California company looking at Weiser

An Oroville, Calif., company that purchased 67 acres of industrial-zoned property near Weiser is moving forward with plans to relocate operations.
 Economic development official Kit Kamo told Washington County commissioners on Monday that the effort to bring the business has been in the works since 2012. The owner also looked at the Pocatello area as a potential area to relocate. 
 “I’m pretty excited about this company,” said Kamo, who is the executive director of the Snake River Economic Development Alliance.
 Kamo asked commissioners to write another letter to state commerce officials in support of a Tax Reimbursement Incentive for AFC Finishing Systems as an enticement to move to Weiser. 
 Commissioners wrote a letter in support of the company receiving state incentives in 2016 but needs to resubmit the letter due to changes in personnel at the commerce department and the lapse in time, Kamo said.
 The county can also offer property tax incentives on top of what the state is willing to give for new business construction.  The county would need to come up with proposed tax breaks and hold a public hearing first.
 Kamo said the company, which manufactures paint booths for auto shops, could employ up to 43 people at the proposed site at the Weiser Industrial Park. 
 A total of 15 families could relocate with the company from California and the rest of the workforce would be hired locally, Kamo said.According to the company’s website, AFC Finishing Systems was founded in Southern California and has been manufacturing quality spray booths, paint booths, powder coating ovens and powder coating finishing equipment since 1967.
 AFC Finishing Systems bought the old Sunnyside feedlot near Weiser. The company has spent considerable money cleaning up the property, Kamo said.
 The company submitted preliminary plans to the county planning department indicating the development would include a 60,000 square foot shop and a 7,000 square foot office. 
 Commissioner Nate Marvin said the county doesn’t know exactly how much in taxes could potentially be waived for the company until officials know the value of the buildings the company constructs.
 “We won’t know the dollar figure until they bring in plans,” he said.
 The state commerce department approved a Tax Reimbursement Incentive for the company in 2016 if it moves to Idaho. The TRI offers a refundable tax credit of up to 30 percent on income, payroll, and sales taxes for up to 15 years. 
 To qualify, companies must create at least 50 new jobs in an urban community or 20 in a rural community with wages above the average county wage. 
 The county also can offer tax incentives for new development or an existing business that expands in the county. 
 In May of 2017 commissioners approved tax incentives for Intrinsic Organics, a company that constructed an ag processing plant near Weiser. 
 Idaho law allows counties to waive all or part of the taxes on a new business  or expansion that meets the investment threshold for up to five years. 
 Commissioners agreed to offer the company 100 percent tax break on new improvements and equipment for three years and 50 percent for the following two years.

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Signal American

18 E. Idaho St.
Weiser, ID 83672
PH: (208) 549-1717
FAX: (208) 549-1718
 

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