Monday evening the Plymouth City Council Approves first step in Tax Abatement process for Farm Innovators.
Monday night Jerry Chavez, Executive Director of the Marshall County Economic Development Corporation introduced the resolution for the tax abatement request of Farm Innovators at 2255 Walter Glaub Drive in Plymouth. He asked the council to consider establishing the area to be in an Economic Revitalization Area.
Ben Clark, the owner of Farm Innovators said they were granted a tax abatement in 1995 to build their original 16,800 square foot building. This time he is seeking a tax abatement to expand his warehousing with a 15,000 square foot stand alone building the will run perpendicular to the current building on the west side of their property.
Mr. Clark said the reason for the new building is for new products being introduced and “most importantly we got the balance of the business for the largest farm retailer in the country, Tractor Supply.” He estimates the Tractor Supply contract will bring in a 10% increase in their annual volume of production in Plymouth compounding 8% yearly with new stores opening.
The company sells over a million units in a calendar year under three different brands: Farm Innovators, Thermo Cube and Cord Connect. They have 23 full time employees and expect to expand with the project. Farm Innovators has been the leader in bringing innovations and technology to the market. Their broad line of deicers and heated products solve the problem of frozen water for animals during the winter.
The City Council unanimously pasted the resolution declaring the area to be in an Economic Revitalization Area. A public hearing on the tax abatement request will be held at the March 13th Plymouth Common Council meeting.
