We’ll know next spring whether this month’s layoffs at a Bryan based call center results in reduced economic development incentives.
Almost four years ago, the Research Valley Partnership announced Penncro Associates was coming to town with plans to hire 550.
RVP CEO Todd McDaniel says they’re one of the largest primary job employers in Brazos County.
In the first full year of operation, Penncro met a payroll requirement of $8 million dollars to receive a property tax break on equipment valued at more than $2 million.
Last year, payroll dropped to $7.4 million.
And McDaniel was told Penncro was on its way to meeting the goal for this year as recently as last month.
Whether that will happen is not known following the report from KBTX that 175 employees are getting laid off.
McDaniel says they’re supposed to receive this year’s payroll information by the first week of February.
Then the RVP will generate a compliance report around April 1, when governmental units will decide whether to grant tax abatements.
Penncro does not receive a tax abatement on the land and call center building on University east of the freeway that’s valued at $4.5 million.
A check on the county’s website indicates Penncro is current on paying property taxes and McDaniel says local services have been paid.