B-A-S-F, the world's largest chemical company, already has a chemicals processing plant in Elyria. Its proposed new facility there would produce a patented "cathode material" to be used in advanced Lithium-ion batteries that would power a new generation of hybrid cars.
The addition to the BASF campus would create only 20 high tech jobs initially, but there would be much potential for further expansion.
Donald Brackenhoff is Elyria's Director of Economic Development. He says the new facility is contingent on a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, a long-time partner on BASF projects, augmented by state and local grants or loans - and possible tax incentives..
Donald Brackenhoff: "They get the funding, then they start the physical structure design and all that, and that will be done at their corporate level, their local level, and they'll work with our local building department and the engineers and all the different things that would take place in order for them to build this facility."
Steve Morey, President of economic catalyst Team Lorain County, says this is exactly what Elyria has long needed.
Steve Morey "By establishing an anchor in this kind of advanced technology, this is going to do great things for Lorain County and the region to be able to attract new businesses."
A BASF official said the firm's development team in Beachwood would also be involved in making lithium-ion battery use "realistic, affordable and widely available".
Details on the economic impact won't be released until the grant is awarded. That's expected in mid to late July.
