Tuesday, March 14, 2000
Hamilton worried company may move
BY DAVID ECK
Enquirer Contributor
HAMILTON — With Ohio Casualty Group shareholders set to vote next month on designating Fairfield as the company's headquarters, Hamilton leaders hope that's not the first step in losing the rest of the insurance firm to their southern neighbor.
“They were founded here, and we're the only place they've ever been,” Mayor Adolph Olivas said. “We recognize that businesses have to change, but if we can do anything to forestall that change, I'd certainly like to try.”
The shareholder vote would — on paper — change the company's headquarters to Fairfield and have no direct affect on moving any more Ohio Casualty jobs from Hamilton, said Cindy Denney, assistant vice president for corporate communications. The intent to vote on the change was revealed Friday.
Some now in Fairfield
Since 1999, Ohio Casualty has pulled about 800 people from Hamilton to its Fairfield office complex, the former Mercantile Stores corporate headquarters. Ohio Casualty bought the Mercantile building in late 1998, and has about 1,250 workers there.
The insurance company, a Hamilton landmark for generations, has about 500 employees left in Hamilton, Mrs. Denney said.
In an e-mail Sunday to council members and city administrators, Mr. Olivas urged them to work with Ohio Casualty to maintain the remaining Hamilton jobs — and use all possible resources at the city's disposal.
“I am willing to make a presentation before the (Ohio Casualty) board if council is in agreement to exceed traditional incentives to keep Ohio Casualty Group in Hamilton,” Mr. Olivas wrote. “I am asking the city manager and the economic development director to spare no effort to contact and communicate to OCG the city's sincere desire to assist OCG and maintain their employees here.”
There has been no meeting scheduled between the city and company, city leaders said.
Company officials said Ohio Casualty's Hamilton building is for sale, but it expects to remain in the facility as a tenant.
“We are going to leave those people in Hamilton, at least for now,” Mrs. Denney said. “It is our preference to leave a presence in Hamilton.”
That would be good news to Hamilton officials, who on Monday echoed their quest to keep the jobs.
“There's no question that the loss of revenue from 550 employees would be significant,” City Manager Steve Sorrell said. “We're willing to do about whatever it takes within reasonable limits. We do not want to see them leave. They have been an outstanding community partner for many, many years and I don't want to see that change.”
The city can use economic development and tax incentives in its efforts to keep Ohio Casualty. Incentives involving utilities also can be tapped, Mr. Sorrell said.
“The ball is in their court,” Mr. Sorrell said. “We're willing to work with them and help them, but I can't do that unless they're willing to sit down with us and tell us what they need.”
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