ERIN MCDANIEL
City of Newton
NEWTON, Kan.— Hillsboro Industries broke ground Friday on its new Newton manufacturing facility on East First Street. The Hillsboro-based truck bed and trailer manufacturer plans to build a 56,000-square-foot facility to build aluminum livestock trailers and will create about 50 new full-time jobs in Newton.
The company bused in all its current employees from Hillsboro to participate in the groundbreaking Friday.
Lisa Kemph, Hillsboro Industries’ director of finance, said the company intends to maintain and enhance its facility in Hillsboro as it develops the Newton site.
Kemph said Newton’s current and planned housing development projects as well as the larger labor pool were key factors in choosing Newton as the site for their second facility.
The new facility is expected to cost about $8.1 million to construct, with $2.8 million in furnishings and equipment.
The site is located on East First Street immediately east of Prairie View, west of Hillside.
The development agreement calls for the City and County each to contribute up to $125,000 for street improvements on First Street, including a turn lane and aprons to improve site access. It also includes the City’s good faith intention to grant a 10-year, 100% property tax abatement and to facilitate the issuance of Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRBs), including a sales tax exemption for construction materials and equipment.
CLICK HERE to download the Hutch Post mobile app.
CLICK HERE to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.