Politics & Government

Fast-Tracking Convinces Anheuser-Busch InBev to Expand in Arnold

The process was used four years ago, and was put into writing in January. Now the procedure has helped to bring an $80 million investment into Arnold.

Arnold Mayor Ron Counts held a press conference at on Monday to announce what he said is the largest corporate investment in the city’s history.

Thanks to a resolution that to entice Anheuser-Busch InBev to invest in Arnold, the company will make an $80 million, 100,000-square-foot expansion to an already existing Arnold facility, .

By comparison, Arnold Commons was a $70 million project.

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The news was first announced . A fast-tracking procedure was one element that convinced the company to invest here. The city worked with AB InBev and the Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation to structure the deal.

“This fast-tracking bill allows the mayor and his staff to guarantee to any business that wants to come in, or stay in, or expand that we can fast-track their process for them,” Arnold Councilman Paul Freese said. “Any permit can be pushed through a lot faster, so they can accomplish their building process a lot faster.”

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Freese, along with councilmen Phil Amato and Jeff Fitter, sponsored the resolution that in January codified a fast-track process the city used four years ago to bring to Arnold.

The fire district and the water company existed before Arnold was incorporated and don’t fall under the city’s jurisdiction, so obtaining construction permits can be a lengthy process. Under fast-tracking, the mayor appoints a liaison who works to get the permits through as fast as possible. The goal is to do so in 30 days.

Anheuser-Busch InBev is expected to break ground on the expansion in the spring.

Metal Container employs more than 100 workers and produces billions of aluminum cans per year. The expansion will add at least 20 jobs.

“This is going to create hundreds of jobs for our community,” Counts said. “We’re going to have Metal Container here for many years to come. It’s a win–win–win situation for the economy and our city.”

Arnold City Administrator Matt Unrein said the permitting process would begin after a city council vote Thursday to approve a 20-year tax abatement for the expansion.

“I’m pretty sure it’s going to go pretty fast once we get the approval Thursday night,” he said. “This will be our roll-out attempt at that new fast-track legislation.”

Amato said the process puts Arnold on the cutting edge.

“Other manufacturing entities have been snooping around,” he said. “One of the questions is, 'I hear that you guys have a tool in your toolbox that other communities don’t have, that you might fast-track us if we decide to come to Arnold.'”


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