WKSU News: Diebold suspends construction of new headquarters

Thursday, October 25, 2012 Diebold suspends construction of new headquarters Company says it will focus on global growth by WKSU's GRANT ENGLE	Reporter Grant Engle

In The Region:

Diebold is indefinitely suspending plans to build its $100 million global headquarters in Green. It’s also laying off 500 people, primarily in North America and Brazil.

In its announcement Thursday morning, the ATM manufacturer said months of analysis showed the company needs to focus on global growth instead of building a new headquarters.

Mike Jacobsen is a spokesman for Diebold. He says the announcement doesn’t change the company’s commitment to North Canton.

Mike Jacobsen says Diebold is committed to Northeast Ohio

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“We’re staying here in Green. We’re not looking to relocate our corporate headquarters anywhere else. The decision to indefinitely suspend our plans to build a new corporate campus was based on the immediate and long-term needs of the business.”

The announcement about the headquarters followed Diebold’s release of its third-quarter earnings, which dropped 58 percent. Jacobsen says the headquarters decision was made after months of study. He also says fewer than 75 of the 500 layoffs will be in Northeast Ohio.

When Diebold announced in April of 2011 that it was building the new headquarters, Gov. John Kasich promised more than $50 million in tax credits and other incentives.

STATEMENT OF GREEN on Diebold's change of plans:

October 25, 2012

City of Green Receives News of Diebold Indefinitely Suspending Plans for its New World Headquarters

Last evening, Diebold executives met with Mayor Dick Norton to announce they would be indefinitely suspend plans to build a new world headquarters in Green.

“Diebold executives were quick to reassure me that they intend to stay in Green in their current headquarters and that they will invest some amount of money into the current facility to accommodate their near term needs,” said Dick Norton, mayor.

Diebold’s current world headquarters is located at 5995 Mayfair Road.

“It’s good news bad news – there will be no negative impact to the revenue the City receives from Diebold. Executives have reassured me that their employee base will remain the same and that in fact they are currently in a hiring mode for certain disciplines.”

Diebold is the largest employer in the City of Green with approximately 1,800 employees.

“Clearly I would have preferred to have the new facility,” said Norton. “On the other hand, I can certainly respect their position to make this tough decision to delay the project and to invest in growing the business.”

“At this time, the City is stopping all expenditures of funds related to construction of any infrastructure related to accommodate the new facility.”

In 2013, the City had plans to extend Town Park Blvd. east to Wise Road to accommodate the new facility.

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