Hundreds of manufacturing jobs seen for McLean County in return for tax breaks

Posted on November 10, 2017

 

Brandt
The Brandt Group of Companies, based in Canada, is considering an unincorporated area just north of Normal for a manufacturing plant. The firm would hire 300 people in the first seven years to make attachments for John Deere tractors.  (Photo courtesy of the Brandt company website.)

By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – A Canadian firm is considering locating a manufacturing plant in an unincorporated area just north of Normal that could add hundreds of new jobs for McLean County.

However, the Brandt Group of Companies, based in Regina, Saskatchewan, is asking for tax breaks from local taxing bodies.

The Unit 5 School Board is scheduled to meet in special session Monday night to consider a property tax abatement from 2018 through the year 2027.

The McLean County Board and the Heartland Community College Board of Trustees are also expected to consider the tax reductions.

A source told WJBC News the company would make equipment here that can be attached to John Deere tractors.

The Brandt Group is said to be the world’s largest privately held John Deere construction and forestry equipment dealer.

The source said Brandt intends to hire 300 people by the seventh year, reaching 500 as the business expands.

The Brandt Group has almost 2,000 employees in the U.S. and Canada, serving agriculture, forestry, rail, mining, construction, and tube and pipe industries.

Brandt’s website said the firm designed and built one of the first grain augers available in Canada.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

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