The city of Windsor's Planning, Heritage and Economic Standing Committee has approved tax breaks for a new company in town.
APAG Elektronik Corp. is expected to open on Rhodes Dr. early in 2019.
Managing Director Anand Kanoria says they picked Windsor for a number of reasons including its proximity to the U.S. border.
"We've done quite a bit of research," says Kanoria. "We're really excited about the talent coming out of the University of Windsor and St. Clair College. We're excited about being close to the international border. We're excited about being welcomed here and the incentives offered. We're hoping we can create a success story."
He says APAG is proposing a $3.2-million investment to renovate the former FedEx Shipping Centre and will spend an additional $8 million on equipment within the first three years of operations.
"It's the chicken and the egg," says Kanoria. "You can't get customers until you show them something. So hopefully we can show them something by January and we have our first customer production starting in May and hopefully more will come."
Representatives from APAG Elektronik Corp. address the city's planning standing committee, October 9, 2018 (Photo by AM800's Rob Hindi)
APAG produces software and hardware for the automotive industry and already has Chrysler and Cadillac as clients.
Kanoria says the company plans on creating a number of jobs.
"Our business plan for the next five years says 148," he says. "If things go well it will be a little bit higher than that and beyond that I do hope we can grow, in Czech Republic we have 400."
The company has also applied for federal and provincial grants.
"We're a project based company, so based on the projects we have now, Windsor makes sense for the next few years but depending what happens with the grants, it will be a longer term commitment," says Kanoria.
APAG wants to conduct research and development in Windsor and, potentially, production.
The company approached the committee on Tuesday looking for tax breaks under the Economic Revitalization Community Improvement Plan.
The committee approved the request and it will now go to city council for final approval.
APAG is headquartered in Switzerland and Windsor would be its first North American location.