Without the city's tax incentive program, a local manufacturing company may have taken its expansion stateside.
Greco Aluminum Railings won't be paying property taxes for the next ten years, as part of the city's Economic Revitalization Community Improvement Plan.
President Dino Aleo says company headquarters is in Windsor, but there's also an office in Toronto and Florida.
"Part of our competitive position is our people," says Aleo. "We want to grow the people that we have here. We believe in the city and now I'm loyal to it."
Greco was acquired in 2012 by a Michigan firm, which gave them a reason to shift its headquarters to the U.S.
Instead, the company plans to add 27 new employees in Windsor to the 55 existing staff over the next five years. To accommodate the growth, a 5,000 sq ft addition will also be constructed.
City councillor and chair of the economic development committee Bill Marra says this is a perfect example of why the CIP program is so important.
"I think it's making a difference in how people are investing in this community and the decision to remain in this community," says Marra.
He adds the city is in a good position because they're not giving away any money, they're just not collecting on property taxes for ten years.
"We're not out any money, but by year 11 we start collecting and by year 11 you've put the business in a situation where they can really be thriving," says Marra.
Since the city began the program in 2011, 14 applications have been approved.
