Dairy company seeks 100 acres for north Columbia facility
A Colorado-based organic milk and butter company wants to buy 100 acres of land in north Columbia, potentially bringing 100 jobs.
ABC 17 News first reported the city’s desire to bring Aurora Organic Dairy to Columbia in September, under the code name “Project Cadre.” The project came up again Wednesday at the Regional Economic Development, Inc. meeting, where Columbia Mayor Brian Treece said the city council could approve the sale as early as February.
The council’s agenda, released Friday, calls for the $2,035,600 sale of land with AOD-MO Holdings, LLC at the northeast corner of Route B and Waco Road. The 100 acres of land on the Sutter Industrial Site is just north of the Kraft/Heinz plant. The city bought the land, including an extra 100 acres as buffer space for its nearby landfill, in 2010 for at least $3 million.
Council documents say AOD-MO Holdings, LLC affiliates “are the leading producer of store-brand organic milk and butter for U.S. retailers and is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado.” The company’s website said it operates dairy, heifer and calf farms in Colorado and Texas. The company plans to build an 80,000-square foot plant in Columbia for “expanded production capacity.”
Treece hinted Wednesday that AOD-MO Holdings, LLC would qualify for Chapter 100 bonds, which provides the company a property tax break on new equipment. Kraft/Heinz and Dana Light Axle Corporation both received such benefits the last two years for expansions. The city, public school district and county commission would all need to first approve such an incentive.
Aurora Organic Dairy would first make a $91 million investment in building and equipment, the council packet said, and pay a $42,000 annual salary with benefits, which is “above the Boone County average wage.” The facility will run three shifts around the clock, operating seven days a week. The company “will be a significant customer of the City of Columbia’s electric, water and sewer utility services,” the packet said.
