Hill’s Pet Nutrition announced this morning it would build a 300,000 square-foot plant in Emporia, the third pet food plant to locate in Emporia.
The dry pet food plant brings with it more than 100 manufacturing jobs and will be located on an 80-acre site just south of Norfolk Iron & Metal and the new REG biodiesel plant in eastern Emporia. Emporia beat out several other sites, including Hill’s headquarters city of Topeka, to land the plant.
According to the Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas, Hill’s would be the 11th-largest private employer in town and 16th-largest overall. Kent Heermann, executive director of the RDA, said the company would put about $100 million into the plant.
“We’re real excited about the project,” Heermann said. “Our team worked really hard on putting together this project in a short period of time.”
He and RDA President Jeff Longbine credited the cooperation of state and local groups and the fact that Emporia had a suitable site more or less ready to go, among other factors.
The company is best known for its Science Diet and Prescription Diet pet foods.
“Kansas has been home to Hill’s for more than 60 years and we look forward to expanding our presence here to support the continuing growth of our business,” company president Justin Skala said in a prepared statement. “This was a rigorous year-long process and we greatly appreciate the assistance we received from state and local officials.”
Overall, the company said, more than a dozen sites were considered. Hill’s will continue to operate its global headquarters, pet nutrition center and canned-food manufacturing plant in Topeka, where it employs 850 people.
The Emporia land still needs to be rezoned for the industry, a move that will be discussed by the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission on July 24. If approved, the Hill’s plant would be built just a short distance east of Canadian-owned Menu Foods Midwest, which opened its Emporia plant in 1998.
The proposed site includes farmland owned by Jim and Sharon Woods, which Emporia Enterprises has an option to buy, according to Heermann.
In addition to Hill’s and Menu, Emporia is also home to Emporia Pet Products, the former Safeway pet food plant. That plant was taken over by American Nutrition in April.
The Legislature passed a bill earlier this year, Senate Bill 240, to try to keep a new Hill’s plant in the state. The bill offers an income tax break to manufacturers that locate in Kansas by the end of 2009 if they invest at least $100 million in a plant, employ at least 100 people and pay better than average wages. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius signed the bill on March 20.
The move was designed to make Kansas more competitive with surrounding states. The bill was supported by Hill’s and the Topeka chamber of commerce.
“If our community is selected as the site for this new facility, we will begin the reversal of bad news our community recently received with the closure of the Payless Distribution Center and the loss of 550 jobs,” Topeka Sen. Anthony Hensley said in arguing for the bill.
The Hill’s statement said SB 240 was an important factor in the company’s decision.
Other sites in the running included Gardner, Ottawa and Harrisonville, Mo.
Hill’s Packing Co. began producing canned dog and cat food in 1935 but Hill’s Pet Nutrition got its start in 1943, when veterinarian Mark Morris put a guide dog on a special diet to treat her kidney problems. The company began by selling its pet food in specialty stores, then branched out into other pet-care products.
It remained little-known until Colgate-Palmolive bought the company in 1976. After a slow start, Hill’s began working with the veterinary community to sell its Science Diet and Prescription Diet brands. By 1984, sales had topped $110 million. By the 1990s, Hill’s was working on expanding its international presence.
Hill’s reported $1.66 billion in sales last year, a 9 percent increase from 2005.
Its parent company, Colgate-Palmolive, is No. 200 on the Fortune 500. Last year, Colgate reported worldwide sales of $12.237 billion and a net income of $1.353 billion.
“We are extremely happy that Hill’s Pet Nutrition has selected Emporia for its new facility,” Longbine said. “This valuable expansion will be a huge benefit for Hill’s, Emporia and the state of Kansas.”
An incentive package for the plant will be brought forward at a later date for the city commission’s consideration.
“All projects are not this successful,” Heermann said. “But every once in a while, it all comes together.”
Flips (anonymous) says...
What a positive for Emporia & our whole state!!!!!!!!!
What great news!!!!!!!!
June 20, 2007 at 2:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daveedailey (anonymous) says...
Beware, there are two sites for comments on this subject. I am not sure which one is which at this time but I think the most important comments are on the first one. It is just people being honest and asking questions (that we will never get truthful answers). I would like to know what benefits that Longbine is talking about. Sure, they get a tax break for how many years and then will pull out like most other companys. The big wigs will not live here, just like other companys. Why does Jeff think we all have brown eyes?
June 20, 2007 at 2:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
admireed (anonymous) says...
Sounds like a very good thing to me. Quit knocking people who for many many years have been working their asses off to bring and keep jobs in Emporia. Lots of competition for businesses like this.
June 20, 2007 at 3:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daveedailey (anonymous) says...
Wake up Emporia!!! Snake just tells it like it is!!!
June 20, 2007 at 4:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ratdog (anonymous) says...
If this plant went to Ottawa, you'd all be complaining that the RDA wasn't doing enough to bring in companies and jobs. To attract quality businesses such as Hills, you have to give incentives. It's reality if you want industry in your community. The 100 jobs and $100,000,000 investment will far outweigh any tax breaks that we have to give. Before you gripe and complain, make sure what you're griping and complaining about is valid. Common sense will tell that in this case, it's not valid.
June 20, 2007 at 5:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
residentswhocare (anonymous) says...
Has anyone considered the fact that this so-called good thing for Emporia is being built in the middle of a residential area? Do you think that Mr. Heermann or Mr. Longbine would like this in their neighborhoods? Doubt it. There is a great industrial park on the west side of town that was purchased, but nothing is being done there. Oh yeah, it isn't "shovel ready".
June 20, 2007 at 8:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sciguy (anonymous) says...
I'd like to be excited, but why do we not see this kind of effort to bring in a company that might attract reasonable numbers of talented college graduates to work in Emporia?
It's sad to see the native Emporia kids grow up, go to college, and then have to LEAVE because there is nothing for them here.
More diversity in business and industry would go a long way toward insuring the future economic viability of this city.
June 20, 2007 at 9 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
admireed (anonymous) says...
The biggest tax break of all goes to E.S.U. No property taxes ever. Want to get rid of that burden on the taxpayers? It takes breaks to attract new industry these days. Do we want new industry jobs? If not elect commission members who will not help any business locate here.
June 20, 2007 at 9:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
netloafer (anonymous) says...
Sciguy
You got it exactly right. It's nice to get jobs, but we aren't getting the types of jobs that college graduates would stay here at home for. They're not going to stay here to make pet foods. When are we going to at least attempt to diversify or economic base?
June 20, 2007 at 10:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ratdog (anonymous) says...
People seem to forget that no matter what type of business locates here, they create a fairly significant number of management, technical and other skilled jobs. People also seem to forget the many businesses that call Emporia home that are already creating highly skilled jobs. Companies like Birch, Stutler Technologies, Camplex and many others are creating these types of highly skilled postions all the time.
Every quality business we attract continues to build a foundation that allows every other segment of the local economy to see real growth. In turn, there is a greater demand for highly educated and skilled people.
For a town the size of Emporia, we have a fairly diverse economy. Look at what we have: an NCAA Division II University, a first class school system, industry that makes everything from ice scrapers to Alpo, and tech start-ups that create and sell everything from wireless internet equipment to video equipment to telecommunication services nationwide.
Today's announcement is exciting. The community as a whole will benefit and that's the bottomline. Thanks to everyone that made it all happen.
June 21, 2007 at 2:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daveedailey (anonymous) says...
When and where and who cares what the Lyon county people think? I think this is what the majority of citizens here in Emporia feel. I would be upset also if this were to be in my neighborhood. Was a poll taken from the area neighborhood as to how they feel about this and if they want their taxes going up because of this so called good thing? I think that this whole community needs to consider getting rid of Longbine and Agler. So far, all I have seen is the fact of higher taxes, inflated land prices and a go to hell with the people from Emporia from these guys. Yes, I am a licensed, registered professional in Emporia and my field is limited but yet I see nothing coming or already here for my type of education. I hope people will attend all county and city meeting to let their voices be heard about the crooks trying to run this so called town.
June 21, 2007 at 9:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dayjob55 (anonymous) says...
All right all ready. As far as skilled jobs here in Emporia I don't believe the pet food plant or any other manufacturing plant is going to create even a need for those jobs. Birch is either still in bankruptcy or just emerged from it, Stutler (from what I've heard) is in the same boat & I don't know anything for sure about Camplex. And as far as skilled jobs go, how many of those employees in the above mentioned companies are actually skilled and not office, maintenance, etc. workers. Yes we do have an excellent university, but what is keeping those grads here? How many local employers actually hire an ESU grad with a Bachelors degree in Business, Biology, Psychology, Music, Theatre Arts, etc. Even if you had a masters degree in some of those fields what is keeping you here in Emporia. The point of all of this is that highly skilled, good paying jobs are NOT in this town and there is nothing in the near future that is going to bring and/or keep those jobs here. Yes another manufacturing plant is a good thing for this town (if it wasn't for the tax breaks) because those employees will spend money here (unless they wire it back to Mexico) if there is a decent place to shop (Wal Mart doesn't count as decent & barely even a place to shop). Those employees will buy groceries here, fuel here, maybe some clothes & a little entertainment money will be dropped in Emporia. But for a good choice of restaurants, a variety of stores to shop for Christmas gifts or other shopping items & a choice of entertainment options people still have to leave Emporia. That means that a percentage of the money that these new employees have will still leave town. I'm sorry but I've lived in this town for over 50 years and have seen it go from a town that I was proud to call home to a town full of rich crooks that are doing a great job at making the rest of us poorer. I'm almost ashamed to call this place home.
June 21, 2007 at 11:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoahjoe (anonymous) says...
How do you welcome a company, before the property has been zoned correctly? It seems that the Planning Commission is put in a tight spot. I'm not clear why these companies do not have to go through the permitting process first. Seems like the zoning districts do not really have any teeth. Build where you want, as long as, the RDA comes out like a shining star.
June 21, 2007 at 11:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daveedailey (anonymous) says...
Again Dayjob I agree. I wonder if Lyon county would consider a casino. They are a great source of income, lower taxes, improving schools, better roads and highways. Oh my, I forgot we are all supposed to be religious people against the sins of the world but it is ok to rape thy neighbor!!!
June 21, 2007 at 11:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daveedailey (anonymous) says...
Zoa, consider who is making these deals. Like I have said before, this is a town run by crooks and liars!! Emporia wake up!!! Longbine thinks this makes him look good but as far as I can tell, it makes him STINK like the skunk he is. For being such a "religious community" we sure do have a lot of two faced people!!
June 21, 2007 at 11:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daveedailey (anonymous) says...
Look at how Topeka has flurished since the casinoes. Look at all the good they have done for Oklahoma. Look at Emporia (HAHA). We want entertainment, we want shopping, we want tax breaks, we want better roads, we want good things for our schools. What better way to get money flowing in a community quickly. Ok, lets hear it from all you mighty bible thumpers!!!
June 21, 2007 at 12:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dayjob55 (anonymous) says...
If a lot of these bible thumpers were on the ball they'd want a casino here. Look at how many lost souls they could go after if there was that much more "sin" in Emporia.
June 21, 2007 at 1 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daveedailey (anonymous) says...
Hey dayjob you said more in one sentence than I could say in ten. My hats off to you! maybe it is just because I have sense enough to read between the lines of our "fine community". Remember, there will be the ones that will argue about how people spend their money even if it is wellfare. But the almighty ones will just tax the rest of us out of house and home.
June 21, 2007 at 1:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dayjob55 (anonymous) says...
AMEN!
June 21, 2007 at 1:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sciguy (anonymous) says...
"Companies like Birch, Stutler Technologies, Camplex and many others are creating these types of highly skilled postions all the time."
And how many new positions have actually been created in those companies in the past 5, 10, 15 years?
If they're really creating these positions "all the time", they're doing a rotten job of advertising them.
June 22, 2007 at 11:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )