Buzzi Unicem U.S.A., Greencastle facility. Courtesy photo
A $30 million improvement to the Buzzi Unicem plant south of Greencastle will receive a property tax abatement from the county.
On Tuesday, the Putnam County Council approved a requested 10-year abatement on the construction of a new clinker facility at the cement plant.
The investment includes $20 million in real property (structure) and $10 million in personal property (equipment). The abatement will include a traditional phase in of the taxes due on the property, which will be abated 100 percent in the first year, 90 percent in the second year, 80 percent in the third year and so on until the full assessed amount is being paid on the property.
The motion for approval was made by Councilman Keith Berry and seconded by Councilman Wayne Huffman. It was approved unanimously.
Following a public hearing at which no members of the public spoke, Greencastle-Putnam County Economic Development Director Kristin Clary made a presentation on behalf of the cement producer. She acknowledged that while the investment represents an increase in assessed value in the county, there are no promises of job creation.
Clary said that in conversations with Plant Manager Tim Menke she has learned that since 2020, Buzzi has created eight new jobs — two engineers, three supervisors and three hourly employees — bringing its total number of employees to 185, with three unfilled positions.
“That is really why there are no job creation numbers,” Clary said. “They’ve been creating jobs along the way.”
Calling Buzzi “a premier employer” that pays above the county median income, Clary said more jobs would be likely if and when such employees become available.
“They can’t find enough employees,” Clary said. “They said, ‘If we said we would create jobs, we would be out of compliance every year when we come to you.’”
However, Clary echoed her comments from November — when the preliminary step of declaring Buzzi an economic revitalization zone was approved — that Buzzi is adding to its facilities to help keep up with demand. Menke has told her that the plant is maxed out on production and cannot take any more customers.
Ideally, she said, the plant would be able to add between five and seven positions should qualified candidates apply.
This is where the need for employees dovetails with another concern for Clary — housing. She briefly noted that a coming housing study should help address these needs and, in turn, draw more quality employees.
The study will be funded by $150,000 in Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) grant funds as well as $25,000 each from Putnam County and the City of Greencastle.
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