Local News

Commission OKs land sale to new food company

 

Greenleaf Foods SPC will soon have the land it needs to put down roots in Shelbyville.

 

The city's Redevelopment Commission has accepted an offer by Greenleaf to buy city-owned land for the company's planned food manufacturing plant.

 

Approval of the land sale came one day after Greenleaf announced plans Monday to build a $310 million facility on the city's east side.

 

At a special meeting of the Redevelopment Commission in City Hall on Tuesday morning, commission vice president Phil Haehl outlined the agreement, which includes an opportunity for future expansion.

 

“They're offering a purchase price of $26,500 per acre, and then a total of $1,517,390 for a total of 57.26 acres. And also an offer for option to purchase 23.68 additional acres at a purchase price of $26,500 per acre, and they will be optioned for 10 years.” said Haehl, looking over the written offer.

 

The Redevelopment Commission voted 3–0 to approve the purchase; commission president Mark McNeely and member Sam Terrell were absent from the special meeting Tuesday morning.

 

In addition, the Indiana Economic Development Corp., the state's business attraction group, has offered Greenleaf up to $5 million in tax credits and up to $1 million in job training grants based on the company's hiring.

 

The state has offered the city up to $1.25 million in grant funding for infrastructure at the development site on East State Road 44, just beyond the I-74 intersection.

 

Greenleaf's production plant is expected to employ up to 460 workers making plant-based protein food products under the brand names Lightlife® and Field Roast Grain Meat Co™.

 

Headquartered in Chicago, Greenleaf is a subsidiary of Canada-based Maple Leaf Foods Inc.

 

Shelbyville Mayor Tom DeBaun noted at the city's Board of Works meeting Tuesday that Kroger sells some of the vegetarian burgers and sausages the company makes, and he plans to try them out.

 

The new production plant in Shelbyville is due to open in late 2020, and the company is set to begin hiring as the opening date approaches.

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