The Salem City Council has approved two Tax Increment Financing District projects that will give new uses to currently vacant buildings.
The council approved a $300,000 incentive package for Dustin Gansauer to purchase the former Rollinson’s Home Center property to convert from ACE Auto to ACE Outdoors.
“We’ll be able to house everything inside, keep everything out of the weather,” Gansauer said. “After this year we’re the second largest Bad Boy dealer in the state of Illinois, and in the top 100 in the country. We just want to reflect what we’ve done in the last three or four years with Bad Boy mowers and tractors, expand off of that stuff, and provide an indoor showroom that no one else around can offer around here in power equipment. The renovation is a big renovation; it’s about an $800,000 renovation.”
Gansauer says the new showroom will be able to hold 100 mowers and 20 to 30 tractors. The mechanical area will be much larger with three fulltime employees to be added in the service department. He hopes to complete the renovation in three to four months, so it is ready for the busy spring season. The goal is to become the #1 Bad Boy dealer in Illinois and top 50 in the U.S. The total cost of the project is placed at $1.1-million.
Gansauer says he will still be able to sell cars and locate cars for buyers, but it will no longer be a major part of the business. He notes they will also be looking to add other products that are not available elsewhere in Salem.
The council also approved a $62,000 TIF incentive package for Brian Pennypacker who is opening TruSwing in the former Wabash Communications building at 123 East Main. The business is centered around golf simulators and will be available for private events. The total cost of the project is placed at $400,000.
