The Franklin County Commission has transferred ownership of the Moon property to the Industrial Development Board to facilitate its sale to a potential aluminium extrusion company. The move aims to attract a $135 million investment and create up to 275 jobs.
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On May 19, the commission unanimously approved a resolution in a 14-0 vote, authorising the Industrial Development Board to negotiate the sale. If the deal is finalised, the proceeds will be returned to the county government's budget. Commissioners Lydia Curtis Johnson and David Eldridge were not present at the meeting.
The resolution also grants the Industrial Development Board the flexibility to lease the Moon property instead of selling it, with the option to establish a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement. This would offer the prospective aluminium extrusion company a 10-year tax break as an incentive to set up operations in Franklin County.
Pam Kreidenweis, the industrial development director, did not disclose the name of the company but referred to it by its code name, "Project Kualo." She noted that if the company proceeds with the purchase, it would acquire all 136 acres of the Moon property at $10,000 per acre, amounting to a total of $1.36 million. Kreidenweis emphasised that securing this development project would provide a significant boost to Franklin County's economy.
The total cost of infrastructure upgrades needed to support the development of the Moon property is estimated at $10.675 million. Of that, Winchester has committed up to $6.36 million for sewer improvements to handle the increased capacity required once the industrial site is operational.
Franklin County is covering its $4.315 million share using funds from the $8.2 million it received through the American Rescue Plan. Winchester also received $2.407 million from the same federal program, which is helping fund part of the city's contribution. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, also known as the COVID-19 Stimulus Package, is a $1.9 trillion economic relief bill passed by Congress to accelerate the nation's recovery from the pandemic and the resulting recession.
On August 29, 2024, the Winchester City Council unanimously approved a $5.38 million combined bid from LTS Construction as part of its commitment to the project. This action aligns with the Franklin County Commission's unanimous decision in March 2022 to allocate its $4.315 million share.
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