LACIE SILVA
Editor
The Board of Mayor and Commissioners of South Pittsburg approved ‘Resolution 1043,’ authorizing the Marion County Industrial and Environmental Development board to amend the Lodge Manufacturing Pilot and Lease agreement in connection with the facility.
Jonathon Connell, Southeast Industrial Development Association (SEIDA) Program Director, spoke at the meeting on behalf of both parties. On their website SEIDA is described as “a regional economic development agency funded by the TVA and local power distributors to provide these valuable services at no cost.” These ‘services’ include assisting “businesses with locations, expansions, and help with the identification of financing opportunities, infrastructure development, and marketing and demographic research,” in a “coordinated approach.”
Lodge Manufacturing in collaboration with SEIDA, is expanding their location and facility. The $59 million expansion contract originally dated the duration of the performance period between January 2021 to December 2022.
According to Connell, the production is running late due to supply chain shortages and construction issues. As a result, they are requesting to extend their performance period to the end of the current calendar year. Additionally, they are requesting to allow for the full 10 year abatement of taxes.
It was confirmed by Marion County Attorney William L. Gouger Jr. that the County previously approved the request and that the city’s endorsement was needed to confirm the resolution.
A unanimous decision to approve was made for both parts of the request.
