Dell Computers
Nashville approved a $166 Million Incentive Package for Dell Computer, the world's third largest computer conglomerate, to relocate to Nashville from Texas. The Davidson County Metro Council's final vote was 27 - 11 with a lot of heated arguments both for and against. The city will now demolish old Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute which has been long since closed.
Dell will build a plant on a 800 acre site on Murfreesboro Road near Nashville International Airport, and is projected to employ over 3,000 workers within five years. The manufacturing facility of 300,000 square ft. along with an office building of 250,000 square ft. will have a value of approximately $100 million.
Another plant of of 245,000 square ft. will be leased in nearby Lebanon, Tennessee. This will be the sixth new plant since 1998 by Dell, which is now the World's No. 3 personal computer manufacturer.
In the '90s, Mayor Bredesen established major property tax breaks to entice major companies to expand and build in Nashville. Dell, Columbia HCA Healthcare, Ingram Industries, Dollar General, Thomas Nelson Publishing and Gaylord Entertainment have are some of the businesses that have benefited.
Tennessee Economic and Community Development Commissioner called Dell's move to "Music City"
"potentially Tennessee's largest deal of this decade."
The Tennessean did not agree that Nashville was a big winner, because not only was Dell given location incentives, but they were also promised a 40-year property tax exemption. The opposition said the deal created "a new class of nobility that doesn't have to pay taxes". The old adage about the rich getting rich and the poor getting poorer apparently applies. Dell gets $62 million in property tax breaks, while I struggle to pay the annual taxes on my small house.
Dell will receive employee recruiting and training incentives along with $500 credit per year per Nashville employee on it's payroll. Another part of the package is $12 million for infrastructure improvements. The Metro Council will offer incentive to other major technology corporations that locate their headquarters in our city.
In Nashville, John Q. Public has already financed the $292 million stadium to entice the Tennessee Titans NFL professional football to relocate.
NASHVILLE ~~ COMMERCE
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