COLUMBUS – Agro Farma’s request for additional tax concessions based on the company’s expansion has been approved by the Chenango County Industrial Development Agency. The decision was rendered Wednesday at the agency’s November meeting, held at 8 a.m. in the Commerce Chenango offices.

“This is great news from the IDA. We appreciate their support as well as that of all of our great neighbors in the Town of Columbus and look forward to working together to grow and further strengthen the local economy,” the company’s chief operating officer, Keven Bucklin, said yesterday in response to the news.

In October, the Town of Columbus-based maker of Chobani Greek-style yogurt requested property tax abatement in the form of a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement for the 150,000 square foot refrigerated warehouse they are in the process of constructing. The company also requested a mortgage recording tax exemption and sales and use tax exemptions for a second project aimed at expanding production at their existing plant.

The tax concessions were on top of a sales tax exemption for building materials, supplies and fixed equipment related to the construction of the $22 million warehouse already granted by the CCIDA.

According to the agency’s executive director, Maureen Carpenter, the projected benefit of the PILOT agreement is $1,249,086 over the 10-year agreement. These numbers are based on a $7.4 million assessment of the warehouse provided by the Town of Columbus assessor.