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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA Seattle-based running gear retailer is considering opening a distribution warehouse in Whitestown that could generate more than 100 new jobs.
Brooks Sports Inc., which sells running shoes and apparel, is planning to relocate its distribution operations from Sumner, Washington, to the Midwest by early 2019, and the Anson development is on the shortlist for locations.
The $15 million facility would be 400,140 square feet and built along Albert S. White Boulevard, directly to the east of GNC's distribution center. Browning/Duke Realty, the joint venture between Browning Investments and Duke Realty Corp. and primary developer of AllPoints at Anson, would construct and own the building.
Brooks would spent $10.8 million to equip the facility. Construction would started in September and be finished by June 2018.
Brooks has one employee in the state currently and would hire 132 new employees by 2023. The average hourly wage would be $23.15. The new salaries would cost the company a total of $18.9 million.
“It’s a very well-known, name-brand company,” said Boone County Economic Development Corp. Executive Director Molly Whitehead. “So, we’re excited about that.”
Whitehead said the company is considering two other locations, but could not specify the exact areas. Brooks is requesting a four-year personal property tax abatement from Whitestown that would save the company a total of $306,571. It would pay $660,094 in taxes in that same time period.
Browning/Duke Realty is also requesting a 10-year real property tax abatement for the facility. It would save the developers a total of $2 million. About $2.5 million in taxes would still be paid.
The Whitestown Redevelopment Commission will consider the incentives package Monday night, but the deal still requires approval from the Boone County Redevelopment Commission, Boone County Board of Commissioners and Whitestown Town Council.
Whitehead said the company could make a decision by the end of June.
“Obviously, we really want to win this company and bring this here,” Whitehead said. “It’s still very much a competitive deal for us.”
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