A Noble County company wants to relocate its 25 jobs to Allen County - and create 15 more within the next year.
All that it - and a Fort Wayne company looking to expand - need is Board of Zoning Appeals' approval.
Maxim Medical Services, a 5-year-old firm that installs, tests, refurbishes and stores medical equipment, has asked the county BZA for approval to move operations to a 6.3-acre site on U.S. 33 near Churubusco. The move is necessary, according to documents filed with the BZA, because the company has outgrown its 5,000-square-foot facility in Noble County. The company has requested a variance from the BZA so it can operate a light manufacturing and storage operation in vacant buildings on land zoned for agricultural use. Nearby properties have already been commercialized, however, the company stated.
Should the BZA approve, Maxim would buy, renovate and occupy an existing 46,212-square-foot building and a separate 2,916-square-foot storage facility.
Maxim is working with the Fort Wayne-Allen County Economic Development Alliance to secure abatements that would temporarily lower property taxes owed on improvements, according to attorney Joshua Neal.
Hoping for city BZA approval is Albright's Meats and Deli, which wants to add a walk-in cooler and freezer and meat-smoking and preparation area to its store at 4924 S. Calhoun St. Since 2005 the business has grown from four employees and sales of $375,000 to 19 employees and sales of $1.3 million. The expansion will bring the building within five feet of the property line - which would require a waiver from the BZA.
The BZA will consider the companies' request next month.
