Aqua Ohio to invest millions

October 27, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

STRUTHERS

To get its Struthers division operations under one roof and to upgrade its system, Aqua Ohio will invest $4 million in the area.

Aqua will spend $1 million next year to build a new consolidated division headquarters in the CASTLO industrial park in downtown Struthers.

The company also plans to invest $1.6 million in water-main replacements, $900,000 in treatment-plant improvements and other system upgrades.

The upgrades will benefit Struthers, Lowellville, Poland, New Middletown and portions of Beaver, Boardman, Coitsville, Canfield, Poland and Springfield townships.

“It’s pretty good news that they are going to stay in Struthers and retain jobs,” Mayor Terry Stocker said. “We have a really good relationship [with Aqua].”

Aqua’s area investments between 2011 and 2015 are more than $10 million.

Aqua has two offices in Struthers – one on State Street, which the company owns, and another inside CASTLO, which is leased. Aqua will put its State Street office up for sale.

The two offices will be brought together in a 14,300-square-foot building with indoor storage for equipment and supplies. Construction will begin when the weather breaks next year and should take from six to seven months to complete.

“We are going to be the first company to purchase land and build in the CASTLO development,” said Jennifer Johnson, Aqua area manager.

CASTLO is an acronym for Campbell, Struthers and Lowellville. An industrial park bearing the name was created in 1978 after the close of the steel mills in those communities in 1977.