Property tax phase-in approved on Mead Johnson expansion in Evansville

EVANSVILLE - Mead Johnson Nutrition will receive a local government financial incentive package worth about $2.5 million on the planned $35 million expansion of its Evansville plant.

The City Council on Monday voted 8-0 for a 10-year property tax phase-in on equipment and land required for the project, which is to add 18 new jobs paying $29 per hour.

Mead Johnson, which has corporate offices just outside Chicago, produces infant formula and child nutrition products. The expansion “will bring some of the newest manufacturing capability and technology to Evansville,” said Dan Niemeier, manager of the Evansville plant.

The tax phase-in will be spread over a 10-year period. It includes $1.53 million for the land with the remainder for equipment, said Chris Kinnett, business development director for Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville.

The council also approved 8-0 a rezoning that will allow commercial and office space development on the east side of North Fulton Avenue, where the road meets Indiana and Illinois streets.

The developer is Jack Rogers. Warehouses and restaurants are among the possible projects at the site, which has suffered from blight the last several years, said Krista Lockyear, Rogers’ attorney.

The rezoning request had earlier received no recommendation from the Area Plan Commission, but Lockyear said that since that meeting, Rogers and a vocal remonstrator, Pete McCullough, reached an agreement about issues such as the height of any new buildings, noise and restricted uses.

Council members noted North Fulton is a major gateway to the Downtown area and said they are pleased it is getting some new life. Lockyear said Rogers is already working on redevelopment of the west side of North Fulton.