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City of Elk River, Minnesota <br />Preferred Powder Coating request for Tax Abatement <br />June 20, 2013 <br />Page 2 <br />There are several methods available to determine if a project would proceed "but for" the assistance. An analysis <br />comparing the rates of return with and without assistance is a common method used to analyze the "but for" test. <br />However, in some cases, a review of the project's sources and uses of funds and operating cash flow performance is <br />done to determine the project meets the "but for" test. If following the review, it is determined that the project has a <br />shortage of debt and /or equity based on the projected value of the project upon completion and net operating income <br />available to support debt service, it can be determined that the project would not proceed "but for" the assistance. It <br />is important to note that tax abatement does not statutorily require a "but for" analysis to determine if the project <br />would proceed without assistance, however it must be determined that the project is in the public interest and that the <br />benefits outweigh the costs, <br />The purpose of this memo is to outline our analysis of the project including review of the developer's request for <br />assistance, tax abatement revenue projections, and review of the developer's project proforma. <br />Following initial discussions with City staff, Springsted is providing several revenue scenarios that include abatement <br />projections for City and County participation for the maximum authorized term (20 years when one or two entities <br />participate). County participation of tax abatement based on these projections is subject to any policy discussions <br />and approval by the county board. Additional assumptions and terms of the proposed abatement project are outlined <br />further below. <br />Background <br />Preferred Powder Coating is a metal powder coating company that works with ferrous and non - ferrous substrates <br />including steel, aluminum, stainless, cast iron and zinc die castings. Some of the industries that require this type of <br />service include aeronautics, automotive, athletic equipment, medical equipment, die casting and <br />recreational /industrial sheet metal. The developer has proposed the construction of an approximately 100,000 square <br />foot manufacturing facility in the City of Elk River. The developer has also indicated that operations would be <br />relocated from the current Rogers facility to Elk River, and will create 8 -10 new jobs over the next two years. The <br />facility will require an approximately 10.36 acre site to construct a building to maximum efficiency specifications. The <br />property on which the developer intends to erect this building is in close proximity to a protected wetland and <br />currently has a 1 acre natural gas line (accompanied by an encroachment agreement) running through its center. <br />Construction is proposed to commence in August 2013, with the building ready for occupancy by November 2013. <br />Developer Request for Tax Abatement Assistance <br />The developer submitted a request for tax abatement assistance from the City of Elk River and Sherburne County to <br />finance extraordinary site development and acquisition costs associated with building on the selected parcel. The <br />total sources and uses of funds for the project is approximately $6,192,695. The total requested amount of <br />assistance is approximately 12 years and $1,153,878 for land acquisition, wetland delineation and other site <br />improvements necessary to meet TEP requirements. We have assumed (based upon the sources and uses provided <br />in the application) the developer will fund approximately 82% of the project costs through a combination of private <br />financing, equity and EDA loans and grants. The financing gap of $1,153,878 equates to approximately 18% of the <br />