GOSHEN -- Elkhart County commissioners said Monday they'd love for George Weston Bakeries Inc. to build north of Elkhart.
They said they are fans of the doughnuts and English muffins the company makes.
They said they'd probably recommend a big tax break for the project, if they could.
But they can't, so they just said again how much they'd love to have the company here.
"We certainly appreciate your interest, your desire to locate here," Commissioner Phil Stiver told representatives of the baked-goods maker. "I wish ... that we had the pathway that it takes to accommodate this."
The commissioners said they ought to have a policy in place before the county grants its first-ever tax abatement, also known as a phase-in. They're recommending the county council work with them to develop such a policy.
Commissioner Mike Yoder said bringing a new industry to the area would be a recipe for breaking with tradition. "We would be tempted to offer phase-ins if we had the ability and mechanics in place," he said.
The commissioners expect the request to fail at Saturday's county council meeting, though, and probably until the body's makeup changes.
"The battle on Saturday is so uphill you need somebody lowering a rope to help pull you up," Yoder said.
Pennsylvania-based George Weston Bakeries is the maker of Entenmann's, Thomas' English Muffins and Boboli pizza crust. It's applying for the abatement through its affiliate, Allen Foods.
The company wants to build a $48 million fresh-baked goods plant on 30 acres in the Remington Industrial Park's south phase, along C.R. 6 in Osolo Township. Officials like the upscale site and the proximity to the Indiana Toll Road.
Allen Foods spokesman Lou Minella, who wasn't at Monday's meeting, said company officials will still come to Saturday's council meeting, but haven't decided whether to build.
"I know the timing's critical, the abatement's critical," he said. "Are there other things that would work and what would the magnitude have to be? I don't know the answer to that."
Company representatives estimate they could save as much as $2.8 million in taxes with a 10-year abatement, where their tax levy is gradually increased over time. They'd pay about $2.4 million in taxes in that time, according to projections.
Commissioners suggested a few other options to save the company money. One would be a Tax Incremental Financing district, where utilities and other infrastructure would be paid for by new taxes the company generates.
That's an easy option. A harder one would be to get Elkhart city officials to cut or waive Elkhart Compact fees for the project. Developments on the edge of the city that are served by city utilities but not on its tax rolls pay hefty fees.
Commissioner Terry Rodino has talked to Mayor Dave Miller about helping out.
"It doesn't make sense for the county to do something and the city to do nothing," he said.
Miller said Monday afternoon he'll look into it, but it's never been done and would take city council action.
"I want to assist companies in coming to our community and appreciate the county's partnership in that. Since we are all in this together -- city and county -- we'll have to see if there's a way for us to do that very thing."