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JADA approves incentives for two existing Shawnee County employers totaling $2.31 million
Summary
The JADA board approved performance-based incentives for two existing Shawnee County companies: $1,704,000 for “Project B” (food manufacturing expansion) and $605,000 for “Project Whisper” (financial services expansion). Both packages are tied to job creation and paid out over five years as performance is met.
The JADA board on May 14 approved two performance-based incentive packages totaling $2,309,000 for existing Shawnee County employers seeking to expand local operations.
The incentives were for a code-named Project B, described by staff as an expansion by a food-manufacturing employer, and Project Whisper, a financial-services employer expanding positions in Topeka.
Ashley, a Go Topeka staff member, told the board Project B would support a $70,000,000 capital investment at the company’s current location and create 60 jobs with salaries described as ranging from $50,000 to $110,000. “That makes the ROI for this project 41%, and the long term economic impact of this project over the next 10 years is $523,000,000,” Ashley said. She said the incentive package for Project B totals $1,704,000 and is performance based and paid over five years. The motion to approve was made by Commissioner Cook and seconded by Councilman Banks; the board carried the measure on a voice vote.
Ashley said Project Whisper is an existing Shawnee County financial-services firm expanding its Topeka offices and planning 55 new jobs with starting salaries “starting at $100,000.” She said the project’s 10-year economic impact was estimated at $673,000,000 and that the incentive — $605,000 — follows the same five-year, performance-based payout. The motion to approve was moved by Commissioner Rippon and seconded by Councilman Banks and carried on a voice vote.
Board members asked for clarification about current employment at the Whisper company; Ashley said the firm’s baseline employment will be confirmed when staff prepare a contract and presented at the next JADO meeting. Councilwoman Ortiz asked whether the Whisper company was already located in Topeka; Ashley confirmed it was an existing local employer.
Both incentive packages were described as previously approved by the Go Topeka board of directors and as following the agency’s incentive guidelines for primary employers. No contract details or company names were released at the meeting; staff said the projects were being kept under code names while contract terms were finalized.
The board did not take additional action on the contracts at the meeting; staff said they will prepare contract documents and present them at a future meeting for finalization.
