ARLINGTON, Texas — This story was originally published by our content partners at the Dallas Business Journal. You can read the original version here.
A major manufacturer that wants to put its U.S. headquarters in Arlington, plus more than 600 new jobs, is a step closer to receiving incentives.
The Arlington Economic Development Corp. board unanimously recommended approval for Salcomp Manufacturing USA Corp. at its Oct. 15 meeting. The board had to vote again on the deal because prior incentives agreements didn't match a contract.
Salcomp Manufacturing is a subsidiary of Finland-based Salcomp PLC, which calls itself a leader in phone charger manufacturing. The EDC wants to provide $1.89 million in grants to support the company's expansion and local hiring.
Arlington City Council is expected to vote on whether to approve the agreement Oct. 22.
The potential expansion could bring 660 new jobs over the course of three to five years, according to a staff report. Of those positions, 156, or about 23% of the new hires, would make an average annual salary of $122,000.
Salcomp Manufacturing already has an existing building in Arlington at 2400 Centennial Dr. The company is a major contractor with Enphase Energy Inc. (Nasdaq: ENPH) for about 60% of the company's microinverters to support solar energy panel production. Salcomp started manufacturing the solar energy materials last August. Salcomp wants to add three additional production lines to its operations.
"The beauty with them is they've done quite well with their product lines, and they're now wanting to add some additional ones," Marty Wieder, executive director of the Arlington EDC, previously told Dallas Business Journal.
To receive the grants, Salcomp will have to meet certain requirements, including investing $3 million in construction improvements to the building by the end of 2025, and locate the majority of its administrative and management employees to the area by the end of June 2025. Salcomp will also have to maintain at least 500 jobs and create an additional 150 jobs with an average annual salary of $100,000 by the end of 2028. The company will be required to maintain at least 1,000 employees in 2030. Arlington could recapture the grants if the company breaches the requirements.
