Industrial battery manufacturer prepares to open U.S. headquarters in Liberty
By My Courier-Tribune
LIBERTY — The city of Liberty will gain a U.S. headquarters for TAB, an international manufacturer of industrial, SLT and lithium-ion batteries, later this year.
Efforts to recruit the business have come from various organizations including Liberty Economic Development Corp., the Kansas City Area Development Council and Liberty.
TAB USA will take most of Building C in the Liberty Heartland Logistics Center, which is in front of the new distribution center for Hallmark. The building is a 66,700-square-foot facility, representing an investment of $15 million that will create 50 jobs over the next five years.
“It takes everybody, all these different partners to row in the same direction,” Liberty EDC Executive Director Ralph Boots said of the development.
Liberty Economic and Business Development Manager Brandon Smith explained the first year for the company will be focused on sales and distribution employees and in year two, manufacturing efforts will begin.
“From what we have been told, they want to see additional growth in the U.S.,” he said, adding wages at the facility will be around $98,000 annually.
Smith and Boots started working on the proposal, answering questions and aiding in site visits in May 2023.
“TAB was looking at sites in KC, Dallas and here,” Smith said. “Having the existing industrial buildings is such an advantage to us.”
With the new business, Smith said there is still existing space available in Liberty Heartland Logistics Center in Building B and remaining square footage in Building C.
“It’s big for us to have a US headquarters,” he said of TAB. “It’s a win-win for us.”
The TAB Battery project is a Chapter 100 tax abatement project, Smith said. “It is a 10-year, rolling tax abatement, which will be equivalent to a 13-year abatement. This is due to them having three larger investments in three separate years. This abatement is providing them 10 years on each investment,” Smith said.
The projected abatement is $893,160, an average of $68,704 annually.
“The city is providing an abatement on an annual basis that is less than the average wage of one of the new employees at the project facility,” Smith said.
According to a KCADC release, Gov. Mike Parson said the selection of Missouri as the home of TAB USA’s first North American facility reaffirms the state’s strategic advantages for growing companies.
“The new facility in Liberty will allow TAB increased capabilities for distribution throughout North America and access to a skilled local workforce,” said Troy Livingston, CEO of TAB USA. “Whether in our vehicles or homes, batteries and electrical storage are an integral part of daily life and TAB USA has the products our customers need to successfully power their lives and businesses.”
