FORT WAYNE – A cereal maker is considering investing more than $36 million in a distribution and warehouse operation in Fort Wayne that would create 65 jobs.
General Mills could build a 1.5 million-square-foot plant at 12300 Bluffton Road, according to paperwork filed with Allen County planners. The salary range for employees is $29,000 to $55,000. However, the company also is considering at least one other site for the development.
Scott Harrold, senior economic development specialist in the Department of Planning Services, said the Allen County Council will have a special meeting Friday morning to consider an abatement request that would save General Mills about $3.2 million over 10 years. The meeting, at 8:30 a.m. in Room 200 at the City-County Building, is open to the public.
Officials at Minneapolis-based General Mills said little about the potential investment other than an email response.
“We are exploring the potential for growth opportunities, including growth in Fort Wayne. The County Council review is part of that process,” wrote Sheila Kley, a General Mills spokeswoman. “It is our standing practice to evaluate and consider multiple options for growth opportunities. … Sharing of that information is confidential which is normal practice during any site selection process.”
The company already has a 760,000-square-foot distribution center in southwestern Allen County on Bluffton and Pleasant Center roads that employs 78 workers. The majority of the new jobs would be production positions.
County officials did not know whether General Mills would consolidate operations at the new plant or keep its present site, where the food business moved a decade ago.
Either way, area boosters are happy with the attention being given to the region.
“They’re obviously happy being here and it’s cost-effective for them to stay,” said Andi Udris, president of the Fort Wayne-Allen County Economic Development Alliance.
“We’ve been having some major corporations expressing interest in Fort Wayne as of late. You have GM, BFGoodrich and now General Mills. It’s one thing when you’re a local company and you’re here, but it really says something when you have major corporations interested in you when they can go anywhere in the world.”
General Motors has filed paperwork to proceed with an $8 million addition, which means the automaker is seriously considering the Allen County operation for equipment upgrades up to $230 million.
The plant has nearly 4,000 workers and assembles Chevrolet Silverados and GMC Sierras in three shifts.
The renovations would preserve jobs, union leaders say.
An expansion announced last month at the BFGoodrich Tire manufacturing factory in Woodburn will result in 35 jobs, paying $13.50 to $29 an hour. BFGoodrich is investing $50 million at the plant.
As for luring General Mills, easy access to highway and rail systems is a plus for Fort Wayne, Udris said.
But he is unsure what other cites Fort Wayne is competing against to land the investment.
General Mills operates in more than 100 countries and its brands include Cheerios, Häagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury and Green Giant.
The company recorded $16 billion in sales in 2010.
