ELKHART -- County officials hope a $500,000 economic incentive will provide the right recipe for enticing a George Weston Bakeries Inc. plant to Elkhart.
The local effort would allow the company to apply for state incentives, according to several county officials.
Elkhart County Council President John Letherman will request this morning that the council approve a resolution regarding the tax incentive package.
"We need to show significant local financial participation in the effort," Letherman said. The bakery plant would mean a considerable capital investment in Elkhart County, he said.
The county plans to add the potential site for the plant along C.R. 6 to an existing Tax Incremental Financing district, Letherman said.
It will then be up to county redevelopment commission to work out the details.
A TIF district captures increases in property tax revenue (resulting from new development or rehabilitation of existing property) in a specific area and uses them for public improvements, such as landscaping or utilities, in that area.
Last month, the Elkhart County Council shelved the company's tax abatement request. Council members said it was unlikely the company would be granted the request.
Earlier this week, some county and city officials, together with economic development groups, discussed alternatives to the tax abatement.
Brian Gildea, Elkhart's assistant director for economic development, said discussions among city, county, state and Weston officials indicate "we're all on the same page" as far as wanting the project to proceed here.
For the city's part, Gildea said, "there's been no specifics" about Elkhart's participation in an incentive deal. "It's too early to say we're going to do this or we're going to do that. This really has to go through the county first."
Gildea said there are several options the city could explore for the project. But he declined to elaborate because the next step rests with the county, which has jurisdiction over the site north of Elkhart where the plant would be built.
"It depends on what they (county officials) do. It's still county property," he said.
The maker of such brands as Thomas' English Muffins, Entenmann's baked goods and Boboli pizza crust would bring about 100 jobs to the area.
Truth reporter Jason McFarley contributed to this story.