BARTOW — A manufacturing company is expected to open its first Florida site outside of Frostproof, possibly bringing 250 jobs with an average annual salary of $68,000.
The deal isn't finalized, but a vote by county commissioners on Tuesday to offer the company $300,000 in incentives from the county would go a long way, said Sean Malott, president of the Central Florida Development Council.
"We're hopeful they will choose Polk," Malott said Friday after an agenda study meeting in the county administration building. "This has a potential to make a major impact in the county and be a real boon to the area."
The $300,000 over one year is part of an overall $1.05 million incentive package offered by the county. The state is expected to offer $1.2 million in incentives to lure the company.
In February the county is expected to vote on a tax incentive program that would pay the company $3,000 per job for 250 jobs, costing the county $750,000. Payments by the county would begin in 2022.
Malott declined to release the name of the company or discuss details about the type of business or its exact location. Described as "Project Rotag" in documents, Malott said the name will be released in the coming days when commissioners vote on the tax incentive program. He said it was an advanced manufacturing facility that would also bring about 350 indirect jobs, such as construction work.
Commissioner George Lindsey asked whether the incentives were performance based.
County officials said yes. Commissioner Todd Dantzler added that audits are conducted by county and state officials.
Commissioner Bill Braswell asked whether there was a deadline for the company. Dantzler said it was in December and has been extended. He added that he was told that the figure of 250 jobs was conservative.
Documents show that the company will commit to pay an annual average of about $60,000, which is at least 150 percent of the county's annual average wage.
But Malott added during the meeting that the average salary will be closer to $68,000, adding that about $17 million new wages could be brought to the county with the addition of the business.