Vigo Co. Council debates tax abatement for new business

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)– Vigo County officials are considering a tax abatement request from a $50 million project.

On Tuesday, officials from Zinkpower USA came forward with the proposal, which is in its early stages. The business would work on property near the trailer manufacturer Great Dane in the northern part of the county. Zinkpower works to protect steel from corrosion through a process called “hot-dip galvanizing” which Executive Vice President for Zinkpower Joe Langemeier said was valuable to trailer companies.

“The trailer industry has been looking for an economical solution to prolong the life of their trailers,” he said. “One of the issues there is that there’s not a hot-dip galvanizing plant on every corner, so to be economical and to cut costs, many trailer manufacturers are looking to co-locate with someone like us.”

The business is based out of Texas. Officials said the company would bring about 100 construction jobs and 90 full-time jobs when the facility opens– right now the timeline would be sometime in late 2025.

Vigo County Council President Todd Thacker said, while this project isn’t as big as some past ones that received abatements, it still is important progress in the community.

“Maybe we have become desensitized because we had $250 million project [with Steel Dynamics,] $700 million with Wabash Valley Resources, $1.5 billion [with ENTEK],” Thacker said. “So $50 million doesn’t sound like much, but I’m not saying it’s not important because it’s important. Is it worthy what they’re asking for is the decision.”

Thacker said he hopes the county can soon develop a scorecard of sorts– like the city of Terre Haute has– to help when abatement requests come up.

“I would say as a county, we have to do more to make that clearer and set some parameters. Before it had never been set because then you’re handcuffed to follow that table,” he said.

The abatement itself will not be proposed until June. At the meeting next week, council members will vote on making the property an “economic revitalization area,” which is a needed step before any abatements can be considered.

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