A Columbus manufacturer of powdered beverages and foods is on track to complete an expansion of its facility on Columbus’ east side by December.
Tipton Mills Foods is making progress on the $4 million, 40,000-square-foot expansion project at 835 S. Mapleton St. that broke ground in May, company president David Harding said.
The project calls for square footage of the building to double when completed, he said.
The company was granted a tax abatement from the city in February, with a commitment to invest $2.4 million in property improvements and an additional $2 million investment in new equipment involving packaging.
Tipton Mills Foods was formed in 2015 from the purchases of equipment assets of Buffalo Blends Inc. and Tipton Mills LLC by Trinity Companies LLC, according to the company’s tax abatement application filed with the city earlier this year.
Harding said the expansion was driven by continued growth, adding that Tipton Mills Foods purchased the assets of another company in Wisconsin.
Employment is expected to increase from 30 currently to 70 when the project is complete, Harding said. The company is aggressively working to fill those positions, which include operators, supervisors and warehousing roles, he said.
The Columbus Board of Zoning Appeals on Tuesday granted Tipton Mills Foods a pair of development standards variances after the company sought to waive a requirement to install curbing at drive entrances and another request to waive a requirement to install curbing around interior parking lot islands.
Harding and Mark Sevcik, an engineer with Force Design Inc. in Columbus, appeared before the BZA to discuss the variances, which Harding said was done to make the area look better.
“Without the curbs, we’re able to have a better appeal,” Harding said.
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Tipton Mills Foods, which manufactures powdered food and beverages, is expanding its facility at 835 S. Mapleton St. from 40,000 square feet to 80,000 square feet. The company broke ground on the project in May and is on track to have it completed by December.
As a result of the expansion, the number of employees at the facility will increase from 30 to 70 with the company working to fill those positions currently.
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Vivera Senior Living of Columbus was granted conditional use approval and a development standards variance by the Columbus Board of Zoning Appeals on Tuesday for a planned affordable assisted living facility at 1971 State St.
The project calls for a four-story, 114-unit facility that will include 70 parking spaces. The development by The Marian Group, based in Louisville, Kentucky, is expected to begin construction by the end of October, said Courtney Lynch, an attorney from the Quarles & Brady law firm in Indianapolis representing the firm.
Columbus City Council will consider establishing an Economic Revitalization Area for the project, in addition to a tax abatement during its 6 p.m. meeting on Tuesday. The council will also consider the first reading of an ordinance asking the city to issue up to $15.5 million in revenue bonds that would help finance a portion of the project during the meeting.
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Tipton Mills Foods, located at 835 S. Mapleton St., Columbus, produces food and drink for national and private brands. Using technology, it creates custom blends of food and beverage powders. Products include coffees, cocoas, nutritional supplements, fibers, syrups and other specialities. The company focuses on research and development, private labeling, packaging and quality control.
Source: tiptonmills.com
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