Walmart Milk Plant Gets $10.7M Tax Breaks, Ups Job Estimate

Walmart will save more than $10.7 million in property taxes over 10 years on its new $165 million mile processing plant thanks to Allen County Council — a facility that will create substantially more jobs than originally announced.

When the 250,000-square-foot facility to be built at 2322 W. Pleasant Center Road was announced in March, officials said it would employ about 200 people. According to the application for an abatement approved Thursday by council, however, the plant will employ closer to 250, including about 100 truck drivers that could be employed by a third party.

The facility is expected to create 21 management jobs with an average salary of $91,000, 90 production positions at $40,000, 40 maintenance jobs paying an average of $55,000 and the drivers earning about $75,000. Cost of the project includes $83 million in real estate improvements and $60 million in manufacturing equipment. The abatements will save Walmart $7.6 million in real estate taxes and $3.1 million in taxes on equipment. The company will pay about $9.8 million in property taxes over that period. Abatements temporary reduce taxes paid on new buildings and equipment.

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