Nestle Moving Forward On R&D Facility Project

Nestle hopes to have a new research and design facility in Solon by the end of 2015.

The company is moving forward on its plans for a research facility on Cannon Road near Harper Road. Plans have been submitted to city planners and zoning variances are being discussed by the planning commission, with discussions expected to continue on Sept. 24.

Nestle expects to spend $34 million building the facility, with construction set to start this November, according to city documents. The building is expected to be finished by the end of 2015.

The research facility is expected to both create new jobs and retain existing ones in Solon. The company expects there to be 116 employees in the facility, with 41 new jobs added to the 75 existing jobs. The company plans to bring 28 new jobs in the first year of the building's life.

City Council plans to reward Nestle for its roughly $50 million total investment by awarding the company a tax exemption for the property improvements. The exemption would begin after the facility is complete and end by the end of 2020.

City Council expects to vote on the agreement at Wednesday's meeting, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.

In August 2011, Nestle USA announced that it wanted to build a new research and design facility in Solon to expand its frozen food business. At the time, the company said the new facility would add 40 to 60 new jobs.

But the 18-acre parcel where the company wanted to build its facility was zoned residential, so the company decided to seek a rezoning by ballot in November.

While some residents opposed the rezoning, even forming a group to protest turning residential land into an industrial zone, the rezoning won easily at the polls.