Alcon seeks city incentives to expand, add 750 jobs

Ft.Worth Star Telegram ^ | 9/27/2011 | Sandra Baker

[txroadkill]

Alcon Labs, recently acquired by Novartis, intends to grow its workforce to 4,000 employees in the next six years as it expands its facilities in south Fort Worth with the creation of a Finance Service Center for the company's North American operations.

The company is asking the Fort Worth City Council to establish its campus off Interstate 35W near I-20 as a reinvestment zone and grant a 10-year, 80 percent tax abatement on the incremental real and personal property taxes. Alcon says it will spend at least $11 million to expand, with at least $3 million on new facilities and the remainder in business personal property.

That could net the company about $490,000. The company is also asking the city to waive permit-related fees on the project.

The City Council is scheduled to vote on establishing the reinvestment zone on Oct. 18 and the incentive proposal Oct. 25.

Under the agreement, Alcon will add 400 jobs by Dec. 31, 2013 and an additional 350 by Dec. 31, 2018. The median wage will be about $90,000, Robert Sturns, the city's economic development manager, told council members.

[txroadkill]

For Freepers who are looking for jobs! Come on down, it's hot but we got A/C and all the Dr. Pepper you can drink!

[onona]

Nice !!

TAXES ??

No, TEXAS !!

[cripplecreek]

Looking for incentives huh.

[GeronL]

As long as every company gets the exact same deal.

Otherwise this is pay to play.

[GeronL]

They got their hands out, taxpayers getting ready to be bent over.

[cripplecreek]

One more reason government loves taxing business. If they aren’t paying big taxes in the first place, there’s no incentive in giving them tax breaks to come to your town. (Or fund your campaign or pay off your congressmen)

[txroadkill]

Wow, its about getting the best deal to make sure your business is most profitable. Business owners do it all over the country, I do it with my landlord where my offices are located. They will bring more money into the state if successful than we would ever collect on them with property taxes. It puts people to work who spend money at our other businesses, those businesses spend money at other businesses.

[GeronL]

I don’t care about what you and your landlord does, that is your and his money. Government agencies have no money, its not their problem they have no reason to make good financial choices with it.

If it is good got Alcon, then it should be good for every business. Why the favoritism from government using other peoples money?

[GeronL]

Alcon just has to make sure to make the right donations to the right people and causes I guess.