Select Farms Ponders Expansion Decision Linked To Availability Of Bonds To Finance New Plant

Select Farms, a Spokane Valley wholesale distributor of dried flowers to the craft industry, is considering expanding into a new facility.

The company, founded by owner Sharon Robb, is listed as the proposed tenant for a new facility in a preliminary financing application with the Spokane County Industrial Development Corp.

However, an official with the Spokane Business & Industrial Park, where Select Farms currently is located, said the park is negotiating with Select Farms to keep it as a tenant.

The financing application indicated that Select Farms would remain at the park unless bonds for a new factory were available. The proposed site of the new facility was not listed.

Red Roses LLC, a limited liability corporation headed by real estate developer Dick Edwards, would borrow the money to construct the facility, the application said. Select Farms would lease the plant from Red Roses.

Edwards, a broker with Hawkins Edwards Inc., referred all questions to Robb. Robb was unavailable for comment.

In 1995, Robb said her company employed 100 people during the peak summer season, had annual revenues of $4 million and about 4,000 customers nationwide.

Brent Long, marketing manager for Crown West Realty, which owns the park, said Select Farms is a growing company that leases more than 15,000 square feet in the complex.

The industrial development corporation is authorized to issue bonds, with tax-exempt interest rates, to encourage the growth of manufacturing jobs. It’s nine-member board of public officials conducts a public hearing whenever final applications are submitted for financing.

, DataTimes