By Mary Drier (Contact / Staff Bio)
July 5, 2008 - 12:00 a.m. EST

GAGETOWN ‹ The way jobs are being lost in Michigan, some villages like Gagetown are doing whatever they can to keep jobs and businesses operational locally.

Council members have approved an Industrial Development District and an Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate for Vita Plus elevator.

“That decision allows the company a tax break of 50 percent on new development for 12 years,” said Tuscola County Economic Development Corporation Director Jim McLoskey. “Doing that didn’t create any new jobs, but helped the company retain 30 jobs and that plant.

“In this economy, keeping jobs is just as, if not more, important.”

Vita Plus Chief Financial Officer Mark Miley was at the hearing to explain the work that will be done. The plan is to install about $400,000 worth of equipment to be able to mix more animal feed, and to upgrade electrical power from 600 to 2,000 amps at a cost of about $130,000.

According to John Tilt, the general manager of Vita Plus elevator at 6506 Mill St., the upgrades will help the elevator remain competitive and operational.

“The tax abatement will just be on the new work with full taxes being paid on the rest of the facility as they have been,” said McLoskey. “It’s a win-win for everyone all the way around. The money the company saves on taxes helps pay for expansions and upgrades.”

The Tuscola County EDC helped Vita Plus with the paperwork, legal notices and an explanation of what was necessary to do for the company to receive a tax break.

Vita Plus Corporation is an employee-owned company with headquarters in Madison, WI.

The company has been serving producers of dairy, swine and beef livestock in the Upper Midwest for more than 50 years.

Mary Drier is a staff writer for the Tuscola County Advertiser. She can be reached at drier@tcadvertiser.com.