|
However, on close inspection the investment is an opportunity that
could jump-start the economy and increase revenue. Both city and
county officials have been hearing how governments have become
involved in attracting businesses to locate in their communities in
order to increase revenues and stabilize local economies. Both the
Lincoln City Council and Logan County Board members have been
excited since development partnership director Rob Orr announced a
viable interest from a business wanting to locate a warehouse
distribution center on the west side of Lincoln. They have been
working for a couple of months to get the necessary structure in
place to make an offer to the company.
On Monday the city completed their portion of an offer that
includes funding for infrastructure, fuel tax abatement, some sales
tax abatement and other incentives.
The development partnership will be
purchasing 123 acres for the project.
- 52 acres are for the warehouse distribution center site.
- 15 acres are for expansion of an existing business.
- 66 acres would be for an industrial park.
The company has plans to build a 300,000-square-foot warehouse.
Last night the county board's economic development chairman,
Terry Werth, made a motion that the county pay the development
partnership $45,000 per year for 20 years for the purchase of the
property.
The initial funding may be through the sale of a portion of the
county farm. After the business is established here, estimates
indicate that the multiplier effect -- increased jobs and more
property taxes for homes, more sales tax from increased new working
population buying locally, and other revenues -- will take over on
paying on the investment and then some.
The warehouse is not the only business that would be developed,
but it would come first. Like other communities, and even the state
through the Opportunity Returns program, the land and other
incentives would be offered to the company. It is like a name brand
we are buying -- for us to put them there will bring other
businesses, Orr said in a phone interview this morning. Other people
have offered much more to this company to get them to come there,
but this company likes our location, he said.
Some glitches remain for the county to work out. The county
cannot go into debt to fund the project. State's Attorney Tim Huyett
has been consulted on the financing and other legal matters.
Orr has been working with city attorney Bill Bates to take care
of the details on the city side as well.
[to top of second column in this article]
 |
Ron Schilling, president of the development partnership, apologized
that some project details have been kept "secret." The company has
asked for confidentiality while working out details. There are a lot
of pieces to the puzzle. They have been very patient with us to
allow us to get support, he said. Among those details is the
purchase of several homes.
Board member John Stewart wanted to know how much use Fifth
Street Road might see from heavy trucks.
Orr said there won't be that type of traffic on that road. The
location is close and offers easy access to Interstate 55. There may
be increased car traffic from employees going to work.
Stewart also wanted to know, "What if they leave?"
Orr said that there would still be a building and infrastructure
there for another company to come in. This company will be investing
millions of dollars in the building and $8 million to $10 million a
year in salaries. They will be investing in our community.
Details of the package are being worked out day by day and even
by the hour, Orr said. Every effort will be taken to protect the
public interest with the investment and yet show the company we want
them here.
Finance chairman Chuck Ruben added that this would create land of
a higher value that people would be willing to pay for.
When county board chair Bob Farmer opened the floor to discussion
there were several comments. There was only one opposition stated.
Doug Muck said that he has property to develop and has been talking
with Orr recently and found him helpful. He sees this as a good
thing. "Get it done," he said. However, he does not think that the
burden to do it should be placed on the taxpayers.
Once our infrastructure and zoning are in place by doing this
project, we will have something other businesses will want. The
future incentive offers to the other businesses will involve a
case-by-case negotiation, Orr said. He doesn't think we will have
any problem getting other businesses interested in coming here for
the industrial park and other locations with everything in place.
[Jan
Youngquist]
Previous article
|
