Norfolk Iron and Metal will be expanding its Emporia plant, the Regional Development Association announced Friday afternoon.
Plant manager Jeff Bessmer said he didn’t want to reveal any details of the expansion until a Wednesday press conference. He did confirm that the expansion will add jobs to the Emporia plant, which currently employs 149.
The plan has been in the works for a few months, Bessmer said.
“I hate to think how long it’s been,” he said with a chuckle.
Norfolk Iron distributes steel to manufacturers, who then turn it into finished goods.
It first announced it would come to Emporia in 2000, completing a $7.1 million plant in late 2001. The new plant was 156,600 square feet. This is the first expansion since the plant was built here in 2001.
The company’s corporate headquarters is based in Norfolk, Neb.
The RDA will ask the city to give Norfolk a package of incentives for the expansion, RDA Director Kent Heermann said in the news release.
The incentives include 13 acres south of the plant, a $360,000 cash grant to be made in four equal payments, and a 10-year break on property taxes for the real estate involved. The real estate is subject to the approval of Emporia Enterprises.
All the incentives require city commission approval and will be tied to the company’s performance.
The RDA said a news conference revealing more details about the project would be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the city conference room, 521 Market St.