Warren County Commissioners unanimously approved a proposal for a grant agreement at a Monday morning meeting. The grant agreement, between Coca-Cola, the city of Truesdale and Warren County, stipulates the facility will be taken off the tax rolls for a 10-year period, beginning in 2009. In lieu of tax payments, Coca-Cola officials will make a yearly grant payment to both Truesdale and Warren County. The amount will start at 10 percent in the first year (2009) and will increase by 10 percent each year through the life of the agreement. "The approval of this grant agreement was pretty much a formality," related Warren County Presiding Commissioner Arden Engelage. "But we are excited about it because it reflects the company's commitment to continued growth and expansion for a Warren County business." Added Southern District Commissioner Randy Lewis, "Coca-Cola has an ideal location here. They are in the heartland and have great access to a major interstate highway." After 2018, Coca-Cola will be restored to the tax rolls and begin paying its full share of taxes again. The expansion project, expected to begin in the spring of 2009, will include both additional equipment and approximately a 33,000-square-foot new building which will be constructed behind the company's present facility on Veterans Memorial Parkway. Coca-Cola officials said the building addition will be the home of a new "hot fill" product line which includes a sports drink, Power Ade, and Glaceau Vitamin Water. The expansion project marks the fourth in a series of upgrades at the plant since 2001. Other upgrades projects took place in 2002 and 2005. The first project in 2001 was undertaken by officials in an effort to keep the plant open, according to Shannon Creighton, an attorney with Gilmore & Bell. "It was an investment by the company to keep the plant alive at that time," she said. Engelage, who was serving as the southern district commissioner at the time, said a tax abatement agreed to by the county in 2001 would start to result in added tax revenue for the county in two more years. "We're (Warren County) almost ready to see the benefit of that deal," he observed. Engelage said Coca-Cola officials had considered closing the facility prior to that 2001 deal with the county. "We felt it was a move which would benefit the county to keep the Coke plant operational," he said. "Now here we are seven years later and the plant is doing very well," he added. "They are committed to this county, they are the only one of their kind (producing this product line) and they want to continue to grow." Truesdale city officials had already approved the grant request from Coca-Cola at a July 9 meeting. The city will issue the $50 million in bonds. The bonds will be retired through payments from the company. "We think it's a win-win situation for everyone," said Truesdale Mayor Ray Gibson. Coca-Cola officials considered at least two other sites among their 22-plant network for the expansion project, according to Truesdale officials. "But they told us we were their first choice," said Truesdale City Clerk Mary Lou Rainwater. Truesdale officials estimated the amount of revenue collected over the life of the 10-year agreement will amount to more than $2.5 million. "This agreement will (eventually) bring a lot of tax dollars into Warren County," said Northern District Commissioner Jim Logan, who made the motion to proceed with the grant agreement at Monday's meeting. Coca-Cola officials said they were unsure of the exact number of new jobs the expansion project would generate. Company officials said the current facility employs roughly 150 people, making it one of the largest employers in Warren County. Company officials have also hinted they may consider building a new warehouse distribution facility somewhere in Warren County near the current plant in the future.