City Council Approves Milestone Technologies Tax Abatement

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By Jennifer [email protected]

Warsaw City Council approved a 10-year tax abatement on real and personal property Tuesday for Milestone AV Technologies.
The audio-visual mounting and display company merged with Da-Lite Screen Co. in 2011. The expansion of the plant at 3100 N. Detroit St. will include approximately $5.4 million in real property renovations  in order to increase production.
The business also plans to add $2.4 million in manufacturing and information technology equipment at the facility. The renovations and new equipment purchases will lead to an expected increase of 30 employees and the retention of 296 employees at Milestone’s Warsaw facility, council heard.
Mike Evans, Milestone manager, spoke in support of the tax abatement. He noted that the company’s simulation and training program markets are growing and the company needs to update its office.
“We are working on a plan to position ourselves for the future,” Evans said. “The office is old and doesn’t lend to collaboration between associates and we need to make more space in the office for expanded growth opportunities.”
The business has plans to create an engineer design center to help support a better development process. Plans also are to connect parking lots at the site to create a safer environment for employees when they are entering and exiting the plant.
The manufacturing facility will be transformed to improve product flow and better utilize existing space.
“We feel right now there is a lot of wasted space at the Warsaw site and we have an opportunity to free up 30 percent of the space and utilize it for future opportunities,” Evans said.
Evans said the goal is to create a safer work place for its employees and make modifications to receiving docks.
Charlie Smith, councilman, thanked the business for staying in Warsaw.
“The 30 new jobs are nice, but the retention of 296 jobs is huge,” Smith said.
In other business, Bruce Woodward, Woodward Realty owner, thanked the city for its efforts in clearing snow from streets and alleys.

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Warsaw City Council approved a 10-year tax abatement on real and personal property Tuesday for Milestone AV Technologies.
The audio-visual mounting and display company merged with Da-Lite Screen Co. in 2011. The expansion of the plant at 3100 N. Detroit St. will include approximately $5.4 million in real property renovations  in order to increase production.
The business also plans to add $2.4 million in manufacturing and information technology equipment at the facility. The renovations and new equipment purchases will lead to an expected increase of 30 employees and the retention of 296 employees at Milestone’s Warsaw facility, council heard.
Mike Evans, Milestone manager, spoke in support of the tax abatement. He noted that the company’s simulation and training program markets are growing and the company needs to update its office.
“We are working on a plan to position ourselves for the future,” Evans said. “The office is old and doesn’t lend to collaboration between associates and we need to make more space in the office for expanded growth opportunities.”
The business has plans to create an engineer design center to help support a better development process. Plans also are to connect parking lots at the site to create a safer environment for employees when they are entering and exiting the plant.
The manufacturing facility will be transformed to improve product flow and better utilize existing space.
“We feel right now there is a lot of wasted space at the Warsaw site and we have an opportunity to free up 30 percent of the space and utilize it for future opportunities,” Evans said.
Evans said the goal is to create a safer work place for its employees and make modifications to receiving docks.
Charlie Smith, councilman, thanked the business for staying in Warsaw.
“The 30 new jobs are nice, but the retention of 296 jobs is huge,” Smith said.
In other business, Bruce Woodward, Woodward Realty owner, thanked the city for its efforts in clearing snow from streets and alleys.

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