Box Elder's potential boon

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At first blush, giving $85 million in potential tax incentives to a company sounds like too much. That's what the state of Utah is offering Procter & Gamble to open a new manufacturing plant in Box Elder County.

But when you look closely at the numbers, it sounds more like a bargain.

The Beehive State, and in particular Box Elder County, could be the beneficiary of the giant corporation's presence. If P&G bites -- Utah is competing with two other states, at least -- it will build a new paper goods manufacturing plant in Box Elder that would eventually employ 1,000. More than that, the jobs would average double Box Elder's current median annual income of $21,694.

The deal the state is offering requires P&G to meet that standard of income for its employees, plus operate the plant in Utah for at least 20 years.

The Governor's Office of Economic Development figures P&G's Utah business would generate $280 million in state tax revenue over those two decades, and in excess of $1 billion in wages over that time. And the company will invest almost $550 million in its buildings and related infrastructure. If the pot needs further sweetening, there's a chance Box Elder County might chip in some inducements of its own.

Understandably, county and local officials are thrilled about the possibility of P&G setting up shop nearby, where the company would manufacture paper towels, toilet paper and facial tissue. If it comes to be, it would be the largest single piece of economic development since ATK arrived decades ago.

It's a big deal for the Top of Utah, and we hope our state is victorious in this economic competition.

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