Amherst IDA OKs tax breaks for Lifetime Service expansion

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James Fink

Buffalo Business First Reporter- Buffalo Business First

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The Amherst Industrial Development Agency has unanimously approved incentives that will help the Advantage Co.'s Lifetime Service center expand by nearly 30 percent.

The $1.125 million expansion project, fueled by new clients and a growing business base, could see the Wehrle Drive operation add 45 new employees, including 35 full-time workers. The average annual salary for the new jobs is projected to be approximately $45,000, according to AIDA documents.

The public-sector incentives include a seven-year, payment-in-lieu-of-taxes package that will give the company sales, property and mortgage recording tax breaks. Even with the incentives, the Advantage Co. will be paying $81,237 in property taxes to the town of Amherst, Erie County and Williamsville Central School District.

The AIDA package covers Lifetime Service's 20,000-square-foot expansion and not the retail operations that also take place at the same location. The retail portion of the 67,000-square-foot building accounts for roughly 5,000-square-feet, said Thomas Kreuz, Advantage Co. CEO.

Lifetime Service, which first opened as part of the Advantage Co.'s portfolio of retail operations, handles repairs for a wide variety of electronics including those sold by the company and other retailers. The company has a deep pool of national clients.

Kreuz said his company hopes to start work on the project this spring and it should be completed by late fall.

The deal marks the third expansion the Lifetime Service center has undergone since 2006. During that time, employment has grown from 55 to 130 workers.

James Fink covers real estate, commercial development and government