These companies received Boone County Chapter 100 tax breaks. EquipmentShare could be next
Columbia-based equipment rental company EquipmentShare is on the verge of receiving approval for a Chapter 100 property tax incentive from Boone County.
The Boone County Commission is expected to vote on the proposal Tuesday night.
EquipmentShare would become the seventh company to benefit from a tax abatement under the policy, which was adopted in 2005.
Seven companies previously have been approved, but one withdrew its application.
More: EquipmentShare's tax incentive application in the hands of Boone County Commission
ABC Laboratories
The first company to benefit was ABC Laboratories in 2006, when it was the largest life sciences company in Boone County, with the company investing $15 million into what was the new Discovery Ridge research park near U.S. 63 and Discovery Parkway.
The performance agreement required ABC to retain its 224 jobs and add at least 50.
The tax abatement period began in 2009 and ended Dec. 31, 2018.
"ABC Laboratories successfully met their job creation and retention requirements for each of the 10-year abatement years," states a Regional Economic Development Inc. memo. "In the final report that was submitted to the Boone County Commission in 2018, the company had 370 employees, which was significantly above the 274 required."
The ownership changed to EAG Inc. and then to Eurofins Scientific, of Paris, France.
The company served as the anchor tenant for the Discovery Ridge research park and was the model for future Chapter 100 projects, the memo states.
"REDI believes the project should be considered a great success for Boone County," the memo states. "The company made the required investment, created the life science jobs in Boone County that they said they would, and met and exceeded all the performance metrics as required of the Chapter 100 program."
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Kraft Heinz Co.
Kraft Heinz Co. applied and was approved in 2015 for a $114 million expansion.
The company averaged 476 employees at the location as of November 2021, according to its annual compliance report.
The development plan included a 25,000-square-foot expansion of the plant at 4600 Waco Road, infrastructure and equipment. Workers at the plant manufacture Oscar Mayer hot dogs. The company has been in Columbia for more than 35 years.
The plan also included a reduction in workforce over time due to improved efficiencies.
From the April 26 Boone County Commission minutes: "The Kraft Heinz Company plant controller Brian Cathro stated Kraft-Heinz had a good year, producing lots of hot dogs."
Dana Light Axle Products
Dana Light Axle Products received approval in 2016.
The industrial automation company at 2400 LeMone Industrial Blvd. sought a $39 million equipment upgrade with plans to create an additional 135 jobs.
In its most recent compliance report, the company had a 12-month average of 204 jobs with an average wage of $68,015.
Aurora Organic Dairy
Aurora Organic Dairy's Chapter 100 application received approval in 2017.
The Boulder, Colorado-based company began production in December 2018 at its $150 million, 127,000-square-foot facility located at 4525 Waco Road.
The company has an average of 116 employees, according to its most recent annual report, with average wages ranging from $43,739 for production workers to $112,548 for management.
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American Outdoor Brands
Another 2017 Chapter 100 project was for American Outdoor Brands at 1800 N. Rte Z. The outdoor sports and recreation manufacturer's most recent compliance report shows an average of 182 jobs over 12 months and an average wage of $77,377.
From the May 10 county commission minutes: "Dave Cooper, outside counsel for American Outdoor Brands, stated American Outdoor Brands has a total of 182 jobs, out of 96 committed jobs, meaning they have nearly doubled their total job count" and at nearly double the county's average wage.
"Andy Fulmer, CFO at American Outdoor Brands, stated the project has been an enormous success," the minutes state.
Swift Prepared Foods
Swift Prepared Foods last year was approved for a new $200 million Italian meats plant with 251 jobs.
Construction is ongoing for the new factory at 5008 Paris Road.
The abatement period hasn't started because the plant is still under construction, said Bernie Andrews, REDI vice president.
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Northwest Medical Isotopes
Northwest Medical Isotopes in 2018 withdrew its application after approval.
Roger McKinney is the education reporter for the Tribune. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on Twitter at @rmckinney9.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: EquipmentShare could be 7th company to get Boone County incentive
