Move to add 90 jobs
Photo
Map of future home of Liquipur
In a summer marked by horrible economic news for Janesville, a new manufacturer is coming to town with plans for a $20 million investment and 90 family-supporting jobs.
LiquiPur Holdings plans to pull out of a Chicago suburb and begin bottling operations Jan. 1 in 62,500 square feet of space in the 250,000-square-foot building owned by Helgesen Holdings on Venture Drive on the city's south side.
LiquiPur, owned by Fontana businessman Bernhard Kaufmann, also plans to break ground for a 105,000-square-foot manufacturing facility across Venture Drive to the north.
LiquiPur will employ 40 people in a hot-fill beverage production facility in the existing Helgesen building. An additional 50 will work in a state-of-the-art aseptic food and beverage operation to be housed in the planned new building.
LiquiPur specializes in liquid beverages that are nutritional, organic and based on leading-edge technology for recipes and packaging that is environmentally sensitive.
The company plans to make products for domestic and international companies. It said it will use new technology in pouch production that will reduce plastic bottle packaging and help the environment.
LiquiPur also plans to use aseptic technology to make milk-based products, fruit juices, sauces and gravies. Aseptic processing is used to sterilize and package a product in a way that maintains sterility and increases shelf life.
"We can't focus on what's closing," City Manager Steve Sheiffer said in reference to the announced closing of the General Motors assembly plant, the plants of its local suppliers and the move of Gilman Engineering from Janesville to Michigan.
"We have to focus on what's opening in Janesville," he said. "There will be economic growth and new jobs. There are other things in the works, and this is just the start."
LiquiPur has indicated that most of its 90 jobs in Janesville will be filled locally. The jobs will pay $11 to $13 an hour plus benefits, said Doug Venable, city economic development manager.
The company plans an equipment investment of $7.5 million for the space it will lease from Helgesen.
A newly formed real estate development company named SYNC will build the second facility on a 10.4-acre site north of the Helgesen property. The company plans to spend $4 million to construct the building and $9 million to equip it.
Because the LiquiPur project is in one of the city's tax increment finance districts, the city council is expected to approve two resolutions associated with the project Monday.
-- The first resolution authorizes a $200,000, 10-year loan to help LiquiPur offset building improvements and employee training. The loan, with an interest rate of 4 percent, will be forgiven for each year that LiquiPur maintains an employee base of 90.
-- The second resolution allows for the sale of the 10.4-acre parcel to SYNC for $1. Between 2010 and 2018, SYNC guarantees property tax payments of $662,500, which would allow the city to recover its cost in acquiring the site.
Venable said the company has been looking at Janesville since April or May. The company started its search in the Midwest and ultimately settled on Janesville because of its proximity to dairy farms, fruit orchards and excellent water supplies.
Venable said the city's water quality will complement artesian water used in LiquiPur's bottling process.
"This is a huge announcement, especially with all of the bad news we've had," city council member Bill Truman said. "These will be family-friendly jobs, and we're ecstatic that they'll be hiring for most of the positions locally."
Aug 17, 2008 at 12:24 p.m.
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Yes, they say they have benefits, but the question is how much in benefits???? Maybe they only pay a percentage for medical insurance which means there could be a nice chunk of that $11.00-$13.00 an hour taken out. Which would mean you are getting paid less to support a family and make ends meet.
Aug 8, 2008 at 11:59 p.m.
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O no shots at the GM workers this time it is every one for them self on this one good luck.
Aug 8, 2008 at 11:57 p.m.
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good luck getting in hope the janesville workforce can make this company a good place to work.
Aug 8, 2008 at 8:05 p.m.
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I lost my job yesterday. That means I probably have a different perspective on things than the negative folks commenting here. I think this is fantastic news for Janesville and pray there is more to come. I'm an older worker now (just turned 50) but am in the health care field and, because of the latter, hope to secure a new position soon. Still, for folks who seek production jobs, I am thrilled with this news. I have wondered what could be landed to fill that huge new building.
Aug 8, 2008 at 6:57 p.m.
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These are obviously not GM-level manufacturing jobs, but they are solid jobs and we should not be turning up our nose at them. There is not one single soul out there with an obligation to come to Janesville and replace those GM Assembly jobs on a one-to-one basis.
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More importantly, I think this proves what I keep saying, which is that Janesville has good fundamentals which will remain attractive to business. It will hurt to lose GM and the associated jobs but we are already seeing what GM buy-outs mean in terms of investment in new businesses, such as J&R liquors on W. Court.
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When I heard this announcement I just knew that it was going to be the Helgesen property somehow. I think this also proves the viability of the "industrial mall" approach, which is one way that the GM campus could be handled after it's decommissioned.
Aug 8, 2008 at 6:23 p.m.
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with the cost of food going up. isnt organic foods more expensive to buy. why would anyone want to spend more on organic food when they can barely buy the food we eat today. and they said they wouldnt use plastic because of landfill waste, well what about the pouch you will throw away is that safe for the environment..... I hope this factory works out.
Aug 8, 2008 at 3:35 p.m.
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Any jobs will help, and I love the environmental focus of the company. But how can they call those wages "family supporting jobs" when any family of more than 3 ($11/hr) or 4 ($13/hr) would be eligible for free school lunch based on those wages? Maybe if BOTH parents work there, they could support a family of 4 or more. Glad the jobs are coming, but to me a "family supporting job" would raise a family of 4 above free lunch eligibility.
Aug 8, 2008 at 3:03 p.m.
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I would have to say that given some people working at McDonalds, BurgerKing, etc. would be thrilled at working for those wages. Especially single Moms who can't make ends meet and are trying. Good luck to LiquiPur.
Aug 8, 2008 at 2:47 p.m.
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Again, great news, but they are probably warehouse/sweat jobs, not manufacturing as the title has implied... and it should be stated as such by the newspaper... $11 per hour start....good news but let's keep it in perspective.
Aug 8, 2008 at 2:27 p.m.
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Based on an average 2,080 hour work year, a salary of $22,880 to $27,040 ($11-$13/hour) does seem kind of skimpy, but it's a starting point and a foot in the door to solid employment. Nobody starts at the top of the pay scale, no matter how hard they whine or what they were making at their last job. Work hard for raises and don't forget that with that salary comes healthcare benefits too. Sure beats working three part-time jobs with no bennies.
Aug 8, 2008 at 1:39 p.m.
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I think more and more companys will start to come to Janesville because they know the local UAW is dead.........Thanks god for that...
Aug 8, 2008 at 1:36 p.m.
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waterfrontdean; Must you always be so negative? This is good for the community, and I personally know some people that could use a job making $11 - $13 an hour. Sounds to me like you might be a spoiled used to be GM worker that thinks you cannot live on anything less that GM wages. Time to wake up and realize that this company is coming here and will help revitalize Janesville for the future of the city. Change is a good thing. Embrace it. I for one am happy that a "Green" company is moving in!!
Aug 8, 2008 at 1:02 p.m.
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to waterfrontdean. may i ask where u work? we have large family,and less then that to live on.like many people here in town have. my kids have never starved. always had nice clothes on their backs.you sound very spoiled.alot of folks here will welcome them with open arms.if you have soo much money ,go feed the starving babies and buy them decent clothes for the start of school. what a great idea aint it? !!!
Aug 8, 2008 at 12:23 p.m.
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It's about time Janesville was able to lure someone to town. Seems like Beloit has done much better job in enticing companies to build and operate there than Janesville has. Maybe Janesville's city leaders can learn a thing or two from Beloit.
Aug 8, 2008 at 11:24 a.m.
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this place sounds good - where do we apply - i want to be part of it
Aug 8, 2008 at 10:16 a.m.
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Welcome to Janesville, LiquiPur!
Aug 8, 2008 at 10:12 a.m.
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Good god a great light at the end of the tunnel. Why does not the city help small businesses as they are with this new company?? $1 land, super low interest rate and tax incentives Hmmmmm Now, lets hope the union doesn't go in there and run themselves out of a job. Good for Helgeson. Maybe the city should have them for their City Manager and promoter instead of the "usual has beens". Hell-o Govenor!!!!
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