The city of Richmond will issue more than $36 million in bonds to support an ongoing Blue Buffalo expansion project after a Dec. 16 Richmond Common Council vote.
Blue Buffalo, which opened in 2018 at a Midwest Industrial Park site along West Industries Road, began a 169,000-square-foot expansion in 2023 that requires purchasing additional equipment and is expected to generate at least 50 additional jobs.
The $36 million includes restructuring and reissuing $19,928,285 in principal remaining from bonds issued in 2016 and issuing $16,215,000 in new bonds. Blue Buffalo will use tax increment finance money to repay the bonds, with an anticipated final payoff date of Aug. 1, 2037, and a maturity date of Feb. 1, 2041.
Mayor Ron Oler said the expansion is good for Richmond with “50 new good-paying jobs.” He said only 50% of Blue Buffalo’s TIF money is pledged to repay the bonds, because the other half will finance sanitary sewer improvements at the Midwest Industrial Park. To service Blue Buffalo’s expansion, the planned Liberation Labs and any new companies locating in the expanded park, the sanitary sewer system requires additional capacity.
Council’s finance committee and the city’s Economic Development Commission, which met immediately before council, recommended approval of the bond ordinance.
Valerie Shaffer, president of the Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County, said Blue Buffalo has been very supportive of the county since locating here.
“Blue Buffalo has been a tremendous partner to this community since they first opened in 2018,” Shaffer said. “They far exceeded their original investment projections and job-creation projections in their first phase of their project, and I have no doubt that they will meet the expectations for this next investment that will be well over $200 million into the community and creating 50 new jobs.”
Pursuing grants
Two ordinances were presented to council that could result in more than $2.7 million in grant funding.
The city will request $2.5 million through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity grant program from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Audrey Shake, the city’s grant administrator, said the money would pay for a comprehensive transportation plan update that will include site selection, design and engineering for a new transportation facility. No match is required.
The city currently has a facility on South Q Street. Rose View Transit operates from that site, and Richmond Police Department stores vehicles on site.
That ordinance was referred to council’s finance committee for review before it returns for council’s second reading and public hearing.
Council advanced to second reading and approved a $201,725 funding request to the U.S. Department of Justice through its Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance grant program. The money would provide RPD’s patrol vehicles with advanced mobile data terminals designed to improve operational efficacy and proactive policing. No match is required.
Director of public operations
Oler introduced Matthew Keller, who was hired as the city’s director of public operations. Keller replaces Greg Stiens, who retired from his position as director of public works and engineering.
“I believe if we work together we will be able to achieve and exceed our goals set forth by the city council, Mayor Oler, our Richmond citizens and private stakeholders, and I will be looking to find ways to improve the transit system, the municipal airport, the code enforcement, specifically, and other aspects of the city that I will be taking part in,” Keller said. “Through diligence and collaboration, I honestly believe we can make Richmond a more inviting, more sustainable and more efficient city for current and future citizens.”
Keller has a background in property management, transportation planning and geographic information systems. A native of Pennsylvania, he graduated from West Chester University.
A version of this article appeared in the January 1 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.