$140M food distribution center planned in Monroe

‘This is huge by any measure’: $140M food distribution center coming to Monroe

Project likely to create 93 full-time equivalent jobs and retain 127 existing positions at the distribution center already in city.

Rick McCrabb - Contributing Writer Jun 24, 2026 Updated Jun 28, 2026

Local real estate broker Lenny Robinson, addressing Monroe City Council Tuesday night, called a proposed food distribution center development “a real winner” for the city.

He said if council approves the plans, the total $140 million project, dubbed Project Clear, would be the largest capital investment in the city’s history, ahead of the Cincinnati Premium Outlets ($100 million) and the new Monroe High School ($61.2 million).

“This is huge by any measure,” Robinson told council.

After presentations from Robinson, Matt Boone of Scannell Properties; Meegan Spicer, managing director in the Site Selection and Incentives Advisory practice for Kroll, a financial risk firm; and Joshua Smith from Butler County Finance Authority, council adjourned into executive session.

The longer the executive session lasted, the more the representatives paced in the Council Chambers.

Nearly 40 minutes later, council returned and voted 6-0, with member Jordan Brown abstaining, to approve the emergency ordinance that authorizes City Manager Larry Lester to enter into a development agreement between the city of Monroe, Scannell Properties and Corridor 75 Park to facilitate construction of Project Clear, a food distribution center east of Interstate 75.

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PHOTO CAPTION: A rendering shows the plan for the development of a $140 million food distribution center east of Interstate 75 in Monroe. Rick McCrabb / Rendering - Contributed