Abatement approved for plant

The plant will bring 25 jobs to Struthers over three years.

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County commissioners approved a 60 percent, 10-year real estate tax abatement for the new investment made in a roof coatings manufacturing plant in Struthers.

Simon Roofing & Sheet Metal Inc. will open the plant in part of the Valley Sport Ltd. indoor soccer complex on State Street. Soccer will continue in the remainder of the Tri-County Sports Complex.

The Boardman-based Simon Roofing is moving this manufacturing operation here from Cleveland so it can be near the century-old company’s headquarters, said Steve Duke, Simon’s chief financial officer.

“Having it here would make it a lot easier to oversee the operation,” Duke said. Simon plans to invest between $1.7 million and $3 million in the plant, Duke said.

The plant will open with 14 employees early next year, and that number is expected to grow to 25 within three years, he said.

The commissioners approved the abatement Thursday after Struthers City Council voted to recommend it Wednesday.

“This whole complex is on a brownfield site that used to be a slag dump,” Struthers Mayor Dan Mamula observed. “We have an addition to the community. It diversifies us and it puts brownfield land back to use.”