By Chris Cannon
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Members of Metro Council voted on three separate incentive plans Tuesday night with the goal of creating jobs. The bills are part of the Dean administration's economic recovery effort.
"In today's economy jobs are the most important thing and I think this city is working hard to make sure there are job opportunities for the people here in Davidson County," according to Matt Wiltshire, the director of the Mayor's Office of Economic and Community Development.
One of the deals voted on Tuesday night was a $1.6 million incentive plan for IQT Inc., a technology based company that is moving its American headquarters to Nashville this fall.
"And that's everything from headquarters (jobs), executives to sort of technical service folks," Wiltshire explained.
Council also voted to approve on second reading tax abatements for two existing Nashville companies.
Standard Candy Company, the makers of Goo Goo Clusters, will most likely get five years of tax breaks. The company recently expanded its Nashville operations and added 400 employees.
Carlex, the company that now owns a decades old auto glass plant in West Nashville, plans to invest $80 million in its facilities here. That investment will keep 400 jobs in the city. The company could take advantage of up to six years of tax breaks.
There were no objections by council members to any of the incentive plans they voted on Tuesday night.
"The mayor's office has been very proactive in coming up with these ideas and I think the council really supports those," according to council member Megan Barry.
While the votes in council show the widespread support for the Mayor's economic recovery efforts, it is a strategy Barry will keep a close eye on as future incentive plans go before council.
"I think it's something we need to watch to make sure we don't erode our tax base in such a way that it negatively impacts our ability to provide services. But right now this is a good thing," Barry said.
Matt Wiltshire said there will be more of these incentive plans for council to vote on.
"We're getting more at bat, we're getting more opportunities all the time from companies that are interested in exploring Nashville, exploring the Nashville area broadly," Wiltshire said.
The director said is office is making an aggressive push to make sure Nashville is on the check list of companies looking for a new place to do business.
Meanwhile, Metro's $1.5 billion budget passed a third reading Tuesday night. The spending plan calls for $60 million more than last year.
It includes a one time, one and-a-half percent bonus for Metro employees, up to $1,500.
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