Concrete company's $14 M expansion is vital to business, manager says

A Carson City concrete manufacturer plans to add 14 jobs in a $14 million expansion expected to be completed this year.

A city official said this is one of several business expansions that will add jobs and revenue to the area.

Gordon Hinkel, Basalite Nevada general manager, said Wednesday the 2600 Boeing Way plant is adding 75,000 square feet to manufacture landscaping products in addition to concrete blocks.

"For the continual growth of Basalite Concrete products, we see this as paramount to our future plans," he said. "The construction of this plant is vital."

Workers will make colored paving stones used in patios or driveways as a decorative alternative to concrete. Basalite will also produce landscaping wall blocks. Production is expected to begin by November.

"These pavers are extremely popular," Hinkel said. "Currently we're importing those from California and we want to be able to supply the needs of the area."

He said 5 million square feet of the paved stones were sold in Northern Nevada last year. The Carson City expansion will supply the market with 9 million square feet.

Basalite's materials come from a mine outside Dayton, which are manufactured and distributed in Carson City and also sold from a Sparks distribution center. Basalite produces 8 million concrete blocks a year, which will continue.

Kyle Holt, Basalite Concrete Products plant manager, said the company has purchased adjoining property in the last several years and has 17.5 acres total.

"We're in the final phases of permitting and construction is expected to begin this week," Holt said.

Basalite employs 86 people and is expected to increase to 100, at an average wage per hour of $14 to $18. Jobs will open in administration, sales, manufacturing, trucking and labor. Hinkel said they plan to add a second shift, which would add another 25 jobs, by the end of the year.

Basalite is owned by Pacific Coast Building Products of Sacramento.

City Manager Linda Ritter said Basalite will apply for state incentives, which will be considered by the commission on economic development in June. The company will seek sales tax, personal property tax and modified business tax abatement, according to the Northern Nevada Development Authority.

She said at the Wednesday morning Northern Nevada Development Authority meeting that local manufacturers have several challenges, such as high land costs and competition with offshore labor.

• Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.

Hiring

information

WHAT: Basalite Concrete expansion

WHEN: Hiring will be done over the next six months

WHERE: 2600 Boeing Way

CONTACT: Sandra Schultz, office administrator, at 882-9336, ext. 10

Commercial development projects in Carson City:

• Panattoni Development Co. has completed the purchase of 5.39 acres on Arrowhead Drive for an 87,000-square-foot flex industrial condo project. The Eagle Valley Commerce Center is scheduled for completion in November.

• Carson Gaming, owner of Casino Fandango, plans to build homes on 22 acres off South Curry Street, west of the casino. The company also plans to build a $10-million movie theater on the land, expand the casino and build a four-story, 100-room hotel off South Carson Street. The project is expected to cost $60 million.

• Developer Kevin Coleman will demolish Bodine's restaurant on South Carson Street and Old Clear Creek Road to build a $10 million Western-themed casino. The developer also plans to make improvements on Fuji Park and the fairgrounds.

• Work continues on the $15 million Irwin Bank Financial Center. Irwin Union Bank, Irwin Financial and Country Insurance occupies the first completed building. The 78,000-square-foot financial center includes six buildings, ranging from 3,000 square feet to 33,000 square feet. The center is a quarter-mile from the College Parkway/freeway interchange. The second building should have tenants by August.