Thomasville City Council OKs Incentives for Unilin

Thomasville, NC, Feb. 25--The Thomasville City Council agreed to extend a $3.36 million economic incentives package to Unilin Decor Monday. Council members voted unanimously in favor of the package during a called public hearing. The city's offer, combined with an offer from Davidson County, brings the total economic incentives offered to Unilin to about $6 million. Unilin representatives also have said the company is eligible to receive additional funding from the state. Unilin, a Belgian-based laminate flooring manufacturer, is considering a 61-acre site near the Thomasville Industrial Park at the intersection of NC 62 and Interstate 85 for its North American headquarters. It currently has a facility off Denton Road in Thomasville. The company also is considering a site in Lancaster, SC. Thomasville is offering property tax assistance through economic development grants for ten years. According to information provided by the city Monday, the package requires the company to request annexation and to create 132 jobs with a $20 million investment in the first year, 200 jobs with a $60 million investment in the second year, 270 jobs with an $80 million investment in the third year and 330 jobs with an $80 million investment over the rest of the ten year period. The economic development grants will begin in 2006 at the property tax rate of 55 cents and continue at that rate through 2012. The rate would equal $110,000 in the first year, $330,000 in the second year and $440,000 in the third fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh years. The grant amount gradually decreases for the remaining three years to amounts of $308,000, $242,000 and $176,000, respectively, before ending. The public hearing drew comments from nine people, two who opposed the plan. Those in support said the offer is both a reasonable and necessary means to create jobs. "In a perfect world, I don't think we'd have incentives, but this is not a perfect world," said Milton Riley of Thomasville. "This is just one of the things we need to do to move our city forward." Those who spoke against the plan said they opposed spending taxpayer's money to lure industry as well as the concept of the city having to pay for jobs. Thomasville Mayor Hubert Leonard said the jobs Unilin would provide would be a benefit for generations to come. The Davidson County Board of Commissioners previously approved a $2.6 million economic incentives offer for Unilin which includes $2.2 million for land purchase and site grading and $424,000 in economic development grants. Steve Googe, president of the Davidson County Economic Development Commission, said Unilin would be one of the county's largest employers. "I think, quite frankly, if they decide to locate here, in Davidson County, they would certainly be the flagship employer," said Googe, who attended Monday's council meeting. The company is expected to decide on a location by March.