Non-binding action by the Starke County Council this week could soon fill up a vacant commercial building. Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charlie Weaver says a company is looking to purchase the vacant Stelrema building on U.S. 35 south of U.S. 30.
They are in the due diligence process now, so Weaver was unable to disclose any information about the prospective tenant. He did ask the council to sign a noncommittal letter agreeing to support a tax phase-in for both real and personal property. Local support for such tax credits is necessary before the state will consider any incentives. The building itself is nearly 114,000 square feet with an optional 24 acres of adjacent farmland suitable for future expansion.
Weaver told the council the company is also looking at a site in Gary if Starke County cannot accommodate them. Council members agreed a company with good paying jobs would be an asset to the county.
Weaver says they will file the necessary paperwork for the county’s consideration of tax breaks but did not offer a timeline for when that would be done.
The building has sat empty since 2012. That’s when Stelrema’s parent company Gettig Technologies filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy protections. It’s Starke County’s last available vacant commercial space, according to Weaver. He told the council he would like to begin construction of a shell building soon in hopes of attracting more industry to the area.
