A company that supplies plastic bottles to large retailers across the state is establishing operations in mid-Missouri.
Columbus, Ohio based Axium Plastics announced it had agreed to install a plant inside a 50,000 square-foot building it purchased from the Jefferson City Chamber of Commerce in May. The company is spending $26 million on the facility and building out an additional 75,000 square-feet.
The Chamber’s Miss Bonnot says Axium is also far outperforming its employment projections. “When they initially came to us, they said that they would be hiring 48 (employees) in year one, 60 in year two, 70 in year three,” said Bonnot. “They’re already at 80 employees with plans to hire 70 in the next several months. They’re way ahead of schedule.”
The Jefferson City Council approved a mechanism this week to give Axium a 75% real estate tax break for 16 years and an equal tax reduction on equipment. Bonnot says the company is finally fulfilling a vision the Chamber had for the building long after it was first constructed in 2008.
“It’s been a long-term investment for us, much longer than what we had anticipated,” Bonnot said. “In 2008, the economy tanked. Between 2007 and 2008, we had a lot of companies looking at it. One we probably would have landed if it wasn’t for the economy bottoming out.”
The company evaluated several communities including St. Louis, Kansas City and Chicago before selecting Jefferson City.
Axium’s expansion into the mid-Missouri town of 46,000 resident is a departure from its normal model. In addition to it’s Columbus, Ohio headquarters, the company operates facilities in the metro areas of Atlanta, Los Angeles and Toronto.
The company manufactures more than 200 different types of water bottles and will be supplying its products to retailers such as Victoria’s Secret and Bath and Body Works in the region.
Bonnot says Axium is set to serve businesses throughout Missouri and provide an economic shot in the arm for an important state community.
“The bottom line is (it’s a) new company coming to Jefferson City. They’ve already created 80 jobs. They’ll be hiring an additional 70. They’re investing $26, million into our community. It’s a very good company.”
Missouri state government is Jefferson City’s largest employer with more than 14,000 employees.