LECO Corporation is set to move ahead on an expansion in St. Joseph. The city commission gave the approval for an Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption Certificate on Monday, providing the company with a 50% property tax break for the next dozen years on the $7.2 million in improvements, with construction starting next Monday. Cornerstone Alliance business development manager Cathy Tilley explained.
“What they’re doing here is expanding their headquarters,” said Tilley. “They’re adding a 10,000 square foot addition to the second floor.”
The expansion will retain 56 jobs and will make room to add another 15 workers. The move follows the approval two weeks ago of an Industrial Development District for the property at 3001 Lakeview. Tilley added LECO has made $26 million in investments into its properties in St. Joseph in the past three years.
