Acculevel to build hub in Abby
A new business is coming to Abbotsford, one that promises to bring 50 high-paying jobs at a proposed facility just off STH 13 in the city’s western industrial park.
Acculevel, an Indiana-based company that specializes in repairing and waterproofing building foundations, basements and crawl spaces, has chosen Abbotsford as one of its new regional headquarters, according to information provided to elected officials.
Both the planning commission and the city council signed off on a developer’s agreement last week that authorizes the city to sell a four-acre plot for $1 to Huffby Enterprises, the developer in charge of the project. In exchange, Huffby promises to build a $750,000 facility by the end of 2027.
Because the new Acculevel building will be located inside a tax-incremental financing (TIF) district, all of the property taxes collected on the development will go toward paying for water, sewer and electrical extensions to the property. City administrator Josh Soyk said the $750,000 building will generate an estimated $18,000 per year in taxes, for a total of $180,000 of revenue by the time the TIF district closes.
Acculevel said its new facility will represent a total investment of between $2 million and $5 million when equipment, personal property and job training is factored in. The 50 jobs planned at the regional headquarters will pay an average of $100,000 to $110,000 per year and be added over three years, the company says.
The company offers what it calls a rigorous training program for new employees, with a minimum of 90 days spent on “all facets of foundation repair, from technical procedures to customer service protocols.” Acculevel says it plans to spend $20,000 per person on the initial training.
Soyk told members of the planning commission that the city has been working with Acculevel since last summer, providing the company with a temporary warehouse to operate out of before building their new regional hub.
“They called me after seeing we had land for sale on our website,” he said.
Spec home to be built
In other development news, city officials signed off on an agreement with Solutions For Affordable Homes, which is planning to build a new spec home next spring on what is now vacant land in the Schilling Subdivision on the north end of the city.
“They’d start with just one spec home on one lot, and if that sells, they’d continue building on our remaining lots,” Soyk said. “They want to keep the house for sale under $300,000 – probably $270,000 to $290,000.”
The city, which owns a total of 11 lots in the subdivision, has been trying to get a developer to build new homes on the land in between the Northside Apartments and the Sportsmen’s Addition for several years now. A previous developer had purchased all of the lots, but after the development failed to get off the ground, the land was transferred back to the city.
The initial lot to be developed is located at 316 Porcupine Ln., and will be sold for $1 as part of the city’s standard development incentive for TIF district developments. Construction of the house must be completed by Dec. 31, 2026, and it must have a fair market value of at least $150,000, with the city’s TIF district collecting 100 percent of the property taxes.
Commissioner Jenny Jakel wondered what would happen if a separate party wanted to buy one of the other lots and build a home. Soyk said the agreement with Solutions For Affordable Homes gives the company the right of first refusal, so if they decline to purchase the lot, it could be sold to another party. According to a flyer from Solutions For Affordable Homes, the company offers a three-bedroom, two-bathroom manufactured home with an attached two-car garage and porch. Soyk said this is one of many options of what could be built, noting that Solutions works with Cavco Dorchester (formerly Mid-Country Homes) and other affordable home manufacturers.
Soyk said Sheila Nyberg, director of the Clark County Economic Development Corporation, connected him with Solutions For Affordable Homes, which is doing similar projects in Loyal, Owen and throughout the county.
“If they end up not building, we get the lot back, and according to the developer’s agreement, they have to pay us $5,000 to cover all of our closing costs,” he said. “They want to start next spring. I think it happens pretty quick once it gets going.”
