Incentives offer is set for ConAgra

GARNER -- State and local leaders have finished a proposed financial incentives package for ConAgra Foods, whose presence in Garner has been uncertain since an explosion destroyed half of its Slim Jim plant in June.

Details about the proposal have not been released.

"We have put together as much as we possibly can," said Ken Atkins, director of Wake County Economic Development.

Atkins has said that an incentives package for ConAgra could climb into the millions of dollars.

A June 9 explosion sparked by natural gas killed four people and injured dozens more at the plant.

Last fall, the company laid off about 300 of the plant's remaining 750 workers.

Since the blast, state and local officials have been working to persuade ConAgra to keep its plant open in Garner.

The company has transferred some of its Slim Jim production to other sites.

Atkins has said ConAgra could get money from the One North Carolina Fund through the state Commerce Department. Garner could offer incentives in the form of tax breaks.

ConAgra spokeswoman Stephanie Childs said this month that incentives will play a part in the company's decisions.

"Basically, the ball's in their court," Atkins said of Con Agra.