Photo provided An artist’s rendition of a proposed food and beverage facility proposed to be located in Edinburgh near I-65.
Photo provided An artist’s rendition of a proposed King’s Hawaiian facility proposed to be located in Edinburgh near I-65.
One of Bartholomew County’s largest economic development projects ever undertaken outside of Columbus is officially set to become a reality.
Irresistible Foods Group, Inc., the corporation that owns the King’s Hawaiian brand, has formally agreed to all terms set down by Bartholomew County officials. The agreement paves the way for a $200 million food manufacturing facility to be constructed off County Road 200W, east of the Indiana Premium Outlets.
With one day left before a deadline arrived, signed agreements that specify the number of jobs and wages, as well as penalties for non-compliance, arrived Thursday from the California-based corporation, Greater Columbus Economic Development Corp. President Jason Hester said.
About 147 new jobs will be created by 2027 that will pay an average wage of $29.94 per hour, he said.
Either a groundbreaking or ribbon-cutting ceremony is expected to take place next year, with construction continuing through 2025 and into 2026, Hester said. A company spokeswoman said the facility is expected to become fully operational in 2027.
“We’re very grateful for other projects throughout the county that have made investments and continue to make investments,” Hester said. “But this is certainly one of the largest single projects announced outside of the city limits.”
Bartholomew County Council president Jorge Morales says off-site infrastructure improvements initiated by the King’s Hawaiian facility are expected to attract new companies and more jobs to German Township.
The council agreed to use $2.7 million from their reserve funds for infrastructure that will include $2.56 million to improve water pressure for fire suppression, and $550,000 for new or upgraded sanitary sewers.
Some improvements will be financed with economic development income tax revenue, an Indiana Infrastructure Development grant fund, and other state and local financial resources up to a maximum of $3,746,000, Bartholomew County Commissioners Chairman Tony London said.
Those funds will pay for a $400,000 new traffic signal and intersection improvements at U.S. 31 and Bear Drive, according to a printed project overview. In addition, $250,000 will be spent on a reconfiguration of radius at Hubler Drive at Bear Lane to facilitate truck turns, the overview states.
If the company backs out of the deal for some reason, Hester said Irresistible Foods executives have agreed to pay the county back for improving the water pressure, as well as for $550,000 for new or upgraded sanitary sewers.
In order to motivate the county to pay for the offsite infrastructure, the corporation agreed to drop an already-approved tax abatement for $85 million of machinery and equipment. However, a 10-year phase-in of property taxes will remain in effect for the $80 to $90 million being spent for land and buildings.
Hester said the 88-acres site provides enough land for possible expansion, and the company’s history indicates growth with additional jobs is a definite possibility. When King’s Hawaiian decided to expand operations for the first time outside of Los Angeles, the company first opened an 111,000 square foot bakery and distribution center in Oakwood, Georgia in 2011.
But by 2018, the company’s products had become so popular that the Georgia facility was expanded, which raised the payroll from 100 workers to more than 650 employees.
