Burton’s hydroponic powerhouse, Great Lakes Growers, is pushing ahead with a roughly $5 million expansion at its greenhouse complex, a project county officials say will add about five acres under glass, including a new 50,000-square-foot greenhouse. The build is set to ramp up the farm’s production capacity and is expected to bring a bump in local hiring and tax revenue.
County signs off to help secure financing
Geauga County commissioners have signed off on an agreement meant to help the company lock in financing for the build-out, with cooperative lender Farm Credit Mid-America expected to help fund the project, according to local reporting. As reported by Cleveland.com, the board also approved measures intended to clear remaining hurdles for the new loan.
Loan subordination and county records
County documents show the board agreed to subordinate a revolving loan the county made to Great Lakes Growers in 2018 so a new lender can take primary claim on the property. The published minutes note the older loan still has an outstanding balance of roughly $78,000, and county records list an appraisal figure near $15 million, with taxable values currently estimated around $9 to $10 million, Geauga County Commissioners’ Journal.
Expansion details and jobs
Officials told Cleveland.com the expansion will add roughly 50,000 square feet of greenhouse space, bringing total coverage to about five acres under glass. The project also includes power and infrastructure upgrades designed to support another four acres of possible future build-out. The county says the immediate construction is expected to create about a dozen new jobs and bring total employment at the site to roughly 40 workers once the project is finished.
Company background and local supply
Founded in 2011 by John Bonner and Tim Ryan, Great Lakes Growers runs a hydroponic greenhouse operation in Burton and supplies living and fresh-cut lettuces and herbs to grocery stores and restaurants across the Midwest. The company lists its Burton address and describes year-round Midwest distribution on its website, Great Lakes Growers.
Economic impact and next steps
County officials say the expansion should generate additional property tax revenue for local governments while helping the company keep pace with rising regional demand for locally grown produce. With the commissioners’ approvals in place, the firm can move ahead to finalize financing, then turn to construction and a phased ramp-up in production, Geauga County Commissioners’ Journal.
What subordination means for taxpayers
Subordinating the county’s 2018 loan shifts the county’s claim behind the new lender’s mortgage, putting the county in a lower repayment position if the property is ever sold. County staff told commissioners they backed the move because it keeps the expansion on track along with the jobs it is expected to support. It follows a familiar local economic development playbook, trading a stronger security position for a project that officials say will expand payroll and the township’s tax base.
