Candy and gum maker Mars Wrigley could be moving over a hundred employees from the Windy City to the Brick City, and expanding its existing presence in the Garden State.
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority approved a 10-year, $31.5 million tax credit to encourage the move, according to Real Estate NJ. Three hundred seventy workers currently in Hackettstown and 113 currently in Chicago would relocate to 110 Edison Place in Newark. The aging warehouse at 110 Edison Place is being redeveloped by Edison Properties and Mars Wrigley would occupy 110,000 square feet there.
Mars Wrigley would kick in $42 million of its own money and sign a 15-year lease at the building, which will be known as Ironside Newark and will have 450,000 square feet of loft-style office space. It would also be just one component of a mixed-use neighborhood called Mulberry Commons.
Separately, the EDA has approved a $1.15 million tax credit to renovate the Mars Chocolate factory in Hackettstown. That deal would include a $52 million investment from Mars Wrigley and see 92 jobs blow in from Chicago.
The EDA estimates the combined projects would benefit New Jersey to the tune of over $219 million over 20 years.
