Hampton, Iowa — The Franklin County Board of Supervisors has indicated that it is agreeable to granting a tax abatement to AgVantage FS, Waverly, Iowa, on its $5.5 million self-funded investment to construct a 65,000-square-foot dry fertilizer storage and distribution facility in Chapin. AgVantage officials wouldn’t confirm any details, but the local press reported that the new plant would create two new jobs involving a plant manager and an outside operations staffer generating annual earnings in the $40,000-$60,000 per year range. Local reports are that the expansion could be operational by spring of 2014. Supervisor Corey Eberling, one of the board’s three members, told Green Markets that the board is looking favorably on the request. “We have said yes that we are willing, but there are still several steps to be taken before final approval can be granted,” Eberling commented. “An urban renewal plan has to be set up first before anything like that can be done. It usually takes about three months. But it all depends on the whole process, which includes public hearings. But I can confirm that they have put in a request for a tax abatement.” AgVantage has some 14 agronomy locations. The company reported 2012 earnings of $9.2 million, and said that large customer demand for dry fertilizer put significant pressure on the supply chain and the transportation system to provide supply in a timely fashion.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain