Tippecanoe Beverage Property Preliminarily Declared Economic Revitalization Area

Winamac Town Hall
Winamac Town Hall
The Winamac Town Council recently took the first step toward pumping some new life into the Tippecanoe Beverage property. In late January, the council approved a preliminary resolution designating the facility as an Economic Revitalization Area, which, according to Town Manager Jim Conner, is a necessary first step in order to grant tax abatements.

“The main purpose of the meeting Monday night was to declare the area an Economic Revitalization Area, and that’s the necessary first step that local agency has to take to be able to grant a tax abatement. The actual granting of the tax abatement will be discussed at the Feb. 10 town council meeting,” said Conner.

Conner said the council heard further information from Derek Dilts of Antares Trailers, a company considering the site, as well as an out-of-county location and the possibility of investing in another state.

Nathan Origer, executive director of the Pulaski County Community Development Commission, said the ability of the town and county to provide a tax abatement could make or break a business deal.

“It shows a partnership. Even if the tax abatement value doesn’t end up being a whole lot of money, it shows a partnership, shows that the community is willing to work with the company. In some cases, it really does make the difference. If we’re competing with another county, let alone another state, whether its a tax abatement and/or some other sort of incentive, that could make it or break it,” said Origer.

The council will conduct a public hearing on Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. ET to decide whether to approve or deny tax abatement requests from Antares and NorTip, which would be leasing the site to Antares.