Ohio’s tax incentives, combined with the advantageous supply chain generated by multiple associated vendors in close proximity, has spurred the growth of a personal care and beauty campus near Columbus, OH.

The latest to join the movement is Alene Candles, which has opened a new multi-million-dollar facility that it says will create approximately 135 permanent new jobs and 350 seasonal jobs at its New Albany campus.

Alene Candles is a full-service contract manufacturer of superior-quality, custom-designed candles and home fragrance products for the gift, cosmetic, and retail markets.

President Rod Harl of the Milford, NH-based private-label company made the announcement at the 300,000-square-foot facility in New Albany’s booming Personal Care and Beauty Innovation Campus, which is located on the outskirts of Columbus.

Alene Candles leases approximately one-third of the facility.

Harl said the location provides Alene Candles with facilities for manufacturing, distribution, and research and development. “The advantages of this location are not only access to the Midwest market, but its strategic location for U.S. distribution.”

The Personal Care and Beauty Innovation Campus is part of a regional effort to spur growth and inspire innovation among similar business sectors by dividing sections of the New Albany business park into discrete “innovation campuses.” In addition to Alene Candles, the Knowlton Development Corp., VeePak, Axium Plastics, and Accel Inc. are among several leading national and international personal care companies that have moved into what has become one of the fastest-growing supply chain hubs in the Midwest.

Harl explained that this highly integrated supply chain hub is designed to support companies within the beauty and personal care sectors that can mutually benefit from complementary capabilities, interrelated supply chains, and creative synergies.

He noted that Alene Candles works with Limited Brands, Estée Lauder, Crabtree & Evelyn, Coty, Williams-Sonoma Inc., L’Oréal, among other national and international beauty and personal care products brands.

Alene Candles had been exploring expansion sites in other states, but tax credits of more than $300,000 from the Ohio Tax Credit Authority were key, Harl said. Local tax incentives from the City of New Albany also were offered to companies in the campus.

“Other states made a big push for the Alene expansion jobs, but Ohio’s offer was very competitive,” Harl said. “Combined with the central location and the proximity to other companies with which we do business, it was an offer we couldn’t refuse.”

Harl noted that the fact that the beauty innovation campus is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Certified was significant as well. “We’re employing any number of best practices that will measurably reduce our plant’s energy footprint, so we’re very pleased to achieve that goal,” he said, adding that all facilities within the beauty innovation campus meet LEED standards.

While the facility incorporates some state-of-the-art automation, it is not a highly automated facility in the context of U.S. manufacturing, Harl explained. “Achieving the quality our customers expect still requires a degree of human touch. As a private label producer, this facility gives us the right mix of quality, efficiency, and cost savings.”