Rudolph/Libbe to build new Microsoft facility

Toledo Business Journal, Apr 01, 2002

Microsoft Great Plains Business Solutions is investing $5.69 million in the relocation of its Findlay software development facility. The Ohio Tax Credit Authority has approved a 65 percent, seven-year tax credit to Great Plains resulting from the project. The general contractor for the new building is Rudolph/Libbe. As we go to press, the ground breaking is set to take place in early April and the company hopes to have the new facility fully functional by November or December 2002. As part of the tax credit agreement, the authority is requiring the company to maintain operations at the project site for at least 14 years.

"We actually have three floors within the Marathon Ashland Petroleum building in Findlay, which is approximately 60,000 square feet," explained Eric Kurjan, Microsoft Great Plains Business Solutions general manager, professional services, North America. "We're moving to a facility that is about 43,000 square feet... We had a fiveyear lease with Marathon Ashland Petroleum and they need the space, so we're not renewing the lease agreement."

Microsoft Great Plains has traditionally provided a range of financial and accounting software for mid-market and back office customers. Future strategic initiatives within the Microsoft Corporation position the Allen Township office With unique business growth opportunities.

The last eighteen months resulted, in significant change for the former Solomon Software Company. In June 2000, Fargo-based Great Plains acquired the Solomon Software Company. In April 2001, Microsoft Corporation acquired Great Plains. Despite the last change, the company still does business under the Great Plains name. Microsoft Great Plains' Findlay operation currently has such responsibilities as product development for the Solomon product line and future development work for the Microsoft NET platform.

"Because of the acquisition of the Solomon organization by Great Plains and then the acquisition of Great Plains by Microsoft, the roles and responsibilities within the organization have actually expanded," Kurjan explained.

The project will result in a fixed-asset investment of at least $5.69 million, of which Great Plains will make a direct fixedasset investment of at least $2.5 million in equipment and leasehold improvements. Great Plains will have a 42,300 square foot office building constructed. The building will house a full service software development business unit comprised of software development engineers, technical support engineers, sales, marketing, and shared resource personnel.

The project is retaining 216 full time positions. "We have the ability in the new building to go to 260, and that's without adding additional expansion, which the building is suited for," stated Kurjan. The average hourly wage of the new jobs will be $25.00, plus $2.88 in benefits. Great Plains has committed to hiring at least ten percent disadvantaged and/or minority persons, as defined by the Ohio Administrative Code.

Hancock County will assist this project by making up to $2.5 million in improvements to CR99 to improve access for the office park. This project will also be served by the $8 million sanitary sewer extension the City of Findlay constructed to promote growth in the northwest quadrant of the community. The site is already located within a Tax Increment Financing District' to service $6.3 million of road debt. The tax credit will begin July 2002 and will end June 2009.