A local distribution warehouse plans to hire an estimated 75 new workers in 2020.
Pet Supplies Plus Distribution is planning to invest a total of $6.5 million next year to purchase new logistical and information technology equipment to increase the number of products it ships from its Seymour facility.
Located at 1510 East Fourth Street in the Eastside Industrial Park, the warehouse supplies a variety of pet-related items including food and toys to retail Pet Supply Plus stores across the country.
During a Seymour City Council meeting Monday night, members unanimously approved the company’s request for two tax abatements.
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The personal property abatements allow PSP Distribution to phase in paying taxes on the $1.6 million in IT equipment over a period of five years and 10 years on the $4.9 million in logistics equipment. IT equipment has a shorter life use expectancy which is why it does not qualify for a longer abatement.
According to a statement of benefits, new equipment to be purchased includes warehouse management, slotting and labor management systems, conveyor control software, an inventory forecasting system to control inbound product flow, a used split case pick module, sorter, pallet storage racking, reach trucks, lifts and other materials handling equipment and voice pick and scanning equipment.
The project will result in the company retaining its current workforce of 250 employees and hiring an additional 75 workers by the end of next year, said Jim Plump, executive director of Jackson County Industrial Development Corp. Plump spoke on behalf of the company during Monday’s meeting.
Those 75 new employees will generate $2.62 million in annual salaries, Plump said.
In an unrelated matter, council approved the transfer of two tax abatements from TDAK Development Inc. in Seymour to Martin Safety Storage LLC.
The 10-year property tax abatements previously had been granted in 2016 and 2019 to TDAK on a 70,000 square-foot spec. building at 6013 Elsner Drive in the Eastside Industrial Park. The building is currently being leased by Aisin USA.
Martin City Safety Storage based in Grain Valley, Missouri, has purchased the warehouse and property.
“The transfer will pick up exactly where (the abatements) are,” Plump said. “It will not go back and start all over, so there really will be no change. We wanted to get this cleaned up and in the right name going forward and then we’ll be coming to council in the future to file a compliance based on the statement of benefits.”
