Two Columbus manufacturers are seeking tax incentives from the city, proposing to expand their operations and add a combined 44 more workers.
The Columbus City Council will consider 10-year tax abatement requests from Lindal North America Inc. and Tallman Equipment Co. Inc. at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Columbus City Hall.
The larger of the two proposals is from Lindal, which plans to build a new facility and install new equipment on two separate properties at Woodside Northwest industrial park, city officials said. The proposed site is off International Drive.
Lindal, which has a manufacturing facility and office building at 4775 and 4615 Progress Drive, and a warehouse in Hope, had announced in May 2015 it might expand its three-building footprint into one larger building within 18 months.
The city council gave Lindal a 10-year tax abatement May 19, 2015, to purchase $3.25 million in new manufacturing equipment to launch several new actuator products, including those used for Cutter insect spray and a new straw and trigger for Dow’s Great Stuff, a foam insulating sealant.
The company hopes to break ground in January 2017 to build a 100,000-square-foot building estimated to cost $5.7 million and add an additional $11.7 million in new manufacturing equipment, according to the company’s application. The expansion would allow the company to retain 65 jobs and add 30 new ones over the next three years, the application states. Pay range for those jobs are $22 to $25 per hour.
Completion date for construction is estimated at Dec. 31, 2019.
Lindal manufactures aerosol valves and actuators for the automotive industry. In 2015, the company reported it had 2 to 3 percent of the market in its business category in the United States and expected to increase that number substantially, said Richard Tracy, company treasurer and controller. The company pays an estimated $3.4 million annually in wages and spends at least $1 million a year with local vendors in the Columbus area, Tracy said.
One of the properties Lindal is considering for the project has been designated as an economic revitalization area by the city, but a second property also being considered has not, said Robin Hilber, Community Development programs coordinator.
Designated as “the Booher extension,” an estimated 77 acres owned by Steve Booher was rezoned industrial in July to create a site for future industrial development. The land previously had been zoned agricultural. The acreage was also annexed into the city.
In his application, Booher wrote that the Columbus Area Economic Development Corp. had approached him about seeking the annexation and rezoning for the property south of Deaver Road and east of County Road 300W. Jason Hester, president of the economic development organization, told the council then that the city needs more shovel-ready land for industrial development.
The land is situated between the industrial park and some residential development across Deaver Road. The city placed several requirements on the rezoning, including making primary access to the property as an extension of International Drive, improving surrounding roadways to 12-foot lanes and adding additional buffering between the industrial site and nearby homes.
Depending on which parcel of land Lindal negotiates to use, the council may or may not have to consider the economic revitalization area request.
Lindal has locations throughout Europe and South America and a facility in Mexico. The Columbus location is the company’s only production facility in the United States.
The second tax 10-year abatement request was submitted by Tallman Equipment Company Inc.
The company is planning a 68,800-square-foot expansion at its headquarters at 6440 S. International Drive. The firm specializes in the national sale, distribution and repair of tools used in the construction and maintenance of electrical transmission and distribution systems.
The company, which is planning a $3.4 million expansion and an investment of $430,000 in equipment, has five employees and plans to add 14 jobs by January 2018 with an expected hourly wage of $27.12. Officials are seeking a 10-year tax abatement for the building construction, in addition to machinery and equipment.
The expansion project will accommodate additional warehouse space, spare for the repair and assembly of tools and equipment and the installation of jumper grounds testing and other testing facilities used in the electric utility industry, said Scott C. Andrews, an attorney representing Tallman.
In a letter sent to the city, Andrews said the property is believed to be in a previously designated Economic Revitalization Area, a requirement for tax abatement consideration.
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The Columbus City Council will consider tax abatement requests for two Columbus manufacturers Tuesday night.
What: Columbus City Council meeting
When: 6 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Columbus City Hall, 123 Washington St.
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