Dallas City Council considers tax break for new Dean Foods plant | wfaa.com | ... Page 1 of 2

Dallas City Council considers tax break for new Dean Foods plant

by BRAD WATSON

WFAA

Posted on March 3, 2011 at 9:16 PM

Updated Friday, Mar 4 at 11:21 AM

DALLAS - Dean Foods, the nation's largest dairy producer, announced Thursday it’s opening a new organic and natural dairy foods plant in southwest Dallas.

"It's a perfect fit for our distribution center with the access to the freeways," said Pete Schenkel, with Dean Foods.

The Dallas-based dairy giant is renovating and adding on to a vacant plant off Loop 12 in southwest Oak Cliff, which is where it will make a fast growing line of products to distribute in Texas and up to 10 other states.

Dean's White Wave line of soy , milk and International Delight coffee creamers grew about 10 percent in total revenue last year.

With existing plants near each coast, the company needed a plant in the nation's midsection. It will add about 100 new jobs with a payroll of $6 million.

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The city is offering a tax break on the deal. The city council will have to decide if it’s worth it in a tough budget year.

The property tax break on new equipment is worth $2 million over 10 years to Dean, according to the city. But, with higher property taxes on the remodeled and expanded plant property and payroll impact, the city forecasts a net gain of $4 million.

Council member Dave Neumann said the tax break would be a good deal.

“The investment in this plant and property is another statement about in the heart of Oak Cliff there are dollars to be invested and are being invested by the private sector," he said.

The city council starts reviewing the tax break next week. The plant will open in a year.

White Wave products will carry a new name where they're made, Dallas, Texas.

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