LOCKHART, Texas — A West Virginia frozen treat company is one step closer to setting up shop in Lockhart thanks to a new grant approved by the governor.
Gov. Greg Abbott's office announced that The Ziegenfelder Company will build a new manufacturing facility in Lockhart, creating 100 new jobs and more than $29 million in capital investment. A Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF) grant of $525,000 has been extended to the confectionary creators.
"I am pleased to welcome The Ziegenfelder Company, an industry leader producing affordable, high-quality frozen treats, to the Lone Star State," Abbott said. "Already the second-leading state for food manufacturing and distribution, Texas offers even more room for growth in the industry, and I look forward to celebrating The Ziegenfelder Company’s continued success as we work together to keep Texas the best place to live, work, build a business and raise a family."
On Sept. 6, the Lockhart City Council approved a five-year property tax incentive plan for The Ziegenfelder Corporation, maker of Budget Saver Twin Pops.
According to a report by the Austin Business Journal (ABJ), the planned Lockhart facility will be 96,000 square feet. The development would make the company one of the largest private-sector employees in the area.
Based in West Virginia, The Ziegenfelder Company has grown to include more than 300 employees and a dozen production lines in facilities located in West Virginia, California and Colorado, according to the ABJ. The company makes more than 2.5 million pops a day.
The agreement, approved by the Lockhart City Council under the codename "Project Summertime," states that the facility must be at least 42,000 square feet with a $37 million investment, according to the ABJ. Construction is required to be completed within 18 months of the start date, and the company must employ 60 people in five years. The ABJ report indicated that the agreement starts the year after construction is completed.
Back in April, the Lockhart council approved the sale of nearly seven acres in the 130 Industrial Park to the company for $813,000, per the report.
The City estimated that the net benefit of the agreement would be $1.6 million. The Caldwell County Commissioners Court is reportedly set to discuss additional incentives at its next meeting.
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