Commission approves amendment to PILOT distribution tied to Project Bridal (Irving Tissue phase)
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Summary
The commission unanimously approved a second amendment to an intergovernmental agreement among Macon‑Bibb County, the Bibb County School District and the Macon‑Bibb County Industrial Authority to govern distribution of payments‑in‑lieu‑of‑taxes (PILOT) for Project Bridal, the Irving Tissue phased investment.
Macon‑Bibb County commissioners voted Feb. 18 to authorize the mayor to execute a second amendment to the intergovernmental agreement among Macon‑Bibb County, the Bibb County School District and the Macon‑Bibb County Industrial Authority concerning distribution of payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) tied to “Project Bridal,” the local Irving Tissue expansion.
Steven Adams, executive director of the Macon‑Bibb County Industrial Authority, summarized the project and the financing approach. Adams said Irving Tissue’s most recent announcement will bring the company’s private investment in the SoftKey Industrial Park to about $1.5 billion and total local employment from the project to just over 500 jobs. “we have been very fortunate coming off of, in excess of $1,000,000,000 in private investment announced last year,” Adams said.
Adams described the amendment as a financing mechanism that allows front‑end public investments (for water and site work) to be reimbursed from future PILOT receipts under a structure the authority has used in prior deals. Commissioners emphasized that the project required coordination among the county, school district and water authority and noted previously received PILOT funds.
The commission approved the amendment unanimously and placed it on the consent agenda for formal adoption. Commissioners said the Industrial Authority will continue to present details and answer school‑board questions as the school system considers its separate vote later in March.
Votes at a glance: the commission approved the second amendment to the intergovernmental agreement (IGA) related to PILOT distribution for Project Bridal; the school district’s vote is scheduled separately.
Background: Irving Tissue (Project Bridal) is a multi‑phase industrial investment at SoftKey Industrial Park; the county said the total private investment for the current and prior phases will reach roughly $1.5 billion and create several hundred jobs.