By Howard Packowitz

NORMAL – Governor Bruce Rauner joined local government and business leaders welcoming Brandt Industries to McLean County.

With property tax breaks from local taxing bodies in hand, the privately-owned Canadian firm announced Friday it has purchased the Kongskilde manufacturing plant between Normal and Hudson.

“Your local and state governments have demonstrated that they want to put skilled workers back to work, and we’re happy to play our role in doing that, ” said Brandt President Shaun Semple.

He said production of augers and belt-tube conveyors will start in the first quarter of next year, with at least 75 full-time workers. Semple said the company is investigating making other products at the plant to meet what he says are the unique needs of Midwestern farmers.

Rauner, gearing up for a reelection battle next year, said Brandt’s commitment is great for Illinois.

“This plant used to employ about a hundred people. Now, under the leadership of the Semple family, in the next few years this plant is going to employ 300 and maybe as many as 500 people in this plant. This is a major, major step forward,” said Rauner.

The governor revealed he talked months ago with Brandt executives about locating here even though some local elected leaders complained they weren’t told until early November that the deal required tax abatements.

Semple said the business environment for expansion into U.S. corn and soybean markets wasn’t right until now.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]