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Potato Powerhouse Lamb Weston Seeks Tax Exemption On Central Idaho Plant

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Frozen potato producer Lamb Weston is making a big investment in its Twin Falls processing plant. As the company upgrades its operation in the Magic Valley, it’s asking local leaders for tax relief.

The potato processing plant anchoring Lamb Weston’s operation in Twin Falls has a long history. Originally built in 1962 for Idaho Frozen Foods, it was acquired by Lamb Weston in the mid-90s. It’s one of the company’s largest facilities and employs around 650 people.

With a customer base spanning the globe, Lamb Weston is growing and modernizing its Twin Falls processing hub. Layouts are being changed to make them more efficient, and new peeling and cutting equipment is being installed to maximize production. The improvements come at a cost of $6 million.

As the company invests big in the more than 50-year-old plant, it’s asking the Twin Falls County Commission for a tax exemption. The Times News reports a decision is expected this week.

County Commissioner Don Hall says a scoring matrix will be used to make the decision more objective. The scoring rubric accounts for jobs saved or cut, as well as wages and benefits of employment. According to Hall, the county commission can grant tax exemptions for up to five years.

As commissioners weigh the exemption decision, other taxing districts, like the College of Southern Idaho and the City of Twin Falls, can give presentations about how they could be impacted.

For more local news, follow the KBSX newsroom on Twitter @KBSX915

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