FCC (Adams) plans major expansion
FCC (Adams) plans major expansion
Berne firm to create 50 new jobs
May 14, 2013
By J SWYGART
Berne City Council got two drastically differing looks of the local economic scene Monday evening during its otherwise routine annual reviews of tax abatement agreements previously approved by the city.
For the second time in as many months, the councilors listened as representatives from a local company outlined tremendous growth and announced a hefty investment in Berne to expand its operations there.
Sandra Affolder, administrations manager with the FCC (Adams) automotive supply company, appeared before the council along with attorney Tim Baker to request an extension of eight current tax abatement agreements the company has in place with the city.
the most exciting news of the night involving FCC (Adams) came later in the evening when the company, which opened its Berne plant a decade ago and manufactures clutch assembly units and power train components for the auto industry, announced its second major expansion in the last three years.
Baker said the firm earlier that evening had submitted to the Berne Plan Commission its site plan for a 75,500 square foot addition at the Parr Road site. Baker said the investment includes $6.3 million in property improvements and $35 million in new equipment that will be in place by March of 2015. The expansion project, he said, will add $1.5 million to the company’s annual payroll and will create 50 new jobs in addition to the 228 workers employed at the plant.
“It’s a great evening for Berne,” said Larry Macklin, executive director of the Adams County Economic Development Corp. Macklin appeared before the council to lend his support to the company’s request for a 10-year abatement of real estate and personal property taxes for the new expansion project.
Macklin called the expansion “a powerful commitment” on the part of FCC to remain in Berne and bring new jobs to the community.
“This is economic growth right here at home,” Macklin said. “FCC has been a good corporate citizen and is one of the county’s leading providers of quality jobs. I would ask for your support and seek your approval of their request for this tax phase-in.”
The latest expansion comes just three years after FCC (Adams) invested some $7.5 million in its Berne plant to construct a 35,000 square foot addition at its Parr Road location, a move company officials at the time said would add up to 25 new employees. Nearly $5 million in new equipment was added to the site during that project.
Mayor Bill McKean and members of the city council enthusiastically embraced FCC’s latest tax abatement request and scheduled a public hearing for June 10 as the next step in the process.
“We are happy to have you in the community,” McKean said to Affolder. “Your company has exceeded expectations and has resulted in a great partnership for our community.”
Councilman Ron Dull added, “It’s great to see growth, especially in these difficult days and ages.”
