Published: May 14, 2008 06:25 pm         

Just Marketing asks for tax break, promises 47 jobs

Just Marketing International recently brokered a major sponsorship between DIRECTV and the IndyCar Series, and is looking to expand its physical presence in Zionsville. The company announced at a press conference Tuesday morning, May 13, its plans to expand its Zionsville headquarters, contingent upon a tax abatement from the town of Zionsville.

“The Zionsville community should be particularly pleased ... this certainly helps diversify their tax base,” Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman said at the press conference.

JMI specializes in developing motorsports marketing and public relations campaigns. It represents the corporate side of motorsports, acting as the middleman to broker corporate sponsorship of teams, drivers, race series and events, along with other services.

Owner Zak Brown said at the press conference that he was “forever committed” to the town of Zionsville.

Leslie Wagner, director of project management and development, Ginovus, is consulting JMI on its expansion project, and proposed Monday, May 12, the company’s request for a five-year tax abatement to the Zionsville Redevelopment Commission. The commission voted 5-0 to forward a favorable recommendation to the Zionsville Town Council. Keith Gambrel was absent.

JMI is headquartered in a 16,000 square-foot building in Bennett Technology Park in Zionsville, and is looking to expand that property onto land it already owns adjacent to its headquarters. Wagner said JMI, which employees 90 people, would invest $2 million to build the expansion and about $1.1 million in information technology. If the town grants the abatement to JMI, the company would save $154,000 in real and personal property taxes over a five-year period and bring in $365,000 in revenue over a 10-year period, with the abatement, she said.

The company’s expansion would bring 47 new professional jobs to Zionsville over a five-year period, Wagner said. The average salary would start at $54,000 and peak at $74,000 by 2012, she said. The company will be hiring information technology professionals, client services specialists and mobile marketing associates later this year.

Boone County Economic Development Executive Director Kristi McKillip encouraged the commission to support the tax abatement, calling the expansion a “perfect fit for the town.” She said factoring in the revenue JMI will bring into Zionsville and the high-paying jobs it will create, “justifies a higher level of abatement than in the past.” The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered JMI up to $250,000 in performance-based tax credits and up to $98,500 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans.

JMI is also exploring North Carolina as a possible site for its expansion. North Carolina is offering higher incentives, McKillip said. The company has offices in Charlotte, N.C., New York City, Germany, England and Canada.

Commission member Lisa Copp said she felt a “comfort level” with granting an abatement to an already existing company. Member Rich Harcourt was a little less comfortable. He said he was worried about setting precedent for tax abatements.

“I don’t want everyone to think they get five years because they show up,” Harcourt said.

Founded in 1995, Just Marketing International was named the No. 188 “Fastest-Growing Private Company” by Inc. 500. in 2007. It was the fourth time the company was named to the list.

     

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