Redevelopment Adopts Resolution for Mentone TIF
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jordan Fouts-
Wabash-based North Central Cooperative presented plans in November to consolidate and expand facilities in the region into an 80-acre crop service center near Mentone. The company will invest $8.27 million in renovating and equipping two buildings on the site, adding more than 18,000 square feet of production and office space and 15 new jobs.
The TIF would help fund improvements like roadwork, which will be necessary since a lot of product will be shipped out by truck after coming in by rail.
The commission voted for the confirmatory resolution, which brings the county close to the end stage for setting up the TIF, after a public hearing Thursday. Rob Young, a senior director with the Hagerman Group who helped present the plan, spoke in favor of the TIF and noted some of the equipment is in testing now.
Also Thursday, Kosciusko Economic Development Corp. President George Robertson discussed with commission members the gains in the county last year and his expectations for 2015. Robertson said the county added 600 manufacturing jobs, bringing employment ahead of 2013 by 2,000 jobs and even exceeding pre-recession numbers.
Increasing the workforce pool will be a major focus for KEDCo this year, he said, through campaigns such as Come Back to Kosciusko, meant to bring back residents who moved away by touting what the county has to offer. The county is seeing some of its biggest workforce shortages in healthcare and building trades, he noted.
And the commission voted for officers for 2015, naming member Max Courtney president and Henry DeJulia vice president.[[In-content Ad]]
Wabash-based North Central Cooperative presented plans in November to consolidate and expand facilities in the region into an 80-acre crop service center near Mentone. The company will invest $8.27 million in renovating and equipping two buildings on the site, adding more than 18,000 square feet of production and office space and 15 new jobs.
The TIF would help fund improvements like roadwork, which will be necessary since a lot of product will be shipped out by truck after coming in by rail.
The commission voted for the confirmatory resolution, which brings the county close to the end stage for setting up the TIF, after a public hearing Thursday. Rob Young, a senior director with the Hagerman Group who helped present the plan, spoke in favor of the TIF and noted some of the equipment is in testing now.
Also Thursday, Kosciusko Economic Development Corp. President George Robertson discussed with commission members the gains in the county last year and his expectations for 2015. Robertson said the county added 600 manufacturing jobs, bringing employment ahead of 2013 by 2,000 jobs and even exceeding pre-recession numbers.
Increasing the workforce pool will be a major focus for KEDCo this year, he said, through campaigns such as Come Back to Kosciusko, meant to bring back residents who moved away by touting what the county has to offer. The county is seeing some of its biggest workforce shortages in healthcare and building trades, he noted.
And the commission voted for officers for 2015, naming member Max Courtney president and Henry DeJulia vice president.[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092