Local

Chill-Can retains attorneys after Youngstown threatens lawsuit

By Mahoning Matters staff
The relationship between city officials Mayor Tito Brown and LawDiirector Jeff Limbian and the developer of the proposed Chill-Can plant turned a bit frosty today. Mayor Jamael Tito Brown announced the city is giving the M.J. Joseph Development Corp. 60 days to hit benchmarks that it failed to meet over the past several years.
The relationship between city officials Mayor Tito Brown and LawDiirector Jeff Limbian and the developer of the proposed Chill-Can plant turned a bit frosty today. Mayor Jamael Tito Brown announced the city is giving the M.J. Joseph Development Corp. 60 days to hit benchmarks that it failed to meet over the past several years.

YOUNGSTOWN — Attorneys representing developers of the Chill-Can plant on the city’s East Side said the company remains committed to the project, despite nearly four years of delays.

City officials announced earlier this month they would give M.J. Joseph Development Corporation 60 days to meet construction and job creation goals for the plant that came due in 2017, before taking legal action. The city gave developer M.J. Development Corporation a $1.5 million grant to build up the site and another $360,000 to demolish about a dozen homes to make way for the property.

Attorney Brian Kopp of Betras, Kopp & Harshman announced Wednesday the firm would represent the company in any legal action.

M.J. Joseph CEO Mitchell Joseph released a statement:

“I want to assure the people of the Mahoning Valley, especially the residents of the City of Youngstown, that we have never wavered in our commitment to the Chill Can Beverage and Technology project. To date, we have invested $5 million of our own funds into the project above and beyond the grant from the city and we will continue to do whatever is necessary to make the Eastside facility a center of innovation and manufacturing.

“Unfortunately, we have experienced delays during the construction phase of this project. Many delays are attributable to the unanticipated COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic impacted every aspect of our business in the U.S. and abroad. For over a year, the shutdown of the global economy has interrupted our supply chains, disrupted our operations and affected our suppliers, vendors and customers.

“We are pleased to report that MJJDC and the Joseph Companies have made the adjustments necessary to endure the crisis and we anticipate our core operations will return to pre-pandemic levels as the U.S. and global economies gain momentum. Time is needed to complete the construction phase of the Youngstown complex and hire Valley residents so that we may begin to manufacture and distribute product.

“We look forward to working with [Mayor Jamael Tito Brown] and city officials so that we may complete this project and manufacture our product in the community for many years to come.”

This story was originally published April 14, 2021 at 11:26 AM with the headline "Chill-Can retains attorneys after Youngstown threatens lawsuit."