohio Medical Textiles, also known as COMTEX.
The company intends to construct a 70,000 square foot building on 7.75 acres just north of the U.S. 250 bypass on the north side of Ashland, according to the agreement.
The land is located near the Ohio Department of Transportation’s District 3 office and near the city’s water treatment plant on land that was once the Cooper farm.
COMTEX CEO Myles Noel told council members he is eager to break ground on the facility and plans to begin construction next month.
The project includes an investment of over $8 million in construction costs and another $9.8-$11.5 million in machinery and equipment costs, the agreement states.
The company intends to process 25 million pounds of laundry per year at the Ashland facility.
As part of the agreement with the city, the company is committing to create approximately 75 full-time and 25 part-time positions, for a total annual payroll of $2,075,000.
Noel said starting wages in the laundry business are about $10 per hour, but some jobs associated with the project will be higher-wage jobs.
The abatement was approved by the city’s Enterprise Zone Negotiation Committee prior to the agreement being presented to council. That committee includes a representaive of Ashland City Schools.
Though the school district does not have a direct say in the abatement, the district was notified of the city’s intent to proceed with the agreement, according to Goon.
Noel said truck traffc to the facility will largely be confined to morning drop-offs and end-of-day pickups of laundry. He anticipates processing laundry for 12 health facilities, resulting in about 24 total truck trips per day, six days a week.
“It’s the perfect spot for additional truck traffic because it’s literally right off the bypass,” Mayor Matt Miller said, adding that the city has worked with the Ohio Department of Transportation to make sure the company can have direct access off the bypass.
The city is also working to get the neccessary utilities to the site, Miller said.
When asked by council member Dan Lawson about possible biohazardous waste associated with the facility, Noel responded by saying it is “clean work” that should not be of concern. He added that the company uses the latest technology and uses disinfectants rather than just detergents.
He also said the facility will be accredited Heathcare Laundry Accreditation Council and that waste water from the facility is monitored.
Noel noted that the company chose Ashland over another potential site for the facility because of the work of mayor Miller, Goon and City Engineer Shane Kremser.
“They won this. They worked extremely hard,” Noel said. “I’m just so impressed with Ashland.”
