Defiance County commissioners, at Thursday’s meeting, approved a tax abatement and other matters related to the construction of a large egg production facility near Hicksville.
Hillandale Farms plans is building the facility on Rosedale Road near Hicksville, and plans to invest $41 million in it. The project includes eight production barns, water wells, manure waste handling and storage facilities and a waste lagoon.
The company has agreed to create 65 full-time jobs with an approximate annual payroll of $1,668,144. In return, the county has granted Hillandale Farms Ohio a 60 percent tax exemption for real property improvements for 10 years. Commissioners also approved a development agreement with Hillandale Farms.
Defiance County will do road improvements on Rosedale Road, and provide $50,000 in community development block grant funds, plus $214,000 in Ohio Department of Transportation jobs and commerce funds. Hillandale in turn, will contribute $166,000 toward the financing of the road improvements.
The county will also provide $440,000 to support the construction of just under three miles of gas main to be extended by Ohio Gas Company to the site. Ohio Gas will kick in $46,000.