Economic Development Coordinator: Anthony Ianiro

Phone: 440-442-7404    aianiro@highlandhts.com

The major focus of the city's economic development effort is to retain our current businesses and help them expand within our community and to attract new companies to the city to help diversify our economic base.

Ranked as the No. 4 suburb (out of 65) in Northeast Ohio by Cleveland Magazine in 2003, Highland Heights offers many advantages to its business community. Highland Heights has the third lowest commercial property tax rate in Cuyahoga County; it is located minutes from I-271, I-90 and the Cuyahoga County Airport and it boasts exceptional municipal services. Highland Heights fosters a business environment that is supportive and responsive to our business community.

Over 200 companies call Highland Heights home. Come find out what these companies have known for years: Highland Heights is a great place to do business! 

Business List - Click here for an alphabetical list of businesses in Highland Heights, including a contact name and phone number for each (pdf file). 

For more information, call Anthony Ianiro, Economic Development Coordinator, at 440-442-7404.

Economic Development Incentives

The following is a summary of the three main economic development incentive programs used by the city of Highland Heights to encourage new commercial/industrial development and the expansion of existing industries. Please note that these programs must be formally approved by City Council prior to the start of any portion of the project. The amount of the incentive and the number of years it is offered is determined on a case-by-case basis depending on criteria such as total payroll, amount of investment and the number of jobs. Please contact the Economic Development Coordinator for full program and eligibility requirements.

Economic Development Grant - This is the city’s newest and most innovative incentive program. Under this program, the company receives an annual grant payment from the city based on a percentage of total income tax revenue the company brings to the city. One of the advantages of this program is that it does not affect the revenue of the school district because it is not tax abatement. In addition, this program is quicker and easier to administer because the county and the local board of education do not have to approve the agreement.

Enterprise Zone (EZ) - Highland Heights established an Enterprise Zone under the State of Ohio Enterprise Zone Program in 1992. This program allows for reduction in real property and/or personal property taxes for new construction and expansion of industrial and office facilities. State guidelines allow up to 75% abatement for up to 10 years. Notification must be given to the local school district prior to taking any formal action on the request for tax abatement and the Enterprise Zone agreement must be approved by the County Commissioners. In addition, if the company is relocating to Highland Heights from another Ohio county or municipality, then a relocation waiver issued by the Ohio Department of Development is required. For further details about this program or to download an application, go to http://www.odod.state.oh.us/edd/ez.

Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) - Community Reinvestment Areas are areas of land in which property owners can receive tax incentives for investing in real property improvements. The four Community Reinvestment Areas designated within Highland Heights are Alpha, Avion, Bishop/Wilson Mills and Delta (Aberdeen Business Park). Under this program, real property tax abatement can be granted for any increased property valuation resulting from new construction or remodeling of existing structures. A commercial or industrial property located in one of these areas is eligible for up to 100% exemption from real property taxation for up to 15 years for new construction and 12 years for remodeling. There is no exemption for personal property under this program. The City must give notice of all such projects to the local board of education a minimum of 45 business days prior to the formal review of the agreement by the City. If the percentage of exemption exceeds 50%, then approval of the agreement by the board of education is needed. For further details about this program or to download an application, go to http://www.odod.state.oh.us/edd/cra.

For additional information, including available economic development programs, please contact Anthony Ianiro, Economic Development Coordinator at 440-442-7404.

You can find other useful information at these web sites:

  Cuyahoga Department of Development - http://www.cuyahoga.oh.us/development/default.htm

  Ohio Department of Development - http://www.odod.state.oh.us

  Greater Cleveland Growth Association - http://www.clevelandgrowth.com