Sycamore makes pitch to company
By DENNIS HINES
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Chronicle News Group
The city of Sycamore has become one of several local taxing bodies to offer a property tax abatement program to a robotics company that could locate to the area.
Members of the Sycamore City Council adopted an ordinance during their Monday night meeting to propose a three-year property tax abatement to Smart Motion Robotics Inc. in Gilberts. The ordinance was approved by a unanimous vote.
Fourth Ward Alderman Terry Kessler said she is in favor of offering the property tax abatement to help attract the company to Sycamore.
"For us to do our part to not only better our community and better the city of Sycamore, but to offer help to them in order to bring them on board, I couldn't be more pleased than to have another industry be a part of our community," Kessler said. "I'm sure they would be good partners with us and good partners with our community."
The agreement includes a 90 percent property tax abatement the first full year of assessment, 75 percent the second year and 50 percent the third year. The city also has agreed to offer the company a one-time $22,000 relocation grant, which would be awarded the first full year of assessment. Money from the grant would come from the city's sales tax distributive fund.
First Ward Alderman Alan Bauer said he feels the abatement program and the $22,000 grant should help Sycamore compete with other communities that are hoping to attract Smart Motion Robotics.
"Opportunities, with the business climate that we're in, don't necessarily come along as quickly as we would like, so when they're out there, you got to grab them, so I think the $22,000 (grant) is some pretty quick thinking," Bauer said.
Representatives from Smart Motion Robotics have proposed to move the company's operations to the Sycamore Prairie Business Park, located near Peace Road and Bethany Road. Company officials plan to construct or purchase a 25,000 to 28,000 square-foot facility for their operations, with a possibility to expand to 40,000 square feet in the future. Other proposed locations include industrial sites in Rochelle and Dixon.
City Manager Bill Nicklas said company officials seem to be impressed with the Sycamore Prairie Business Park.
"They really like our Sycamore Prairie Business Park," Nicklas said. "With the quality of the buildings, the quality and diversity of the employers out there, they really think it suits their particular, unique type of product."
Smart Motion Robotics currently employees about 18 full-time workers. Company officials plan to expand their workforce to about 30 full-time employees within the next three years. Employees earn between $40,000 to $75,000 a year.
The company manufactures robotic machines that are used to pack eggs, feed bags, pharmaceutical products and candy products.
"They have really developed some niches that are serving them very well right now, not just in this country but world wide," Nicklas said.
Other local taxing bodies that have approved an abatement program for Smart Motion Robotics include the DeKalb County Board, Sycamore School Board, Sycamore Park Board, Kishwaukee College Board and Sycamore Public Library Board. Members of the Cortland Township Board are set to vote on an abatement proposal next week.
