Harbor Freight Seeks Tax Breaks For Joliet CenterPoint Site

JOLIET, IL — The city of Joliet's Economic Development Office is recommending a five-year property tax abatement for Harbor Freight Tools Texas on a 140-acre parcel at the CenterPoint Intermodal Center. The proposed construction would become the largest building in Will County at more than 1.6 million square feet. The project is on the agenda for Tuesday's city of Joliet economic development council.

City economic development special Derek Conley has urged his city's elected officials to approve the proposed agreement. Tuesday's meeting begins at 4 p.m. at City Hall.

"No zoning changes are required for this project since the proposed use falls within the existing CenterPoint entitlements," Conley wrote in a memo. "It should be noted that if this facility is constructed at the anticipated 1,638,000 square feet, it would be the largest building within Will County."

According to a city handout, Harbor Freight Tools plans to have 137 full-time workers in the first year of operation and gradually expand its work force. By its fourth year of operation, the distribution warehouse would have 274 full-time workers, a city document shows.

The average full-time equivalent salary upon start-up is listed as $40,867, with salary growth reaching $42,106 upon reaching full capacity, city documents reflect. The total payroll would be $5.6 million at start-up with growth to $11.5 million once it's at full capacity.

"The company provides health insurance, retirement benefits and tuition reimbursement programs for full-time employees," city records state.

The construction project is slated to cost $82 million. Machinery and equipment will be another $68 million to $71 million of investment, the city memo explains.