By Ann Craig-Cinnamon
The Fishers Town Council, at its Sept. 15 session, approved tax incentives for a couple of businesses planning a move or expansion in Fishers.
One of those is Bub’s Burgers, a restaurant with locations in Carmel, Zionsville and Bloomington. The council agreed to waive development impact fees amounting to $122,000. Bub’s is planning to build near the new intersection of Fishers Corner Blvd. and Maple Street The $1.25 million investment includes a new 5,000-square foot building and 125 employees.
“Our residents have expressed a desire for local, non-chain food options,” Town Manager Scott Fadness said. “Fishers is excited to be chosen as the next location for the entrepreneurial, Indiana-grown restaurant. Their family-friendly business model fits perfectly with the values of our Fishers residents.” The targeted grand opening is mid-2015. Bub’s is known for its “big ugly burger.”
The council also gave the OK to the establishment of an economic revitalization area for AI Innovations, which is a wholesale sign manufacturer planning growth at its facility on Exit Five Parkway. AI Innovations currently employs 105 employees at its Fishers facility, and plans to more than double its workforce by adding 133 new full-time jobs in the next five years and invest more than $6 million in new equipment. The new jobs will have an average hourly wage of $28.84 and includes designers, high-skilled production/manufacturing, sales and administrative staff.
“AI Innovations is very excited about our new home here in Fishers,” said Frank Green, president of AI Innovations. “The economic development agreement will assist AI in providing both additional employment and revenue dollars to the community – in addition to our own growth as a company.”
The economic development agreement includes a five-year personal property tax abatement. The estimated value of the abatement is $235,000 over five years.
The council also approved Fishers Fire and Emergency Services’ WeCare program, despite residents who spoke against the program. The in-home vaccination portion of the program was deleted from the ordinance.
