ASHLAND — Some Hallmark products may soon include “Made in Ashland.”
Mayor Matt Miller announced Tuesday evening that Ashland-based Crown Jewlz, a stationary and children’s book printing company, has landed a multi-year contract with Hallmark.
Currently located at 40 E. 2nd St., the former Ashland Times-Gazette building, Crown Jewlz is going to exclusively provide Hallmark with its gift bags, stationary, plates, paper cups, napkins and gift wrap, Miller said.
“Not only will it be designed here in Ashland, Ohio, but it will be produced here and then distributed from this new location,” the mayor said.
The new location Miller referred to is in Ashland’s city-owned industrial park.
Crown Jewlz purchased about 18 acres of vacant property in the industrial park from the city for $180,000 back near the end of 2025, Miller said. The land is located at the corner of Ford Drive and Wells Road.
The company plans to construct a 50,000-square-foot facility at a cost of approximately $4.5 million.
“It will allow them to double their workforce, they believe, in no time,” the mayor said. “If things go as planned, they expect within one year after the completion of this first phase, this first 50,000-square-foot building, to add an additional 50,000-square-foot building.”
Council approves tax incentive
Crown Jewlz submitted a Community Reinvestment Area Tax Incentive application to the city requesting it grant the company a tax incentive at 75 percent for 10 years — meaning the company’s property taxes would be reduced by that percentage for a decade-long period.
Miller said this is the same request the city has granted for all companies that have expanded in the industrial park that have a “proven track record of providing good-paying jobs” contributing to the Ashland community.
The mayor reminded council that currently the city collects zero taxes on the land purchased by Crown Jewlz.
“Once a new, $4.5 million facility is on that land, we will then begin collecting, right away, 25 percent of the tax bill and then at the end of the 10 years the full 100 percent,” he said, emphasizing the expansion will contribute to economic growth.
City Council approved the request unanimously.
“They are just super people and longtime in business here. I’m excited to hear about this opportunity for them,” said Councilman Dennis Miller. “It didn’t come overnight. They’ve been working very hard and they deserve it.”
The mayor added that Crown Jewlz provides its employees with bonus and 401(k) programs. It also covers its employees’ insurance costs entirely.
“These are good jobs and a lot of very, very talented people,” Miller said.
Over the past year, Crown Jewlz has welcomed the senior vice president of TJ Maxx, Marshalls and Home Goods, along with the head of Hallmark.
“They do tell me that they have pitched that they think this would be a great place to do a movie, because it is the same Hallmark group,” the mayor said with a smile.
