Cement Company Incentives Approved

By Catherine M. Welch

Wilmington, NC – New Hanover County Commissioners approved a tax incentive package Monday for cement company Titan America.

Commissioners voted 4-1 approving the incentives package, with Nancy Pritchett casting the opposing vote, saying she wanted the matter tabled for more time to learn about the cement company's plan.

In exchange for a maximum of $4.2 million in tax incentives,Titan America will pour $450 million into it's a plant and create 160 new jobs.

New Hanover County Chairman Bill Caster says he doesn't support incentives, but the deal was too good to pass up.

"And as long as incentives are available to states and counties and municipalities, and if everybody can use them, then everybody's gotta kinda play the game."

The Cape Fear Riverwatch also wanted the tabled matter to learn more about the project. Riverkeeper Doug Springer.

"Our biggest concern is that we truly don't know what's being proposed. We don't understand the scope of it. It's all been done behind closed doors."

Springer says he will push for more dialog and public information.

The county expects the permitting process to take years.

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