COLUMBIANA — The city has given approval for a $10 million expansion project of Town Center at Firestone Farms.

The Columbiana Board of Education approved a 100 percent, 15-year tax abatement, which is included as a tax incentive under the Community Reinvestment Area Program. Vice President of Firestone Homestead Jeremy Mackall said starting a business is expensive and the CRA is a valuable resource.

“We need every little incentive to help economic growth in this area,” Mackall said.

Mackall said he is grateful for the faith shown by the Columbiana school board.

“It’s never been adversarial. I always feel like they are a partner with us,” said Mackall about working with city officials.

Mackall attributes the hard work and partnerships of city officials as a contributor to economic growth in the area. He plans to bring multiple businesses, including a grocery store, hardware store, bed and breakfast, and brewery in the expansion.

Salem Regional Medical Center intends to construct a three-story building nearby.

Firestone Farms does not have any leases signed, but looks forward to continuing the process of expanding.

Construction on the new building at Town Center would begin next spring with a completion date in 2023.

Plans established at the beginning of the Firestone Town Center project included two buildings encompassing the clock tower.

“I’ve always looked at it as halfway done,” Mackall said. “I look forward when the second building is up to it being complete.”

Mackall said the building will have a similar design as the first.

The original inspiration was early 1900s architecture.

“We wanted it to look like they were built at separate times, kind of like a town in that era would have looked,” Mackall said.