Northstar Battery expansion nabs $2.7M in tax credits

The lead-acid battery manufacturer broke ground in May on a 308,000-square-foot plant situated on 33.54 acres in Partnership Industrial Center West. A building permit filed with the city of Springfield lists the new facility’s estimated construction cost at $12 million.

The project follows quickly on the heels of a 52,000-square-foot, $3 million addition to the company’s other location, at 4000 Continental Way in Partnership Industrial Center, that wrapped up earlier this year.

Enhanced Enterprise Zone tax credits are offered to Missouri businesses that are expanding in locations that have been designated by the local government and the DED as areas that could create sustainable jobs in a targeted industry and impact local cluster development, according to a DED release. In Northstar’s case, the tax credits are in exchange for new investment of $60 million at PIC West – though Plant Manager Tim Collins would not disclose the exact project cost.

Project manager Tim Caldwell – who will serve as manager of the new plant – said Northstar should be ready to start ramping up to full production at the facility by April 2009. The plant will almost double Northstar’s local employment by adding a little more than 400 workers, paid an average wage of $28,000 annually, according to the release.

See SBJ’s June 9 issue for more on Northstar’s expansion and other manufacturing news.