The $18 million Connor Group central office building that opens Wednesday at the Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport keeps a billion-dollar business in the Dayton region and could spur more economic development at the general aviation airport, local officials said.
The real estate investment firm looked at the possibility of moving its central office to North Carolina, but chose to relocate from Centerville to the intersection of Austin Boulevard and Ohio 741 near Interstate 75.
“Our operation is nationwide, but we’re still proud to call Dayton home,” said Larry Connor, the company’s managing partner.
The Connor Group Central Support Office houses about 70 associates who work at the real estate firm or its affiliated technology company, First Building Services, which provides online payment processing.
Launched in 1991 with a $400,000 investment to purchase three apartment communities in Dayton, the Connor Group now has assets of more than $1.5 billion. The privately held firm own and operates apartment communities in nine U.S. cities that also include Atlanta, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dallas and Nashville.
Connor said the firm will announce its first property acquisition in Chicago in September or October, and also plans to enter the Denver market within the next six months.
The Connor Group employs about 400 people nationwide, including about 90 in the Dayton area.
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