By Zach Spicer
Five Jackson County industrial employers recently received approval for 10-year tax abatements, including one that will result in more than 60 new jobs.
During a meeting April 27 in the council chambers at Seymour City Hall, the Seymour Common Council voted to approve investments by Valeo, AISIN USA Mfg. Inc., Cummins Seymour Engine Plant and Walmart Distribution Center.
At the April 13 council meeting, an investment by SpaceGuard Products was approved.
A tax abatement occurs over a 10-year period in which companies pay 10% more on taxes each consecutive year. Companies do not pay any property taxes on the improvements in the first year of a tax abatement.
Altogether, the investments by the Seymour companies top $164 million.
While announcing the four investments at the most recent council meeting, Jackson County Industrial Development Corp. Executive Director Jim Plump said, “I think it’s important to note that these companies are among the highest paying taxpayers in Jackson County.”
Valeo is investing $15,298,000 over three different projects for manufacturing equipment to support continued business growth.
The investment by the automotive lighting systems manufacturer, located in the Freeman Field Industrial Park, will create 61 new jobs with new payroll of just over $20 million added to its current workforce of 1,078 and payroll of $84,776,999.
The estimated start date is May 1, and completion is expected by the end of 2027.
The largest investment is by Walmart Distribution Center. This request for $105 million in personal property is for Phase 2 of a project announced in 2023 that involves Walmart renovating its 42 regional distribution centers.
The retailer continues to modernize its vast supply chain network to provide customers with better reliability, service and speed. A new technology system works to sort, store, retrieve and pack freight onto pallets, and the company will use automation to revolutionize intake, increase accuracy and change how freight is handled.
The newest investment is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
“Over the next three and a half years, they will be investing $276 million on top of their Phase 1 project,” Plump said. “The balance will be invested in ’28 and ’29, and combined with the $57-plus million that they invested over the past two years in Phase 1, this will end up being a $333 million project.”
The investment will allow the local distribution center, located just west of Interstate 65 on Seymour’s far east side, to retain its current workforce of 937, which has an average annual salary of $58,000 and total payroll of $54.3 million.
AISIN USA, Jackson County’s largest industrial employer, is investing in both of its Seymour plants in the Eastside Industrial Park.
There are two personal property abatements: $15,905,880 for Plant 1 and $4,039,000 for Plant 2.
“These investments are related to new equipment to purchase model parts for AISIN’s customers base, including Honda, Toyota and GM,” Plump said.
There also are two real property abatements: $1,640,000 for Plant 1 and $1,400,000 for Plant 2.
Altogether, the investments total $22,984,880. That will allow the automotive parts manufacturer to retain its current workforce of 1,303 at Plant 1 with total salaries of $95.8 million and 528 at Plant 2 with total payroll of $38.8 million.
Plump said the projects will begin around June 1 and be completed by the summer of 2028.
Cummins’ new investment totals $20,362,550 at its campus along East Fourth Street.
This includes three personal property abatements of $16,969,194 and two real property abatements of $3,393,356.
The personal property is for capacity expansion of the Hedgehog project, new manufacturing equipment for another project and machinery and test cells for the technical center. The real property investments will support equipment purchases.
The project will go from May 15 to the end of this year. Cummins will retain its workforce of 957 with total payroll of $77,308,143.
SpaceGuard Products’ investment totals $375,000 — $320,000 for manufacturing equipment and $55,000 for IT equipment.
The manufacturer of wire partitions and area guarding solutions, located east of Interstate 65, will maintain its current workforce of 53 with annual payroll of $3,211,928.
