Chr. Hansen expansion in West Allis would include $1.39 million in city financing help with new plan

A West Allis manufacturer's expansion plans would include $1.39 million in city financing help under a new proposal.

Chr. Hansen Inc. is planning a 20,000-square-foot building at 1800 S. 92nd St.

The former Knights of Columbus hall would be demolished to make way for the new development.

Chr. Hansen, which develops and produces cultures, enzymes, probiotics and natural colors, is based in Denmark. The company operates its U.S. headquarters at 9015 W. Maple St. — just east of the expansion site.

That $25 million manufacturing facility could finish construction by the end of 2020, and bring an additional 25 to 30 jobs, company executives said last week.

On Tuesday night, the West Allis Community Development Authority's board approved a development agreement with Chr. Hansen that calls for city financing help on the project.

That would involve creating a tax incremental financing district, with property tax revenue generated by the new building paid in annual installments to Chr. Hansen over 12 years, according to the proposal.

Those payments would total $1.39 million, said Patrick Schloss, West Allis community development manager.

The financing district, which would need Common Council approval, is to have its initial public hearing on Nov. 12, Schloss said.

Chr. Hansen also could develop additional buildings on its corporate campus, eventually totaling 100 new jobs, the development agreement said.

That would likely occur along the 1700 block of South 89th Street, where Chr. Hansen has bought several properties to create a future expansion site.

Chr. Hansen employs nearly 300 people at its West Allis campus and about 3,700 worldwide.

Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.