State awards $4.5M loan for Baard plant

COLUMBUS – Columbiana County Port Authority in Wellsville has been awarded a $4.5 million Logistics and Distribution Stimulus loan.

The loan is in support of acquisition and site preparation of land where Baard Energy LLC plans to construct its coal-to-liquids processing facility. Proponents say the $91 million project would create 135 construction jobs in the site preparation phase of the project.

The port authority already has built a port on the Ohio River on the east side of state Route 7. It can handle road, railroad and river shipping.

The proposed plant will take about 600 acres of about a 2,000-acre site that could attract more businesses.

Gov. Ted Strickland and Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher on Monday announced that loans valued at more than $29 million have been recommended by the Development Financing Advisory Council to support eight economic development projects.

The funds, which are pending State Controlling Board approval, are expected to create 752 positions and retain 876 jobs, and include the first award of the Logistics and Distribution component of the Ohio Bipartisan Job Stimulus Plan.