If you like fruit in your yogurt, ice cream or smoothies, fillings in your breakfast bars, and a little flavor in your morning coffee, you’ve probably had something from Greenwood’s newest business hopeful.
California Custom Fruits and Flavors, Inc. and Berry Good Holdings LLC plans to open a manufacturing facility by the end of the year in Greenwood, and the city’s redevelopment commission on Tuesday approved a 10-year $1.3 million tax break for both real and personal property.
The company will still owe about $1.5 million in property taxes during that time, according to its tax abatement application.
The company, which opened its doors in 1986, has one other facility at its headquarters in Irwindale, Calif. The Greenwood facility will allow the company to expand, said James Fragnoli, the company’s chief financial officer. At the Greenwood plant, workers would make processed fruit for yogurt, bakery fillings and other foods, according to city documents.
The new facility, which would be located in the Greenwood Park at 65 South industrial park on Graham Road, will be 65,000 square feet with the possibility of growing to 130,000 square feet, the application said.
“We have a very state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, and we plan to mimic that here in Greenwood,” Fragnoli told commissioners.
The company is in the process of purchasing 8.5 acres of land in the business park.
It is expected to bring 18 jobs by next year that pay, on average, $17.90 an hour and offers benefits, Fragnoli said. Company leaders expect to have 24 employees by 2023, he said.
Of those initial employees, the company plans to hire one manager, one factory lead, nine manufacturing positions, four material handlers, one sanitation worker, one quality control worker and one office worker.
The company says it will invest $9.25 million in real estate improvements, and about $3 million in equipment.
The plan is to buy locally-sourced products for the Midwest operation, Fragnoli said.
“We’re going to do everything we can to buy from local suppliers here. Our owner is very big on setting the groundwork in the community that we’re in,” he said.
The redevelopment commission approved the abatement unanimously. Now it’s up to the city council whether to approve the abatement. The company plans to start construction in May, according to city documents.
