Elliott Road Development Site Positioned for Future Investment and Responsible Growth

Defiance County Economic Development outlines the site’s current status, long-term potential, and commitment to transparency and responsible planning.

The conversation is about ensuring Defiance remains competitive for future investment while maintaining responsible development standards and protecting community interests.

DEFIANCE, Ohio - The discussion surrounding the Elliott Road site is not about advocating for a specific data center project. While the Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) of Defiance County – Defiance County Economic Development - has responded to general inquiries and shared industry information about data center development as part of its routine economic development outreach, no data center end-user or manufacturing user has entered into a binding agreement to occupy the site at this time. The conversation is about ensuring Defiance remains competitive for future investment while maintaining responsible development standards and protecting community interests.

Map of Elliott Road Site:

Overview of the Elliott Road Development Site

The Elliott Road site is located in the 24000 block of Elliott Road, directly across from Keller Trucking's Operations Center and in close proximity to several established industrial employers.

The site offers excellent transportation access through its immediate connectivity to US 24 and is situated within an established industrial corridor. These assets make it an attractive location for future business investment, job creation, and long-term economic growth.

The site is also adjacent to existing industrial operations, including Keller Trucking, DECKED, and Johns Manville, further reinforcing its suitability for future industrial, manufacturing, or technology-oriented development.

It is important to recognize that developing a competitive, market-ready site is a long-term process that often takes years of planning, land assembly, infrastructure improvements, engineering, and due diligence before a project is ready to attract prospective employers and investment. As part of that process, developers routinely work with local governments to ensure appropriate zoning, annexation, utility planning, and land-use designations are in place well in advance of any potential development. These steps help ensure that future projects are directed toward areas identified for growth, provide greater certainty for both communities and investors, and allow for thoughtful planning before a specific end user is ever identified.

Current Status

The site remains in its due diligence and development phase.

While a developer is actively working to prepare the property for future users, no data center company or other manufacturing end-user has submitted a binding proposal or entered into an agreement to occupy the site at this time.

The property is being developed by local business leader Bryan Keller and partners. At this stage, the focus is simply on creating a market-ready site capable of accommodating future economic development opportunities.

Why We Chose to Work On This Potential Project

Bryan Keller of Defiance, Ohio has established a proven track record of successful development projects throughout the United States.

Locally, his investments have created hundreds of jobs, generated significant private-sector investment, and contributed substantially to Defiance County's economic success. Many would argue that Keller has been one of the primary drivers behind Defiance County's repeated recognition as one of the nation's top-performing micropolitan communities.

His commitment to Defiance has resulted in him being credible and a trusted partner in creating development opportunities for our community.

Site Suitability and Long-Term Planning

The Elliott Road corridor has long been identified as an area appropriate for industrial and business development and is designated as such within the Defiance City's Comprehensive Plan.

The Defiance County Economic Development assisted in assembling additional parcels surrounding the site to create a larger, more competitive development opportunity capable of attracting future investment.

The goal was to create a site capable of attracting technology-oriented employers, advanced manufacturers, logistics operations, and other high-value investment opportunities.

It is also important to remember the context in which these parcels were assembled. At the time, there were growing concerns regarding several large-scale solar projects seeking locations throughout Defiance County. Creating strategic development sites was viewed as an important way to maintain local control over land use while preserving opportunities for job-creating economic development.

Community Engagement and Transparency

Should a specific development proposal emerge for the Elliott Road site, the community will be informed and provided with project details through the appropriate public review processes.

Transparency and public engagement will continue to be important priorities throughout the development process.

At this point, consideration of specific project impacts would be premature, given that no end-user proposal currently exists.

Responsible Development Is Our Priority

Responsible growth has always been a guiding principle of Defiance County Economic Development.

Our mission is not simply to attract projects. Our mission is to attract the right projects.

There have been opportunities over the years that were not pursued because the potential burden on community infrastructure or resources outweighed the benefits.

Every project is evaluated based on its economic impact, infrastructure demands, environmental considerations, workforce implications, and long-term value to the community.

That same level of due diligence would be applied to any future project considered in Defiance.

Our Perspective on the Future of Elliott Road Site

At this time, no data center end user or other industrial or manufacturing end-user has entered into a lease, purchase agreement, or other binding commitment to occupy the Elliott Road Site. Defiance County Economic Development has been consistent with its economic development role, fielded general inquiries and shared publicly available industry information regarding data center development (and other forms of industrial development.)

Should an end-user express interest in advancing a development, it is our position that any potential project should be evaluated on its individual merits rather than through a one-size-fits-all approach. Any proposed development, whether a data center or otherwise, must be responsible, financially self-sustaining, and aligned with the long-term interests of the Defiance community.

As with any major development project, future proposals should be expected to:

• Fund any necessary infrastructure improvements associated with the project.

• Cover utility system upgrades required to support their operations.

• Comply with all applicable zoning, permitting, and development standards.

• Minimize impacts on neighboring residents, businesses, and community resources.

• Demonstrate measurable, long-term value to the local economy and community.

• Avoid transferring project-related costs or financial burdens to local taxpayers.

It is important to recognize that not all data centers are the same. Projects can vary significantly in scale, design, technology, resource demands, economic impact, and community benefits. For that reason, each proposal should be reviewed based on its specific characteristics, commitments, and overall value to the community.

Regarding incentives, Defiance County Economic Development has not been authorized to extend any local financial incentives for data center development. Instead, our approach is centered on partnership, collaboration, and ensuring that any project stands on its own economic merits. As with any development opportunity, decisions should be guided by objective facts, comprehensive project information, and what ultimately serves the best interests of Defiance residents, businesses, and taxpayers.

Defiance has earned a reputation as a community that welcomes investment while maintaining strong oversight, accountability, and responsible growth. We believe economic competitiveness and thoughtful development can successfully coexist, and that clear standards, sound planning, and transparent decision-making provide the best path forward for achieving both objectives.

Column By Executive Director Regarding Impacts of a Moratorium

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ABOUT DEFIANCE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) of Defiance County, also known as Defiance County Economic Development, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to attracting, retaining, and expanding businesses throughout Defiance County. The CIC Board is made up of both public and private sector representatives, creating a partnership between local government and the business community.

In addition to economic development efforts, our office provides a variety of business resources, including workforce development assistance, marketing support, and other services designed to help local businesses grow and succeed.