Commissioners approve economic incentives for Ajax Metals and Merck projects

The Wilson County Board of Commissioners approved three economic-incentive actions presented by Jennifer Lance, the county's economic-development director: an incentive payment for Ajax Metals and two final-year incentive appropriations for Merck projects.

Lance said the Ajax Metals incentive was originally structured as $125,000 total, split equally between the city and county; Ajax had committed to 14 full-time jobs and $3.8 million of investment. Lance told the board the company now employs more than 25 people, with an average annual wage of $42,650 and had invested more than the amount pledged.

The board voted to approve the Ajax Metals disbursement as presented.

Lance also presented two Merck incentives. For one Merck expansion, Lance said the company planned a $30 million investment creating 34 full-time jobs at an average annual wage of $57,100; the incentive amount for that project is $75,000 and (as clarified during discussion) that incentive is county-funded because the Merck facility is located in the county. The board approved that appropriation.

A separate Merck project between 2019 and 2021 was described as involving a $57 million investment and 55 full-time jobs with an average salary of $59,273; Lance said the fiscal-year appropriation under that project is $100,000, the fifth and final payment of a previously authorized package totaling $700,000 (with $600,000 paid to date). Commissioners approved that payment after a clerical correction to a line item was noted on the resolution.

All three economic-incentive motions were made, seconded and carried by voice vote during the meeting; no opposing votes were recorded in the meeting transcript.

The approvals were routine authorizations to disburse incentive payments tied to the companies' prior commitments; the board did not attach additional conditions on the record beyond the amounts and the acknowledgment that the Merck incentives were county-funded.