by Tom Vanderhorst
Finance Specialist
Since the Richland County Commissioners created the Richland County Port Authority on June 11, 2026, it has closed three deals in Richland County that have generated an estimated $32 million of projects in the area. The Port is one of over 60 port authorities in the State of Ohio, and its Board is pleased to already be so active.
Port authorities are created under Ohio Revised Code (ORC) Section 4582 and operate as separate governmental entities governed by independent boards. The incentives they provide typically include sales tax exemptions on building materials and the issuance of debt to support economic development projects.
Ports in their early stages, such as the Richland County Port Authority, often begin by collecting fees in exchange for facilitating sales tax exemptions, then reinvest that revenue into further economic development efforts.
The three projects closed by the Port so far include:
• Avita Health System: The Port helped Avita secure tax-exempt financing for high-tech medical equipment at the Jody M. Baker Cancer Center, located at Avita’s South Campus in the former Sears wing of the Richland Mall.
• Industrial Commercial Properties (ICP): The Port provided a sales tax exemption on building materials for the construction of a 456,000-square-foot industrial building that will house Charter Next Generation’s planned expansion on a 25-acre portion of the former GM site, now known as the Ontario Commerce Center.
• Adena Corporation: The Port also provided a sales tax exemption for the 150,000-square-foot building constructed on a 16-acre portion of property adjacent to the Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport, located at 1750 Airport West Parkway.
Moving Richland County Forward
These inaugural projects, spanning healthcare innovation, large-scale industrial expansion, and speculative development, demonstrate the immediate value of the Richland County Port Authority. By reducing financial hurdles for local businesses, we are helping ensure that vital capital remains in our community to fuel continued growth.
As we look ahead, the Port remains committed to utilizing its statutory tools to keep Richland County competitive, adaptable, and ready for the next generation of economic opportunity. We are proud of this strong start and even more excited about the projects to come.