Sunday, November 8, 2015

About that Pocatello Idaho plant that Heinz closed in 2013



Heinz plant to close: 410 to lose jobs as frozen-food facility shuts down incrementally.  (Idaho State Journal, 11/19/2013)

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In addition to the 410 direct jobs lost, Cravens estimates another 200 employment positions could be adversely impacted by the Heinz closure. The Idaho Department of Labor lists Heinz as one of the 11 largest private employers in Bannock County.

Amy's Kitchen purchases production facility in Idaho.  (San Francisco Business Journal, 10/30/2014)

The lure?  Tax breaks. 
Under economic incentives offered in Idaho, Amy's Kitchen will be eligible for a 26 percent credit on income, payroll and sales tax for up to 15 years. It's estimated that credit could be worth as much as $6.7 million

Amy's adjustments: State scrutinizes county tax break for company.  (Idaho State Journal, 8/12/2015)
[Bannock County Deputy Attorney Ian] Service said part of the county's tax break for Amy's was construed as being outside of Idaho Law 63-602NN by the State Tax Commission. “They thought part of Amy's break came outside of the law,” Service said. “We were blind-sided by the State Tax Commission.

Based on my reading of the above, and other related, articles, I didn't find any evidence of heavy lifting on Heinz's part to sell the Pocatello facility.

The company cited examples in Florence, South Carolina, Pocatello, Idaho, Leamington, Ontario and in Phoenix, she said. In the past two years, facilities owned by Kraft or Heinz were sold to companies that operated the facilities with a similar purpose.

Heinz, after all, isn't in the business of giving tax breaks; they're in the business of taking them.

Related Oscar Mayer posts:
Scott Walker, WEDC, and Oscar Mayer: Unanswered question #4.  (11/6/2015)
Scott Walker, WEDC, and Oscar Mayer: Unanswered question #3.  (11/6/2015)
Scott Walker, WEDC, and Oscar Mayer: Unanswered question #2.  (11/6/2015)
Scott Walker, WEDC, and Oscar Mayer: Unanswered question #1.  (11/6/2015)
The ripple effects of Oscar Mayer's Madison plant closing.  (11/5/2015)
Apparently, this is the closest we've had to a response from the Governor's office about the Oscar Mayer plant closing in Madison.  (11/5/2015)
Governor Scott Walker's statement on closing of Oscar Mayer plant. (11/4/2015)

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