Bobcat - More Big Business Incentives?

Two big companies in North Dakota made major announcements in the past week. First Imation...  More »

Two big companies in North Dakota made major announcements in the past week. First Imation says it will be closing its Wahpeton plant. Yesterday Ingersol Rand put Bobcat up for sale. Both of these announcements have made people question the idea of giving big businesses incentives to operate in North Dakota. Bismarck Mayor John Warford says even with Bobcats new building at the Nortern Plains Commerce Center the city of Bismarck has not invested any money into the company. He does say that all new businesses receive a five year property tax exemption. (John Warford/ Bismarck Mayor) the city of Bismarck has given Bobcat nothing. We have given zero dollars to Bobcat In fact Bobcat gives us money each year in the form of a lease approximately 100-thousand dollars. Mayor Warford says he has not had direct contact with Bobcat officials. However, he does not look at the sale of the business in a bad way. (John Warford/ Bismarck Mayor) I think if you look at it going forward we want to make sure that we do everything as a city and a community to make everybody aware that Bobcat is important for our community. Today, Senator Byron Dorgan met with a Ingersol Rand official Gerry Swimmer. Dorgan says Swimmer assured him there are no plans to move the jobs out of North Dakota or change the number of employees working at the plants. Swimmer went onto say that the plan is to either sell Bobcat or let it become its own enterprise.  « Less