Halifax County commissioners today approved a lease agreement with Empire Foods which will give the new company 20 acres of land and a 35,000 square feet building the county will construct for a $10 a year lease.

The lease agreement was part of the incentive package to lure the company to the county’s corporate park.

Also included in the package is the conveyance of 35.75 acres of land to the company for $10 an acre.

Halifax County Economic Development Director Cathy Scott said in a memo to the board the fair market value of the lease is $90,000 per year while the fair market value of the 37.75 acres is $303,500. The fair market value of the 20 acres plus improvements is $1.825 million.

Scott notes the probable average wage the company will pay is $13.66 per hour, which is above the median average.

“The prospective tax revenues from improvements to be constructed on the property and the estimated sales tax revenues to be generated in the area over the next 10 years will be sufficient to return to the county the fair market value of the property,” the memo says.

Halifax County Manager Tony Brown said he believes the company locating to the park could help spur more food related industries to locate here and could also lead to Empire and Reser’s working together.

The process the company uses produces shelf-stable food products. The products do not require refrigeration, but maintain the flavor, color and nutrients of fresh food.

It will produce fruits and vegetables with an initial focus toward military and restaurant markets. The company will buy fruits and vegetables from local and regional farmers.

Salaries will vary by job function, but the average annual wage for the new jobs will be $28,418, not including benefits. The Halifax County average annual wage is $25,532.