Country Bob's in Centralia is preparing to construct a new facility. Centralia Economic Development Director Jeannie Gustafson says the new facility will be located on a five acre site three and a half miles south of Centralia on U.S. 51 immediately south of Jeff Road. The supported redevelopment of the factory from its current location at Second and Lincoln Street will retain 14 jobs and create two new jobs within two years of the project being completed. The Centralia City Council Tuesday night will be asked to apply for a USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant to help the city make infrastructure improvements to the site. The city is requesting $74,864 funding to be used by the city to construct a new water line along with extending an eight inch sanitary sewer line to the city's Principal Meridian Business Park to support the redevelopment. The council will be asked to release an additional $7,000 payment to Don Karchmer Enterprises under a development agreement for Tax Increment Finance District Five on the northwest side of the city near McCord and Aaron Parkway. Karchmer provided $21,000 to the city in 2006 to help pay for the cost of a consultant to create the TIF District. Karchmer received another $7,000 payment in 2010 and is still owed an additional $7,000. The council will also be asked to make a $49,829 distribution to Heritage Woods of Centralia from TIF District number six. The payment represents 60-percent of the amount of property taxes paid by Heritage Woods on their 2010 Marion County property tax bill. The Centralia City Council will meet at seven Tuesday night. The meeting has been moved back a day because of the Columbus Day Holiday. - http://goo.gl/Irvtd
