Three companies plan to spend millions of dollars to improve their local operations, but none of the investments will create new jobs at this time, city officials said.
Cummins Inc., Seymour Tubing and Rose Acre Farms received 10-year tax abatements from Seymour City Council on Monday for projects totaling $11.13 million.
One investment involves Rose Acre Farms moving its office headquarters from the Cortland area in Hamilton Township to the city.
“I’m pleased to announce that Rose Acre Farms has decided to build a new corporate headquarters here in Seymour,” said Jim Plump, executive director of Jackson County Industrial Development Corp.
The egg producer will spend $5 million to construct a 27,000-square-foot office building on the west side of town between Covered Bridge Health Campus and the former Jackson-Jennings Co-op building now used by the Kroger/Jay C Foods division.
Construction of the new facility is expected to begin in May and be completed by the end of the year.
All of Rose Acre’s 79 office jobs will move to the new location. Those jobs generate $5.4 million in salaries.
Rose Acre Farms anticipates hiring additional personnel as the company continues to expand its operations across the country, according to a statement of benefits form filed by the company with the city April 5.
“There is no exact timetable of when that will happen,” Plump said.
Cummins Inc.’s $5.46 million investment for 2016 includes real property improvements and manufacturing equipment and is part of the engine maker’s ongoing $250 million expansion of the Seymour Engine Plant and Seymour Technical Center that began in 2010. That work is expected to be completed at the end of this year.
As a result of the investment, Cummins will retain its current local workforce of 532 employees, which generates more than $43.4 million in salaries, Plump said.
Although no new jobs are expected with this year’s investment, Plump said Cummins has in the past gone above and beyond in what they have projected in terms of hiring new employees.
Seymour Tubing will spend $665,000 this year to purchase new manufacturing equipment for its plant in the Eastside Industrial Park.
The equipment will allow for increased capacity for existing customers and new business, according to the statement of benefits filed by Seymour Tubing with the city earlier this month.
The company will retain its current employment level of 530 workers with salaries in excess of $25.7 million, Plump said.
Installation of the new equipment is expected to begin this summer and be completed by the end of the year.