The world’s largest food company has its sights set on joining west Glendale’s booming manufacturing roster.
At next Tuesday evening’s meeting, the city council will consider Nestlé USA’s zoning application to build a 142-acre manufacturing facility with a $400 million investment that, according to one analysis, could create an economic impact of $2.1 billion in the city of Glendale over the next 10 years.
The site being considered is between Northern Avenue and Northern Parkway, a half mile east of Reems Road.
Phoenix-based economic consulting firm Applied Economics in a 10-year impact forecast estimates Nestlé could create 200 jobs by the fourth year of operations at an average wage of $60,775.
“The location of this company in Glendale would not only create new high-wage jobs in the community, but also support a significant amount of additional economic activity at related local supplier and consumer businesses, as well as generating new tax revenues,” Applied Economics wrote in its January analysis.
The estimated economic impacts to the local construction industry are equally eye-popping.
Applied Economics reports about 1,900 direct construction jobs and 700 additional indirect jobs could be created in Glendale over a four-year period through the $226 million in estimated new construction activity. This would result, the report noted, in a one-time economic impact of $342.7 million to the city. An estimated total of $6 million in one-time city construction sales taxes and permit and planning fees could also be generated during the construction phase.
The city Tuesday night will vote whether or not to adopt a resolution supporting the Nestlé application for foreign trade zone status on the site. An FTZ is an area within the U.S. where foreign and domestic merchandise is considered to be outside the country, or at least, outside the U.S. Customs territory. Furthermore, the FTZ offers qualifying companies federal tariff and tax relief, and in Arizona it can provide for a property tax reduction.
U.S. foreign trade zones are considered outside of U.S. commerce for customs purposes.
Nestlé is the largest food company in the world, measured by revenue and other metrics. It manufactures goods such as baby food, medical food, bottled water, breakfast cereals, coffee and tea, confectionery, dairy products, ice cream, frozen food, pet foods and snacks.
The multinational food and drink processing conglomerate’s corporation has its headquarters in Switzerland.
The FTZ site would provide for a 71% reduction in property taxes for Nestlé USA, the city’s economic development department notes. However, the economic impact of the $400 million capital investment in an FTZ, even with the property tax reduction, would still be substantial considering the investment will include a new 625,000-square-foot manufacturing facility and employ more than 200 residents.
“The project could also generate revenue impacts, defined here as tax revenues to the city, including property, sales and utility franchise taxes from the company’s operations, as well as taxes generated by direct employees living in Glendale,” Applied Economics reports.
The western end of Glendale is no stranger to big corporate manufacturing interest. As recently as this past October, Walmart made plans in that area for a $186 million facility in a deal that Real Estate Daily News called the highest single-building industrial sale price in Arizona history.
“Glendale’s economic boom (our New Frontier) continues to lead the industrial development charge within the Valley,” Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers stated at the time.
Other corporate neighbors in the Loop 303 corridor include Boeing, Microsoft, White Claw, Red Bull, and Ball Corp., plus hundreds of new residential homes.
Steve Stockmar has been with the Independent Newsmedia team since 2017. An NAU alum and Peoria resident, Steve’s community journalism pursuits focus mostly on arts & culture, education, and profiles of neighbors making a difference. In his spare time Steve plays in a vintage baseball league using uniforms and rules from the 1860s, and also acts (badly) in community theater. In addition, he has an unhealthy obsession with baseball and the Chicago Cubs.
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