Mecklenburg commissioners add $1.5M to Chiquita incentives package

CHARLOTTE, N.C.,None — The Mecklenburg County Commission voted to give Chiquita nearly $1.5 million in incentives to move to Charlotte.

The commission approved the funding in a 7-2 vote Tuesday night. The money will help pay the moving expenses for the fruit company as its migrates its headquarters from Cincinnati to Charlotte.

The commission joined the city and the state in doling out incentives to Chiquita, but three residents spoke out against the move.

“For local governments to set new precedents by paying publicly traded corporations to relocate sends a sad message to business in general. But if North Carolina – Charlotte – cannot stand on their own accolades without subsidies, then local government needs to re-examine how they conduct business,” said resident Ed Toney.

Chiquita officials said it will bring more than 400 jobs when it moves its headquarters to uptown Charlotte.

WSOC