By Rick Palsgrove
Southeast Editor
Groveport city officials worked out a deal to keep the city’s largest private employer in town.
The city and GAP Inc. agreed to a local tax incentive agreement that will serve as an enticement for the company to expand and create new jobs and investment in Groveport.
According to Groveport City Assistant Administrator and Finance Director Jeff Green, under the agreement, the city will grant a 50 percent credit of all withholding for 10 years starting in 2017.
“The agreement will promote job retention and creation,” said Green. “This will also create 75 new IT positions plus about $1 million to $2 million in new investment at the Groveport facility. Without this agreement, we risked losing the company to Tennessee.”
Green said GAP Inc. makes up more than 13 percent of the city’s total employment.
“To put that in context, the next largest employer in the city only makes up 7 percent of total employment,” said Green.
“We’re glad you’re here,” City Council President Shawn Cleary told GAP Inc. representative Scott Wade on June 27.
Currently GAP Inc. has 1,700 employees at its approximately 1 million square foot facility on Greenpointe Drive in the Groveport Commerce Center where the company has been located since 2001. The facility conducts retail distribution and online fulfillment for GAP, Old Navy, and Banana Republic.
Green noted that GAP Inc. has a Community Reinvestment Area tax abatement that will be expiring soon.
Besides having a large business presence in Groveport, Green said GAP Inc. plays other roles in the community through volunteerism and charitable efforts.
“GAP employees have been involved in a wide range of volunteer activities and the company also donates to various organizations in the community,” said Green.
