Two companies to be offered incentives for Topeka expansion projects

The Joint Economic Development Organization, an organization made up of city and county elected officials, voted unanimously Wednesday to offer incentives to two companies, whose names have not been made public.

These incentives, if accepted, could provide the following:

• Up to $1,590,400 for what has been dubbed “Project Queen Bee,” a local manufacturing company that plans to expand its operations in Shawnee County. The company would make a $47.2 million capital investment and create 182 new jobs over the next five years, with an average salary between $60,000 and $120,000.
• Up to $272,000 for what has been dubbed “Project Oriole,” a local manufacturing company looking to expand and move to a new location in Topeka. Go Topeka said the company will make a $31 million capital investment while creating 60 new jobs over the next five years.

Projects are in the “early incentive process”

Ashley Lehman, director of business development for GO Topeka, said the projects are in the early stages of the incentive process.

“That’s why we introduce them to the code name,” Lehman said. “Confidentiality is really important to these companies during this time and will remain under the code name throughout the entire incentive process.”