Winona PVD Coatings LLC is seeking to expand its operations in Warsaw and create an additional 60 jobs.
Warsaw City Council heard a presentation on the proposed expansion during Monday night's meeting.
The company is requesting $2.2 million from the city's northern tax increment finance district to cover the expansion.
The council unanimously approved Warsaw Redevelopment Commission reviewing the matter and coming back to the city with a recommendation to allow the city to go forward with issuing bonds to allow for the $2.2 million to be used for the expansion from the TIF district.
Money from real and personal property taxes abated through the TIF district would be used to make the bond payments.
Winona PVD Coatings LLC, 1180 Polk Drive, Warsaw, currently houses a 68,000-square-foot building.
The business wants to add an additional 62,000 square feet of new construction to the facility and lease an additional 50,000 square feet of space for finishing work.
They also want to build a new building to the north of the facility of the building on the east side of the property.
In addition, the proposal includes a proposed $8.5 million spent for new production equipment.
Jamie Visker, Winona PVD Coatings CEO, said the reason for the expansion is the need for more space for coating of chrome wheels.
"The issue we have now is we have demand outserving supply, and we've got to expand, and we'd prefer to expand in Warsaw since our base of operations is here," Visker said.
Employees currently make $15.60 an hour and salaried positions are an average of $70,000, Visker said.
George Robertson, Kosciusko Economic Development Corp. president, said he supported the expansion.
"Businesses look at communities that solve problems and work together, and I think it is a great project for the community, county and city," Robertson said.
Council President Joe Thallemer said he also supported the expansion.
"The TIF district is an economic development tool and the funds are essentially to improve the TIF district and enhance it and by definition. This to me seems to fit the reason the TIF district was created," Thallemer said.
Also during the meeting, the council approved a 10-year tax abatement for Flexaust Company Inc. on real and personal property at 602 Leiter Drive, Warsaw.
The business is currently located at 1510 Armstrong Road, Warsaw.
Flexaust has estimated spending approximately $700,000 on an existing building at 602 Leiter Drive, as well as an additional $600,000 of real estate rehabilitation.
In conjunction with the real property improvements, Flexaust also is looking to purchase approximately $2.1 million in machinery and equipment.
In addition to the real and personal property expenditures, Flexaust also is expecting to hire 25 new full-time employees over the next four years.
In addition to the real and personal property expenses, they are anticipating the addition of 25 new jobs over the next four years.
Flexaust is anticipating the purchase of the vacant property on Leiter Drive, as well as the purchase of new manufacturing equipment.
In other business, Mike Diffendal, Borden Waste-Away general operations manager, gave an update on the city's new recycling.
Borden Waste-Away has completed the exchange of all City of Warsaw recycling carts for the new Borden recycling system.
He said the business appreciates the residents' patience as they accommodated the increased interest in the recycling program.
The new recycling program includes an expanded program with additional volume. If anyone is interested in signing up for the recycling program, or if they have any questions, they can contact Borden Waste-Away at www.wasteawaygroup.com or 800-386-3313.
In other business, the council:
n Approved a conflict of interest statement for Becky Anglin, who serves as the Victims Assistance coordinator for Warsaw Police Department and as a Zumba Fitness Workshop instructor.
n Approved a $2,000 transfer from the council's miscellaneous fund to communications and travel fund.
n Approved an ordinance for a temporary loan of $1 million to the Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory Operating Fund.
