A Texas fertilizer company announced last week that it has halted its plans to build an ammonia plant in Jefferson Parish, reports Louisiana Illuminator. The decision came one day before local officials were going to vote on the company’s request for a multi-million dollar tax break that would have helped subsidize the project.
APF River Partners, the local entity for the Texas-based American Plant Food Co., proposed the Cornerstone Chemical facility in Waggaman to manufacture ammonia fertilizers for industrial-scale farms.
APF Chief Operating Officer Jerry Bilicek attributed the decision to pause the project to “several global economic and political factors” and said the project could be revived at a future date.
Early on Tuesday, APF notified state and local officials it was withdrawing its application for a $3.6 million annual property tax break under the state’s Industrial Tax Exemption Program (ITEP). Last year, APF initially said it would create more than 100 full-time jobs at the new plant with an average salary of $120,000. It would have totaled a hefty $12 million annual payroll.
Earlier this year, APF began changing the number of promised jobs and did so at least three times. In each case, the number was significantly lower than the initial 100 positions, and projected salaries fell by nearly half, according to records filed with state regulators. Read more.
