NORTH RIDGEVILLE — The State Controlling Board announced $400,000 in state money Monday for construction of a road for a solar panel company that plans to eventually create 120 manufacturing jobs in the city.

“That’s great news,” Mayor David Gillock said. “This is one project we’re chomping at the bit to get started on. There will be no direct cost to the city, and anytime you can get a road built at no cost to the city, that’s a good deal.”

Estimated to cost about $800,000, the 1,500- to 2,000-foot concrete road, complete with sidewalks and storm sewers will connect Root Road with an existing building owned by Dreco Inc. Dreco leases space to GreenField Solar Corp., a new firm with plans to build 1,500-watt, 18-foot solar panels.

The other $400,000 for the road will be paid for by Dreco, a longtime local manufacturer of plastic injection molds, which has been leasing space at its existing manufacturing plant for 18 months to house approximately a dozen Greenfield Solar employees, according to Chris Draudt, co-president of Dreco with his brother, Russell.

Dreco and GreenField Solar are still working out terms on a long-term lease agreement.

“Our commitment is to make the space available as they need it, or land if they choose to build there,” Draudt said.

Dreco operates on a 20-acre parcel of land, five to 10 acres of which is currently available for development, Draudt said.

Space in Dreco’s existing plant became available to lease due to loss of jobs.

“Over the past 10 years, our manufacturing has primarily gone to China,” Draudt said. “We were fortunate enough to get with GreenField Solar. We see them as a growth industry in a growth market.”

The new road is needed to handle anticipated increases in truck traffic from GreenField Solar’s expansion.

The state grant’s approval was announced by the office of state Rep. Matt Lundy, D-Elyria.

“GreenField Solar is helping lead the way for Lorain County’s transformation into the alternative energy global market place,” Lundy said.

Under terms of two eight-year job creation tax credits GreenField Solar received from the state, a total of 200 jobs are to be created over the next 16 years, 120 in North Ridgeville and 80 at the firm’s headquarters in Oberlin. The more jobs that are created, the lower the commercial activities taxes the company will have to pay.

The road project should be ready to go to bid come spring, Gillock said.

The expansion will result in additional income and property tax revenue from workers whose average hourly wages are expected to be $13.50.

“Some of these people will live here and buy food and other things here,” Gillock said. “It should have a significant impact.”

Dreco could realize a sizable income should GreenField Solar opt for a long-term lease of 25,000 to 50,000 square feet of space from the company, Draudt said.

“It could have a big impact for us.”

Contact Steve Fogarty at 329-7146 or sfogarty@chroniclet.com.

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