Pr 1840 € Board of Commissioners JERRY C. CIRINO Lake County, Obio Lee ress DANIEL P. TROY PAINESVILLE TOLL FREE FAK 40) 3s02748 (800) 89955253 (40) 350.2672 January 31, 2017 Mr. Jim Creevy, Senior Director Government Affairs ‘ABB North America 1455 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 670 Washington, DC 20004 Dear Mr. Creevy, ‘The Lake County Board of Commissioners is aware of the recent decision by your company to relocate the Wickliffe, Ohio facility to Highland Hills, Ohio after a long history in our county. We are all saddened to hear of this news and had hoped that efforts to accommodate ABB with another location in Lake County might have succeeded. While we do, of course, recognize that the company can choose to locate where it wishes, we are very concerned about the significant economic impact the departure will have on the City of Wickliffe, Lake County and the residents of our community. In addition to the loss of 400 jobs and the related municipal income, sales and property tax loss, there will be negative consequences for many businesses in Wickliffe as well. We have heard from many of them and, in some cases, these consequences will be severely detrimental. We are also concerned about the facility after ABB will eave behind. As you know, it carries a significant footprint and it wl likely be difficult to find interested parties to assume its use. Between ABB's departure and the related impact on other businesses, the Euclid Avenue corridor running through the heart of Wickliffe runs the high risk of being very problematic. The City of Wickliffe and Lake County will have to address this to the best of our ability. ‘To mitigate some of the serious economic impact of this move, the Lake County Board of Commissioners is requesting that ABB consider an ‘Economic Transition Grant’ that would assist us in new economic development initiatives as both the city and the county will need to redouble efforts to make up for this significant loss, We are asking that this ‘Grant’ be in the amount of $1 million, paid to the Lake County Port and Economic Development Authority over three years, commencing twelve months prior to your physical move. The Lake County Port and Economic Development Authority is an Ohio political subdivision and your grant would be tax deductible. The funds would be earmarked solely for the purpose of economic development for the City of Wickliffe, under the direction of the Lake County Port and Economic Development Authority. If you so desire, we would have no problem in 10S Main Street P.O.Box 490 Painesville, OH 44077-0490 swe ovfurnishing you a complete reporting on the actual use of each and every dollar in this fund. Additionally, ‘we are asking that Lake County businesses be given a preference for services you may need in the moving process, i. moving/transportation, deinstallations, storage, etc. We can certainly help make the right connections in this regard. ‘ABB has had a long history in Wickliffe and we do appreciate the many years of its presence here. In fact, ‘Bailey Meter’ was Commissioner Cirino’s very first professional job after college, and ‘Commissioner Troy’s brother was employed there for many years. As such, we have an appreciation for ‘what this company has meant to the community. We believe that the City and the County have provided a safe and productive environment for the company and employees as well. This transition is going to create real hardships in our community and this Grant will assist us in developing programs to attract replacement businesses to assure the City's fiscal health. We are hoping you will agree and that ‘we can count on the good will of ABB to support our request and help our community survive this major ‘economic event. Please call with any questions or comments. We would be happy to speak with you and/or meet to discuss this matter at your convenience. Sincerely, Lake County Board of Commissioners rable Jerry C. Cirino, President jonorable John Hamercheck, Commissioner _ PLcmel LT og fonorable Daniel P. Troy, Commissigder CC: Wickliffe Mayor William A. Margalis Lake County Administrator Jason W. Boyd