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Kroger To Create Nearly 650 Jobs In Blue Ash

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Kroger's plans to expand operations in Blue Ash have the go-ahead from the Ohio Tax Credit Authority. The board Monday morning approved a 65 percent, 10-year job creation tax credit.

Cincinnati-based Kroger Company plans to create 649 full-time jobs at facilities on Creek and Carver roads in Blue Ash. The addition is expected to generate $25.4 million in additional annual payroll.

Todd Walker with the Ohio Development Services Agency says the tax credits are performance based. Kroger has three years to make good on its job creation promise.

According to Kroger, the $46 million investment over five years will create jobs "in Kroger’s digital innovation, human resources recruiting and pharmacy customer service groups as well as logistics and distribution."

In a statement, Blue Ash Mayor Mayor Lee Czerwonka says "We are very excited to have the region’s largest Fortune 500 company expanding in Blue Ash.”

Kroger’s senior vice president and chief financial officer, Mike Schlotman, adds, “Kroger continues to innovate and invest to grow our business, and we are pleased to be able to do both in Ohio.”

Update:

Kroger spokesperson Keith Dailey says the company's Hamilton call center "will close and all 100 positions will be relocated to our new Blue Ash facility, where our pharmacy customer service team will be more closely-integrated with the rest of the Kroger Customer Care team."

Dailey says these 100 positions are not included in the 649 new job count.

In a statement to WVXU, he says, "Today, approximately 20 Kroger employees and 80 contract employees work in Hamilton, all of whom will be invited to continue their Kroger careers in Blue Ash. Because the locations are only 30 miles apart, our hope is that all associates and contractors will choose to continue working with Kroger. We’ll transition associates to the new facility in Blue Ash over the next couple of months."

Senior Editor and reporter at WVXU with more than 20 years experience in public radio; formerly news and public affairs producer with WMUB. Would really like to meet your dog.