An approved resolution to designate an area on the northwest side of Shelbyville an area of economic revitalization took a step toward the 15th Japanese company coming to the city.
The City Council approved the resolution, which is the first step towards the company, RISU America, Inc., receiving a tax abatement.
The facility would be off West Boomer Way and Enterprise Drive.
Peter DePrez, representing the company, said the company plans to break ground in April and has already reached an agreement for construction with local company Runnebohm Construction.
The 10-year tax abatement would amount to $4,787,000 for the company, but RISU America, Inc. would still pay that amount over those 10 years, according to DePrez.
Mayor Scott Furgeson said he, former City Council member (and current Shelby County Economic Development Corp. Executive Director) Brian Asher and current City Council member Linda Sanders met with representatives from the company during their most recent visit to Japan. The group toured one of the facilities and Furgeson said RISU does not typically move as quickly as it is with its venture into Shelbyville.
Shelbyville will be the company’s first location in the United States, although it would be its 15th overall.
“They’re really down to earth people and I think they’re going be great to work with,” Sanders said. “They’re going to be great for our community.”
Furgeson said the company will employ 26 people.
In other business, the council approved a request from Director of Public Relations Jenna Martin for funding to use a new website hosting company, CivicPlus.
CivicPlus is a national program that works with other governments, including websites in Indiana.
The local government’s current provider, Tubesock, no longer wants to be in the website hosting business.
There are four websites affiliated with the City of Shelbyville – the government’s website, the Parks Department, the Shelbyville Police Department and the Shelbyville Fire Department. Tubesock is the provider of tree of them.
CivicPlus would consolidate those four websites into one.
CivicPlus provides 24 hours, 7 days a week service and offers a mass notification system to the public, such as for road closures and emergencies. That system can be modified to fit an individual’s preferences in what he or she is notified about, Martin said.
The total investment is a little more than $28,000, which includes one-time fees and the first year of support. The annual cost will be $7,700 per year moving forward.
“I think this is exciting to get a firm in here that this is what they do every single day,” Sanders said.
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