Officials OK incentives for eBay’s Nevada expansion

Internet retail giant eBay will invest a total of $412 million in both ends of the state, but the company's larger expansion will occur in Northern Nevada and create 50 jobs there.

In Southern Nevada, the company will invest $182 million in data management equipment in the next 18 months and create two jobs.

The California-based company was unanimously approved Thursday for $30.1 million in tax incentives by the Governor's Office of Economic Development board.

The action was among six for incentives that will benefit companies that will either expand or relocate to Clark County, including one company moving from California that manufactures bacon-flavored lubricants.

It's estimated that the eBay expansions will raise $27.8 million in new taxes in Storey County and $6.3 million in Clark County over 10 years. Company officials said the planned projects would "set the stage for potential additional investment and job creation over the next 10 years."

The company's Southern Nevada data center is based at the Switch Supernap data facility.

Meanwhile, a Valencia, Calif., company described as a Food and Drug Administration-registered testing facility is moving its operation to a 70,000-square-foot building in Las Vegas.

Trigg Laboratories, which owns Wet Lubricants, which recently introduced a bacon-flavored product called "Boink N' Oink," was approved for $215,500 in incentives. Trigg President Sean Smith said he anticipates an April 1 opening for the new facility which will house 63 employees. Trigg is investing $1.5 million in equipment in Southern Nevada.

State officials say the company's presence will raise $4.3 million in new state and local tax revenue over 10 years.

Smith, who said company founder Michael Trigg has already moved to Las Vegas, said the company scouted locations in New York, Texas and Florida before deciding to move to Las Vegas. He said the company opted to move because "California is the grim reaper" with its current tax environment.

Other incentive packages affecting Southern Nevada that were approved by the board:

— Tax abatements totaling $12.6 million for Maverick Aviation Group, which is expanding its operation with a new terminal at McCarran International Airport. The company expects to add 126 new employees and invest $7.1 million in capital improvements over 20 years. The Maverick fleet includes 47 helicopters and six fixed-wing aircraft.

— Abatements totaling $1 million for Premium Waters, Minneapolis, which is adding bottling and warehousing facilities at Cheyenne Avenue and Lamb Boulevard. The new facility, which will produce 15 million cases of bottled water a year, will open the first week of June. The company expects to add 29 new employees and invest $10.7 million in capital improvements over two years.

— Abatements totaling $677,978 for Steelman Aviation, Las Vegas, which is doubling its charter flying operation. The company expects to add four new employees and invest $17.3 million in aircraft, parts and equipment over 20 years.

— Abatements totaling $158,841 for CJ Pony Parts, Harrisburg, Pa., which is developing a West Coast expansion of its automotive parts distribution center for Ford Mustangs in North Las Vegas. The company expects to add 25 employees and invest $1.6 million in capital improvements over two years. The company plans to open a 90,000-square-foot facility by January 2017 and considered setting up in Salt Lake City or Phoenix before deciding on building in North Las Vegas.

Contact reporter Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Find @RickVelotta on Twitter.