A German-based manufacturing company is considering putting down roots in Fort Worth, with more than 700 new jobs potentially coming to Cowtown — and the city might give the company a tax break in return.
Harting Inc., an industrial connector manufacturing company, is weighing a new location for its U.S. headquarters, according to a presentation given to the Fort Worth City Council at its work session meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 1. The U.S. headquartetrs is currently in Illinois.
Harting is considering a “multi-phased expansion project” in Fort Worth, according to the presentation, for corporate offices plus component and cable assembly production space.
A new facility with three buildings and 700,000 square feet of manufacturing space and 189 technical and corporate jobs, would be located in far southeast Fort Worth, near the intersection of Wichita Street and Interstate 20.
The city is proposing a 10-year tax abatement with Harting for up to 65% of the company’s incremental real and business property taxes, if the company agrees to a minimum $192.7 million investment by December 2031 and creates a minimum of 700 full-time jobs with $87,000 annual average salaries by December 2034.
The City Council will take up the proposal at its meeting on Sept. 29. Even if the proposal is approved, it does not mean that the company is guaranteed to move to Fort Worth.
Harting imports about 40% of its components, according to the presentations, and other locations being considered by the company offer more convenient access to overseas shipping routes.
Harting did not return a request for comment.