Northampton gives tax break to coax Coca Cola

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. - Northampton has offered Coca-Cola Co. a nearly $35,000 tax break to coax the soft drink giant to expand a plant adding 40 jobs and a new product.

The city council approved a $34,760 tax break on capital investment over 13 years that also allows the Atlanta-based company to be eligible for about $1.25 million in state tax credits.

Teri Anderson, Northampton's economic development director, said Coca-Cola is looking at two other lower-cost sites outside of Massachusetts.

If Coca-Cola chooses Northampton for its new product line of chilled juices, it would add a 13,000-square-foot building to its plant. The expansion calls for an investment of $25 million to $33 million for construction and new machinery and equipment, Anderson said.
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Information from: Daily Hampshire Gazette, http://www.gazettenet.com