Del Monte plans expansionMCC SUBHEAD> But company says city-county incentives neededMCC BYLINE1>
Del Monte Corp. plans to spend $26 million to construct a distribution center next to its pet food plant in North Topeka, although the project hinges on approval of a government incentive package.
The 427,000-square-foot distribution center will create 80 jobs, Chris Koerber, Del Monte's Topeka plant manager, said recently.
Chris Koerber, Del Monte plant manager, says Del Monte plans to expand its existing facility to include a 427,000-square-foot distribution center next to its existing plant at 2200 N.W. Brickyard.
Del Monte in Topeka has 251 employees and also uses 100 temporary workers hired through local staffing companies. The average wage of Del Monte employees is $18 per hour plus benefits.
Construction on the new distribution center is scheduled to begin in the spring and be completed in about 10 to 12 months.
Go Topeka, the economic development arm of the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce, offered an incentive of $2,500 per job created for up to 90 new jobs, said Andy Jetter, chairman of Go Topeka.
Doug Kinsinger, president and chief executive officer of Go Topeka and the chamber, said Go Topeka would be seeking the blessing of an incentive package from the city-county Joint Economic Development Organization.
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