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South Ben4 Redevelopment Commission <br />Regular M eting - November 7, 1980 <br />6. NEW WSINESS <br />b. M$. Boynton continues... <br />the area which would have taken <br />probably 30 jobs with it. This <br />way it will preserve the jobs and <br />it will also create at least S more. <br />Me property there, prior to Claeys <br />purchasing it in June, had a couple <br />of tattered houses on the site. I <br />don't think that there is any question <br />that this qualifies and that needs the <br />assistance of tax abatement to make <br />t e project completed. Do you have <br />ything further that you want to add, <br />J rrv? <br />Mr. J. Claeys: As a small manufacturer <br />in South Bend, even though we did go <br />ahead and start the project, we had ample <br />opportunity to leave the area. Just as <br />an example, the City of Plymouth invited. <br />us down there, as you well know, and they <br />are taking a lot of small industries out of <br />our area. We could have gone down there <br />d they would have furnished us a plant <br />for 10 years with absolutely no taxes at <br />all. Here you have the opportunity to keep <br />a small plant like ours in the City of South <br />B nd and we went ahead and decided to go a- <br />h ad and build in South Bend because we felt <br />this is where we really wanted to be. We had <br />offers from Texas and Tennessee and Arkansas, <br />d all kinds of places. Many people think <br />that we sell most of our candy in the City <br />of South Bend, but the City of South Bend <br />can only possibly take 10 of our candy, 99% <br />of our candy goes to other states in the <br />eastern half of the United States, and we <br />could have been just as well located in <br />Tennessee or Kentucky. We had many, many <br />good offers, but we went ahead in South Bend, <br />bought the property next to us when it was <br />available, thinking that maybe in the long <br />t rm the City might appreciate it and help <br />us out on the tax situation. We happen to <br />bE, the only company in that particular area <br />that is paying any taxes at all. All the way <br />to Western Avenue you don't get a dime out <br />off the property. All the way to Chapin Street <br />you don't get a dime out of the property. We <br />a e the only people in the area that are paying <br />11 <br />