Monsanto has rejected Pima County's offer for reduced property tax in exchange for building a facility near Marana.
In a memo sent to the Pima County Board of Supervisors Tuesday, County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry confirmed the company had pulled out of the deal. Huckelberry requested that agenda items involving the deal be removed from the Feb. 21 agenda.
Monsanto says it is still committed to building the Marana facility.
Monsanto released the following statement on Wednesday afternoon:
We are excited to be a part of Pima County and are committed to being a good neighbor in the community with this greenhouse that combines Arizona’s climate with our sustainable practices to help produce corn seeds that will help farmers around the world. Good neighbors listen and communicate with each other, so we value the recent opportunity to do just that.
We are now dedicated, more than ever, to investing in this community, regardless of the Foreign Trade Zone Payment in Lieu of Taxes Agreement proposal. As discussions with Pima County have advanced, it is clear that further investments in workforce development are necessary for Monsanto and other businesses to grow successfully in the community. In order to make those investments possible, Monsanto is withdrawing the Foreign Trade Zone proposal and moving forward with several commitments to the area. They include our contribution to the Marana Unified School District Foundation of up to $500,000 (a contribution in lieu of taxes), our plan to create a community advisory panel (CAP) comprising members of the area to advise us on opportunities to engage with the community and our plan to voluntary report restricted use pesticide (RUP) usage at the greenhouse.
We appreciate the opportunities over the past three-and-a-half months to meet and hear from others in Arizona’s agricultural community who support all types farming and to share information about who we are and our new greenhouse project. As we withdraw our Foreign Trade Zone Payment in Lieu of Taxes Agreement proposal with Pima County, we renew our commitment to ongoing conversations with our new neighbors as we begin construction and continue to invest in the community. We would like to thank the many community members that have engaged on this matter, and it is clear that Pima County is a place that supports business and innovation.
Stay with KGUN9 and KGUN9.com for the latest on this developing story.
