Tax break could create 80 jobs
$200 million expansion of aluminum plant possible
NASH, Texas — Ta Chen International Inc. and officials of both Bowie County and the City of Nash, Texas, are in discussions for a plant expansion. The plant, which became a Ta Chen operation under the name Texarkana Aluminum, went fully online in 2020. With the aluminum market booming, and the plant adding shifts to its operations, the local authorities are now talking plant expansion.
“We haven’t finalized things yet,” said Mike Carter, Bowie County Precinct 4 Commissioner. “We are working on it. We’ve voted to begin the process. Ta Chen has been paying property taxes to date, but they did get an abatement on the front end, when the original deal was signed. Right now, a plant expansion is being negotiated. Tal Chen, Bowie County and the City of Nash are involved. The Texarkana Independent School District, the City of Nash and Texarkana College may be involved in the final deal as well.”
“This won’t be an abatement on their current taxes,” said Doug Bowers, Nash, Texas, city administrator. “This will be about future developments, should a deal go forward. But, to be clear, a deal has not been settled yet.”
Bowers admits that Nash has some experience in such exchanges.
“Nash has done abatement deals before,” he said. “We are letting our experience guide us.”
At present, if the deal goes forward, Ta Chen will be adding additional manufacturing capacity to the plant in a deal worth many millions, with the potential to employ an additional 80 or so workers.
“This would be a good investment in our community, in our jobs,” Carter said. “What we would give up in initial property taxes will be made up in jobs and future revenue.”
Negotiations continue, though
Carter admits having an abatement on the table is an important part of the package.
“Without that, it is possible there would be no deal,” he said. “They may decide to do nothing and we would get nothing.” “Negotiations continue,” Bowers said. “Further announcements will be put out as information becomes available. On the part of the City of Nash, things are booming for us, especially in terms of industry. If this deal goes forward, it will be huge, for both us and for the region.”