Home Depot tax break OK d in Hancock County

8/19/2009

VAN BUREN, Ohio After rejecting a 15-year, 85 percent tax abatement for a proposed Home Depot warehouse, Allen Township trustees last night approved 3-0 a reduced, 10-year, 60 percent abatement for the $39 million project.

Earlier in the day, Hancock County commissioners approved the abatement for Home Depot Inc., which has proposed building a 650,000-square-foot distribution center just west of I-75 and north of State Rt. 613 in Allen Township north of Findlay. The center is to employ at least 300, although employment could rise as high as 400.

Township trustees had voted 2-1 this month to reject the tax incentive package. It had been approved by commissioners and the Van Buren school board. Residents expressed concern about traffic congestion and other safety issues.