A $30 million project is in the works for Bazetta Township that trustees say is expected to bring 120 new full-time jobs as well as other businesses.

Trustee Michael Hovis announced at Tuesday night’s board meeting that local officials have been working with Ambrose Property Group of Indianapolis on something dubbed “Project Penguin.”

Because of a non-disclosure agreement, Hovis did not reveal the company behind the project that Ambrose is working with.

Hovis did say that the 169,000-square-foot distribution center would be located on a 60-acre lot along Perkins Jones Road.

The center will be built in between Mosquito Creek Storage and Oak Meadow Cremation Service Inc. 

“I’m excited but then a little nervous but anything that brings an opportunity for the younger generation,” Kim Harper, who lives near the site of the future distribution center said. “Our grandkids run around here, we drive four wheelers, so I'm a little nervous about the traffic but it’ll be okay.”

The project would require a 2,000-foot sewer main extension to the site, which would also include what Hovis says would be a “substantial” electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

If the plans meet with approval from various Trumbull County departments, plans are to break ground on October 24, with completion planned for next summer.

Ambrose Property Group is a privately held industrial, logistics, and e-commerce real estate developer that builds in top U.S. markets.

According to its website, Ambrose has facilitated dozens of projects in 11 states including distribution centers for international companies like Caterpillar and Amazon.

Township Zoning Inspector Pete Pizzulo said work on the project began two years ago with discussions involving the chamber of commerce and real estate companies before the Ambrose group came forward.

"We believe it's a go,” said Pizzulo speaking about Project Penguin. “Those types of businesses draw new other businesses…support companies. This is huge growth for us, It's a win-win.”

Perkins Jones Road Northeast is a 1.3-mile-long stretch of roadway between Larchmont Ave. NE and Hoagland Blackstub Road.

The largest commercial building on the road is the former K-Mart distribution center which closed in 2018 and now serves as a distribution center for toy manufacturer Step 2.

"The repercussions of this are going to last for generations and it's going be very beneficial for this township,” said Trustee Michael Morelli.