By Zach Spicer
A new company coming to Seymour and an existing company recently received approval for tax abatement requests.
During the June 9 Seymour Common Council meeting, Vital Farms Inc. announced plans to invest more than $190 million on its new project at the Eastside Industrial Park.
“A huge investment for our community and for all of south central Indiana,” JCIDC Executive Director Jim Plump said.
Construction of a $104 million building and personal property of more than $86 million were announced by Joe Holland of Vital Farms. Both are 10-year tax abatements.
The project, which was first announced last year, will locate on approximately 74 acres at the Eastside Industrial Park, and construction is expected to be underway in the third quarter of this year with completion by the end of 2026.
Eggs from family-owned farms throughout the Midwest will be delivered to the facility, where they will be processed, packaged and shipped.
The company projects hiring 416 workers beginning late next year and into 2027 with total payroll of more than $26.9 million.
With those two investments, Plump said Vital Farms will still pay nearly $20 million in taxes over the next 10 years. That’s based on current tax rates, even with abatement.
Based on a financial analysis by Reedy Financial Group, Vital Farms’ investment is projected to add 9.4% to the gross tax base for the city of Seymour, which Plump said is “very significant.”
Vital Farms also received approval for a five-year tax abatement of $400,000 for IT equipment.
Holland said opening and testing systems will take place in late fourth quarter 2026, and the company should be fully operational by the first quarter of 2027.
FAKT Holdings LLC/MAK Steel Services LLC also was granted tax abatement for new construction on its facility at 1191 King Ave., Seymour.
The company plans to invest $1.7 million in constructing a 24,000-square-foot expansion, which will allow it to retain the current workforce of 54 employees and add 15 new positions, which will increase payroll by nearly $1.1 million.
The new facility will be used for steel fabrication and material handling, and new jobs will be a mix of welders, CNC operators, material handlers and office staff.
Kyle Elkins, COO of MAK Steel, said the company estimates construction beginning around Oct. 1 of this year with completion by the end of the first quarter of 2027.
