Commissioners approved a four-year, 80% tax abatement during their March 10 meeting for Wastequip Manufacturing Company LLC. Wastequip plans to extend operations to an existing facility at 8521 Farm-to-Market Road 850 in Tyler, which has been primarily used by energy sector since the 1960s.

Through the tax abatement approved by the Smith County Commissioners Court, a new multimillion dollar company will soon come to Smith County.

Commissioners approved a four-year, 80% tax abatement during their March 10 meeting for Wastequip Manufacturing Company LLC.

The business will bring a new investment of up to $6 million and add 133 manufacturing and professional jobs with an average wage of $20 an hour, as well as a comprehensive benefits package, Felicia Herndon, executive vice president of finance for the Tyler Economic Development Council, said, in a Smith County news release.

Wastequip is a North American manufacturer of waste handling equipment as well as manufactures containers, compactors, garbage trucks and other products for collecting, storing and transporting waste.

The company plans to extend operations to an existing facility at 8521 Farm-to-Market Road 850 in Tyler, which has been primarily used by the energy sector since the 1960s. There is about 121,530 square feet and multiple buildings at the site. The tax abatement goes to Wastequip, the tenant, and the facility, 213 Investments LLC, according to the county.

“They are a very good company,” Precinct 3 Commissioner Terry Phillips said. “I think it will be a very good workplace to bring in to Smith County and will add a lot to the workplace here.”

President and CEO of Tyler Economic Development Council and Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce Tom Mullins said the project will be huge for Tyler and Smith County.

“The project is big for here,” Mullins said. “We’re happy to have them here in this part of East Texas.”

Wastequip had also considered Conroe and Dallas for the project, Herndon said in the news release.

“Wastequip is always looking for ways to better serve our customers, which means maximizing our efficiency and locating facilities near our customers. Tyler, Texas, affords us the ability to not only better serve our customers but to make a significant economic impact on this county,” said Ken Schwartz, director of operational excellence, and Matthew Mock, manufacturing engineer.