Board authorizes incentives for major project promising 378 jobs

The Henderson County Board of Commissioners on April 15 authorized economic development incentives for a large private project that staff publicly noticed as “Project Vert.” County presentation materials described the proposal as including at least $5,000,000 in taxable real property investment, $95,000,000 in business personal property (equipment), and the creation of 378 new jobs with an average wage of $67,047. The contemplated incentives would span five years, with a first-year estimate not to exceed $132,748 and a maximum five-year total of $1,887,934.

No members of the public spoke during the hearing on this item. The Board moved out of the public hearing and then, by unanimous vote, authorized incentives under the county’s economic development incentives guidelines. The motion as recorded referenced the company name used in the motion; the public notice and staff materials identified the opportunity as “Project Vert.”

The Board did not detail incentive mechanics in the meeting record; materials presented to the Board tied the proposed incentive amounts to minimum taxable capital investment and job-creation thresholds under county policy. The Board’s action authorizes staff to proceed with the incentives as outlined in the Board packet and consistent with the county’s incentive policy.

The approval is a procedural authorization; final incentive disbursements typically depend on verification of investments and jobs, and on execution of any incentive agreement between the county and the company.