The Charlotte City Council has approved the city's share of a US$2.5m incentive package that will see fresh produce multinational Chiquita Brands International move its headquarters (HQ)from Cincinnati, Ohio to North Carolina.
According to the Charlotte Observer, the deal was passed despite protests from councillors and the public, with some against the practice of giving incentives to businesses and others concerned about the group's historical practices, particularly with regards to past payments to paramilitary groups.
The total size of the government incentive package is more than US$22m, the publication said, with the majority of that the state's US$16.1m grant, which will equal 75 per cent of the company's state income tax withholding.
The city and Mecklenburg County will provide Chiquita with US$2.5 million, which will be matched by the state.
However, Jay Privette, who lost his city council bid earlier in the year, questioned how many jobs would be lost to support a company with 'a very questionable past and an uncertain future', while some audience members carried signs like 'put people over profits'.
While council members passed the deal with a vote of 9-2, severalof themexpressed discomfort with the practice of offering incentives, but noted that it was a necessity in the modern business world.
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