Business Roundup: 4,000 New Jobs Since 2009, Tenant for Borders, Kohl's Plans Upgrade

About 4,000 jobs have been created in Strongsville since the end of the recession in 2009, Economic Development Director Brent Painter said.

In his quarterly business update, Painter said the city had 27,500 full- and part-time workers in 2004. By 2009, the number had dipped to 26,000.

But 2,000 jobs came to town in 2010 and 2011, according to information from the Regional Income Tax Agency.

"That represents another 4,000 new jobs since the end of the recession," Painter said.

Some other highlights of Painter's report:

New industry -- Precision Production is moving into a vacant building on Dow Circle. Crimcheck, a company that does background investigations, is briging 20 to 40 jobs to the industrial park. Also, has expanded its commercial business to the point it is moving into industrial space on Progress Drive.

Southwest General invests -- The health center is installing a $2.5 million high-field open MRI at its .

-- The Royalton Road retailer will install solar panels over 80 percent of its roof. It's part of the company's effort to both save energy costs and become eco-friendly. So far, Painter said, Kohl's has installed 183,000 solar panels in its stores nationwide, which has saved energy equivalent to 3,852 households.

Borders tenant -- Still no official word, but Painter said the retailer looking at the site plans to use all 30,000 square feet.

-- Painter said he expects Westfield's sale of   to Starwood Capital Group to close around July 1. "We should have a lot more details then," he said.

Whitney-Pearl development -- The property in front of Lowe's that has been tied up in foreclosure for years is expected to go to sheriff's sale May 29. WXZ Development Inc. has already been involved in property -- O'Charley's restaurant and Sheetz.