City of Niles grants tax abatements

Published 11:17 pm Tuesday, April 10, 2012

The Niles City Council has granted tax abatements for two businesses investing in machinery.

The council Monday unanimously approved amending an industrial facility tax exemption certificate for Delta Industrial Valves Inc. The amount was increased from $551,500 to $1.1 million.

The company has 52 employees and plans to add 10 new jobs within the next few years.

The council also granted a tax abatement to National-Standard Co., which plans to invest in $1.6 million of new equipment.

The council voted 6 to 1 for the tax exemption certificate with Dan VandenHeede casting the lone “no” vote.

VandenHeede said since National-Standard hasn’t fixed its abandoned Wayne Street building, the council shouldn’t encourage the company to reinvest in equipment in its active building on Lake Street.

Shelley Klug, of the Southwestern Michigan Economic Growth Alliance, said she was happy to see the tax abatements.

“It’s always good news to say a company is investing in the area,” Klug said.