James Brio, a local resident and Operations manager of the local Keebler/Kellogg plant, will provide a perspective on industry and education at the Kiwanis meeting on Tuesday 2/10. Whether or not Kellogg remains in Mariemont is open to discussion, as we suggest that you read the following article that was in the Business Courier.
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News on Keebler/Kellogg in the Business Courier: April 25th
Summary: Tax breaks woo Keebler in NKY
Avure Technologies Inc. and the Keebler Company each submitted project proposals for tax incentives to the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority and were approved on Thursday. Keebler Co. was approved to receive $2 million in tax incentives from KEDFA to purchase new equipment and add manufacturing lines at its Florence facility. The snack food manufacturer, which is owned by Kellogg, plans to invest about $19.2 million in the project as part of its corporate four-year global growth and efficiency program. It is expected to add 75 jobs in the next 10 years. For full text click go to http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/04/25/tax-breaks-woo-keebler-avure-to-grow-in-nky.html
In the Mayor’s April Bulletin 2014, the Mayor says that “despite absurd rumors to the contrary, the Kellogg Snack Division in Mariemont is still going strong. When plant manager and village resident James Biro took over operations at the plant, there were approximately 450 employees at the Mariemont location. Mr. Biro raised that number to 560 workers. The company is laying off about 50 employees, but that leaves more than 500 working at the plant, which is more than were there when Mr. Biro took over the operation of the plant. Kellogg’s has a contract with their union employees that run through 2017, so the rumors of total shutdown of the plant at the end of this year are incorrect.
The Business Courier article hinted that Kellogg plans to consolidate its local operations into the Florence facility. If this were to occur, the loss in payroll tax revenues for the Village of Mariemont would be considerable. ($600,000 or about 18% of Mariemont’s budget)