Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Agricultural Greenhouse Expansion Tax Abatement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee reconfirms tax abatements to extend Pure Green Farms expansion timeline
Summary
The Community Investment Committee voted to forward two resolutions reconfirming previously approved abatements for Pure Green Farms’ phase‑2 greenhouse expansion, extending the designation period to accommodate construction delays; the company said it plans to expand production and retain and create jobs.
On Jan. 9 the Community Investment Committee voted to reconfirm two previously approved tax abatements for Pure Green Farms’ planned Phase 2 greenhouse expansion and to send those resolutions to the full council with favorable recommendations.
Eric Glavich, director of Growth and Opportunity, said the two measures reconfirm a real property abatement (for the building) and a personal property abatement (for equipment) that the council approved in 2022. The reconfirmations were requested because construction delays meant the developer needed additional time to complete the project under the original designation window.
Glavich said the Phase 2 real property commitment remains at a $12,000,000 investment and that the company committed in 2022 to retain 25 full‑time employees and create 75 new jobs. Staff presented updated tax estimates showing the nine‑year real property abatement would result in roughly $1.8 million in abated taxes over that period, while total taxes (including existing payments and post‑abatement receipts) would be significantly higher with the expansion than without it.
Glavich said the personal property abatement (five years) was estimated in staff materials to abate about $6.2 million in personal property taxes; projected personal property tax revenues in years five through 10 after the abatement were also included in staff figures.
Joe Maguire, CEO of Pure Green Farms, told the committee the company is entering its fifth production year and is expanding distribution, including agreements with Meijer and planned reentry into Kroger stores in Indiana. Maguire said the firm is capital‑raising to scale production and that the expansion would grow capacity substantially.
No members of the public spoke for or against the reconfirmations. Committee roll calls recorded Committee Member Gooden Rogers, Committee Member Bolton Simpson, Committee Vice Chair White and Committee Chair Warner voting “aye” on the measures; both Bills 2,502 and 2,503 were forwarded to the full council with favorable recommendations.
