TJX Will Pursue Lordstown Site for Distribution Center

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The TJX Companies has announced that it will once again pursue building a $160-million distribution center on Ellsworth Bailey Road in Lordstown, a spokesperson for the company said.

“While our intent as of April 20th was to withdraw our zoning application from Lordstown, from the moment we announced our decision, we received considerable encouragement from the broader community, as well as state and local officials, to hold off in doing so,” said Erika Tower, TJX director of corporate communications, in a release Friday afternoon. “With the groundswell of recent support for our project, including last Sunday’s community rally, we have changed our minds and are planning once again to pursue the Ellsworth Baily Road site for our proposed distribution center.”

Tower also noted that the company looked at other sites for the project but did not identify “any other nearby site that meets all of our business needs.”

Among the other proposed sites, according to the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber was a 315-acre site adjacent to Landsdowne Airport on Youngstown’s east side.

“We are hopeful that our intent to bring approximately 1,000 jobs to the area, in addition to the many enhancements we have made to our site design, will address the needs of the broader Lordstown community,” she said.

In a statement released shortly after TJX’s announcement, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan commended local economic development agencies, elected officials and civic leaders for their “unwavering support and resiliency on this significant project.

“Good things happen when we work together as a team with a common mission and goal,” said Ryan, D-13 Ohio. “While we still have a lot more work to do, this latest development shows we have put this project back on the path to success. The overwhelming support from the vast majority of local residents and people in the Mahoning Valley is enormous and we plan to demonstrate that we remain united in our effort to bring this investment and these jobs to the Valley.”

Ryan will hold a press conference to discuss the TJX announcement Friday afternoon.

This story will be updated as it develops.

Copyright 2020 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.