The improvements the city is making to the thoroughfare allow Akron to retain existing jobs and attract new, highly-skilled positions. FirstEnergy is building a new $30 million campus in West Akron that is scheduled to be completed in 2008. The 206,000 square-foot facility will house approximately 550 FirstEnergy employees. In addition, approximately 150 new jobs will be added in the first three years the West Akron campus is open, bringing the company's total employment in Summit County to more than 2,500.

The improvements the city is making to the thoroughfare allow Akron to retain existing jobs and attract new, highly-skilled positions. FirstEnergy is expanding its facility in Akron with a total investment approaching $30 million. This includes a new, 200,000 square foot facility that would house 150 new full-time jobs within the first three years of operation. The company also plans to retain its existing 2,227 full-time jobs.

Akron is providing support to that project with the road project and infrastructure improvements for that FirstEnergy site and for the city's new office park on the west side of White Pond Drive.

Akron City Council Public Service Committee Chairman, Bob Keith (D-8) said this funding from the state is vital. "This project is most important, not just to Ward 8, but to the entire city. For us to do what we need to bring these projects together, we are relying on the assistance of valuable partners such as ODOD and others," Keith said.

The state has designated the project as a Job Ready Site.   The Ohio Job Ready Sites (JRS) Program, authorized by Ohio's voters under Issue 1 in 2005, was created to bolster the State's inventory of available facility locations served by utility and transportation infrastructure. Sites improved under the program are kept at-the-ready for future business prospects seeking locations for new or expanded operations.

END