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Bexar County directs staff to negotiate incentives for proposed $200M IEM campus, approves exception to wage guideline
Summary
County staff were authorized to negotiate a tax‑abatement and related incentives for Industrial Electric Manufacturing's proposed $200 million investment at Brooks Global Crossing with an estimated 2,960 jobs; the court approved an exception to job‑wage guidelines as requested.
Bexar County Commissioners Court directed staff to negotiate an incentive package for Industrial Electric Manufacturing (IEM), a manufacturer proposing a two‑phase campus at Brooks Global Crossing with a projected $200 million capital investment and an estimated 2,960 jobs.
Deborah Carter, director of Bexar County Economic Development, outlined the project and a recommended incentive structure: a 10‑year, 70% personal‑property tax abatement on up to $80 million of personal property. Using company projections, Carter estimated the incentive value would be approximately $1,047,454. She noted the recommendation requires an exception to county tax‑abatement guidelines because the company's projected base hourly wage ($18.27) is below the county's living‑wage threshold ($20.18) but staff reported that roughly 90% of jobs would meet or exceed the all‑industry wage ($21.34).
Mark Harris, IEM chief operating officer, described the company as a long‑established electrical distribution manufacturer expanding to meet customer demand and said the campus would be built in phases (first 500,000 sq. ft. opening 2028 with subsequent expansion). Commissioners and county staff stressed workforce pipeline coordination and training supports; Commissioner Calvert and others offered job‑training partnership support.
The court voted to direct staff to negotiate a tax‑abatement agreement aligned with IEM's application and to approve the exception to the minimum job‑wage requirements in the county guidelines so negotiations could proceed.
Next steps: Staff will finalize negotiation of abatement terms, draft an agreement consistent with the approved exception, and return to Commissioners Court for final contract approval and any ratification required by ordinance or resolution.
