Scotts Miracle-Gro Company will invest $8 million in a new manufacturing plant in Wright City that officials say will provide a significant economic boost for the area and create dozens of new jobs. Scotts, one of the world’s leading lawn and garden companies, has purchased a vacant commercial building at 15990 East Veterans Memorial Parkway. The approximate 160,000-square-foot building, located adjacent to Interstate 70 and near the South Stracks Church Road overpass, has been vacant since Kaplan Lumber Company closed in January. The new facility, scheduled to open in March 2011, will create 14 full-time jobs initially and then expand to 25. Missouri Department of Economic Development officials announced last Thursday, Dec. 9, the company had chosen Wright City as its new location for a production and distribution facility. City officials, who had been tight-lipped about the deal over the past few weeks, announced the company’s plan at the Dec. 9 board of aldermen meeting. “I would like to thank the board for all the help they have given and the other entities that have pitched in,” said Karen Girondo, Wright City economic development director. “I think it will be a real asset to the community. I am really happy that we could get this done.” The city and the state provided an incentive package to attract Scotts to the Wright City location. The city formed a 353 Redevelopment Corporation to facilitate the transaction. The incentive package includes some city tax abatements and an agreement to upgrade entrances to the facility and contruct a road to the east of the plant. Girondo said an estimated 140 trucks a day would use the Scotts facility during the peak season. The incentive package also includes $65,094 from the Missouri Quality Jobs program, which provides tax credits to companies that create a predetermined number of jobs and $40,000 in customized training funding, recruitment assistance and energy and sales tax exemptions. The new Wright City facility will house Miracle-Gro growing media and Scotts Nature Scapes brand processing and distribution. Company officials said the proximity to the company’s major clients and the incentive programs were key factors in choosing the Wright City facility. The Scotts Company LLC is the world’s largest marketer of branded consumer products for lawn and garden care, with products for professional horticulture as well. Founded in 1868, the company operates facilities primarily in North America, but has plants overseas in Europe and Asia. Scotts employs more than 8,000 workers worldwide. “We are very excited to be joining the Wright City community,” said Dave Swihart, Scotts senior vice president of global supply chain, in a press release. “The support we’ve received from Gov. Nixon and the state of Missouri, the Missouri Partnership, the leadership of Wright City and the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association was a major factor in our selection. Most importantly, we know we’ll have a great team of associates at our new facility.” Mayor David Heiliger expressed his thanks to Girondo, city attorney Josh Payton, of the Cunningham, Vogel and Rost law firm, and aldermen for their support in finalizing the deal with Scotts. “The choice of the Wright City location means good jobs for the entire Wright City and Warren County region and continues the resurgence and growth for the area,” Heiliger said. “We have been greatly impressed by Scotts’ open and forthright friendly approach and their desire to be a good neighbor to this region. We look forward to many happy years of success for Scotts, Wright City and our neighbors and see this as a sign of prosperity to come.” In June, it was disclosed at a board of aldermen meeting that Scotts was negotiating with Kaplan Development officials to purchase the property, one of three sites in the running at that time. To help make the Wright City location more appealing, aldermen unanimously approved a conditional use permit to allow raw and finished materials to be stored outside. The permit was needed since city code sets the maximum outside storage of materials at 40 percent. The 25-acre site has been graded to make the entire property usable for the company’s purposes, since company officials preferred a larger site. The permit approval was contingent on Scotts purchasing the property. “The decision by Scotts Miracle-Gro to invest just under $8 million and create 25 new jobs is excellent news for the economy of Wright City and Warren County,” Gov. Jay Nixon said in a press release. “From the start, my administration has been focused on creating jobs and moving our economy forward and I am pleased that we were able to provide economic tools to help make this project possible. This significant investment by a national brand like Scotts is clear evidence that Missouri’s economy is on the move.”