By Howard Packowitz

NORMAL – Governor Bruce Rauner said he understands the stress felt by local government leaders, who reluctantly granted property tax breaks for Canada’s Brandt Industries.

Some local officials believed the deal was shoved down their throats at the 11th hour, and they felt pressured because hundreds of jobs would otherwise go to another state vying for the agricultural equipment plant.

However, Illinois’ chief executive said for the short-term pain, there’s “very big” long-term gain.

Brandt announced Friday it completed the purchase of the Kongskilde Industries factory between Normal and Hudson.

Rauner was on hand at the plant to welcome Brandt to McLean County.

“This plant, if the Brandt’s didn’t buy it, may well have been shuttered,” said Rauner.

“A hundred people would have lost their jobs and this would have be off of the generating tax rolls, potentially. They are going to triple and maybe quadruple the employment base here and generate a huge increase in the overall tax base. This is a home run,” the governor also said.

For receiving property tax relief, Brandt pledges to create at least three hundred full-time positions by the seventh year of the agreement with local taxing bodies.

Brandt’s president said at least 75 full-timers will be working in the first quarter of next year when production is expected to start on grain augers and belt-tube conveyors.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected].