Council OKs ERA and tax phase-in for Uniseal warehouse expansion, citing 61 new jobs
January 12, 2026 | Evansville City, Vanderburgh County, Indiana
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The Evansville Common Council voted 8–0 on Jan. 12 to approve Resolution C2026-02, a preliminary Economic Revitalization Area (ERA) designation and waiver of noncompliance for Uniseal's planned warehouse expansion on North 4th Avenue.
Pat Hickey, economic development director at the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership, described the package as twofold: designate an ERA so the company can receive a property tax phase-in, and grant a waiver of noncompliance because construction began before the formal application was filed. "The waiver is required because construction began before the designation," Hickey said, noting local precedent for similar waivers.
Hickey said the project represents about a $16,000,000 investment and would add 61 new full‑time jobs at roughly $38 an hour with benefits. He told council the project scored 19 points on the city's scoring system and estimated about $1,900,000 in tax savings over the eight‑year schedule.
Jane Alarelli, president of Uniseal and an Evansville native, said LG Chem acquired Uniseal in 2019 and is shifting business to Evansville: "LG Chem is planning to move $30,000,000 in business from Poland to Evansville because of this new warehouse facility that we have available." She also said the project awarded local contractors work and expects about $2,000,000 in local contracting in 2026.
Council members asked for wage-range detail and explained the scoring system (last updated in 2017) used to determine phase-in length. Hickey and Alarelli provided range information (entry-level production starting at about $23/hour; some shipping positions may start at $20 with progression and incentives).
The resolution passed on a roll-call vote of 8 ayes and 0 nays. The ERA designation is preliminary and the waiver of noncompliance holds the company to reporting and performance standards in exchange for the tax phase-in.
Next steps: city staff and EREP will finalize terms, and the company will proceed under the ERA and tax-phase schedule. Councilors noted plans to revisit and update the scoring sheet used to evaluate wage and investment criteria.
Pat Hickey, economic development director at the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership, described the package as twofold: designate an ERA so the company can receive a property tax phase-in, and grant a waiver of noncompliance because construction began before the formal application was filed. "The waiver is required because construction began before the designation," Hickey said, noting local precedent for similar waivers.
Hickey said the project represents about a $16,000,000 investment and would add 61 new full‑time jobs at roughly $38 an hour with benefits. He told council the project scored 19 points on the city's scoring system and estimated about $1,900,000 in tax savings over the eight‑year schedule.
Jane Alarelli, president of Uniseal and an Evansville native, said LG Chem acquired Uniseal in 2019 and is shifting business to Evansville: "LG Chem is planning to move $30,000,000 in business from Poland to Evansville because of this new warehouse facility that we have available." She also said the project awarded local contractors work and expects about $2,000,000 in local contracting in 2026.
Council members asked for wage-range detail and explained the scoring system (last updated in 2017) used to determine phase-in length. Hickey and Alarelli provided range information (entry-level production starting at about $23/hour; some shipping positions may start at $20 with progression and incentives).
The resolution passed on a roll-call vote of 8 ayes and 0 nays. The ERA designation is preliminary and the waiver of noncompliance holds the company to reporting and performance standards in exchange for the tax phase-in.
Next steps: city staff and EREP will finalize terms, and the company will proceed under the ERA and tax-phase schedule. Councilors noted plans to revisit and update the scoring sheet used to evaluate wage and investment criteria.
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