Mentor car wash project, manufacturer move get economic development grants

The city of Mentor is investing in its Old Village area and helping a company downsize to a more suitable location with grants awarded this week.

City Council approved a Mentor Economic Development Grant toward re-imaging a drive-through beverage building as part of the Cardinal Auto Wash project at 8698 Mentor Ave.

In addition, Council supported funding part of Accurate Metal Sawing Service’s costs to relocate within the city, retaining $1 million in payroll. Another $5.5 million is anticipated to be added during the term of a Mentor Incentive Grant.

A total of $113,000 in new payroll taxes are projected. The grant is equal to 20 percent on new payroll, or an average of $2,826 per year for eight years.

The company will be moving from a 90,000-square-foot building at 8989 Tyler Blvd. — its home of nearly 20 years — to about 55,000 square feet in the old Caterpillar plant, 7272 Justin Way.

Our financial condition has changed, starting in 2008, so we’ve come to the realization we need to cut our overhead some more to remain financially strong,” said Accurate President Dirk Smithisler.

“My main motivation to keep going, even though I’m well past retirement age — I could, at this point, close up and go on my way — but I have a lot of employees who have been with me for a long time . … They’re motivated to keep going, so we can continue to provide jobs for them, as well as myself, too.”

Ward 2 Councilman Matt Donovan lauded Smithisler for the move.

“Thank you so much for your commitment to your employees,” he said. “That’s hard to come by today.”

In addition, Accurate was approved for a one-time $10,000 Mentor Economic Development Grant to assist with moving equipment.

Ronald M. Traub, economic & community development director, noted that the industrial vacancy rate for the city in the first quarter of this year is about 1.9 percent.

“For all practical purposes, the available industrial property is clustered in two buildings, one of which is the former Caterpillar plant,” he said.

The company’s move is making way for another project — an expansion by MUM Industries. MUM received a Mentor Incentive Grant last month to move into the Accurate building.

“Accurate Metal will maintain their job base and add modestly to that base over time,” Traub said. “Their retention in the city will fuel continued demand for services here.”

The Cardinal Auto Wash project received $4,000 toward the $30,000 cost to re-image the beverage store. Project representatives paid $240,000 for the property, formerly Snappy’s car wash and drive-through, and plan to spend about $800,000 to build the 5,800-square-foot new car wash.

It was not the applicant’s initial intent to re-image the brown cinder block drive-through building, but, at the urging of the administration, it was included, Traub said.

“The re-imaging of the drive-through will provide visual evidence of continued reinvestment in the Old Village neighborhood and provide part-time and less skilled job opportunities to those that need them,” he said.

Other recent grants awarded by the city include Orbis Corp. — also moving into Caterpillar space — and Quadrel Labeling Systems.

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