The Marion County Commission on Wednesday approved a significant property tax abatement for GK Machines, a Donald farm machinery manufacturer that plans to expand its current facility.
The board's approval was conditional on the company adding at least 25 full-time industry jobs to its current team of 160 employees.
GK is constructing a 140,000-square-foot expansion to its facility that will be valued at $25 million, according to board documents.
The green light from the county allows the company to seek approval for all property tax exemptions from other taxing districts in the area, including the City of Donald.
The total tax reduction will be $290,000 per year over three years.
GK is located at 20495 NE Butteville Road in Donald.
After the exemption period ends, GK Machines will pay approximately $313,331 annually in property taxes on new construction, according to the board's agenda document.
Connie Lindsey, the company's director of communications and marketing, said at the conference that the new jobs will be highly skilled and well paid.
“I think it's really important to promote livable wage status in our communities,” Commissioner Daniel Bethel said. “That way families can thrive in our communities, and we don't always think about bringing entry (levels), which is very important, but stabilization as well. ”
Eric Anderson, president of the Strategic Economic Development Corporation, briefed the board on the nonprofit's quarterly economic development activities in the region. He said companies like GK Machines are exactly the kind of companies SEDCOR seeks to support.
“As you've all seen at GK, the amount of innovation and investment that continues to develop there is very impressive,” Anderson said. “It helps our farming community, it helps all kinds of industries, and it's exactly the kind of business we need to support.”
Mr. Anderson presented updates on a number of SEDCOR programs, including the Latinx Microenterprise Development Program. The Spanish program helps 30 to 50 entrepreneurs start or expand their businesses, providing information on creating business plans, hiring staff, managing taxes, and more, among other things.
This is the fourth cohort, with another cohort scheduled for the summer.
Bethel asked Anderson if there were any programs underway to help other marginalized communities in the area.
“There are 96 languages spoken in Salem alone. And we know that the population of the Micronesian Islands is growing,” Bethel said. “In my experience as a commissioner, I think he has probably five specific people who are really overlooked when it comes to state planning and funding.”
In response, Anderson will tout SEDCOR's partnership with the BE-BLAC Foundation, an organization dedicated to the development and growth of Black communities, and SEDCOR will also discuss other potential partnerships and programs for other communities. He said he was ready.
The Board of Directors declared May 2024 designated as both Senior Citizens Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, the week of May 6-12 as National Nurses Week, and the week of May 5-11 as National Nurses Week. Other items on the agenda were also approved, including the designation of Correctional Professionals Week. , Nurse Appreciation Week.
It also approved an amendment to the consulting services agreement between the county and management consulting firm Plante & Moran PLLC. This modification adds $305,000, bringing his new contract total to $1,686,555. Finally, the board approved a zone change and conditional use permit, and approved a new contract to provide consulting services for the construction of a new wireless communications system.
Contact reporter Joe Schiess: [email protected] or 503-335-7790.
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