What's Happening in Dublin, OH…

Dublin is considering giving away almost a million dollars' worth of land in an effort to spur development and retain Command Alkon Inc..

Though based in Birmingham, Alabama, Command employs 70 people in Dublin. The company makes computer hardware and software for the concrete, cement, and asphalt industry, and plans to add about 15 jobs in the new few years. The city hopes to keep Command Alkon in Dublin and interest developers in working with similar projects at Route 161 and Houchard Road.

If approved by the City Council, Dublin Building Systems, a developer, would receive 10 acres, worth about $900,000, as an incentive to develop a 30,000 square foot R&D facility. Michael Clarey, Economic Development Administrator for Dublin, said that in terms of space for research and development, Dublin has almost no room to offer, pointing out that there is a 1% vacancy rate, which translates to spaces of 5,000 to 8,000 square feet.

Command Alkon has been in Dublin for 22 years, and the city hopes that by inducing it to stay, it will draw similar technology companies to the city. There are currently 77 acres in the project at which other companies could locate operations.

City officials might want to work with brochure printers to create a mailer for commercial real estate agents, explaining the advantages of relocating to Dublin to their clients.