HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council gave approval to the financial incentive package that will benefit the reopening of the former CHS soy products facility.

The plant was purchased by Kansas Ethanol last week with plans to bring on 50 employees in the coming years.

The incentive package will provide funding over five years with $100,000 the first year and $25,000 for each of the following four years.

The county is providing about $50,000 in incentives as well. The incentives require the company to have at least $700,000 in annual payroll. The company says it hired back a number of essential staff members from the old CHS facility. The company hopes to open the plant in about six weeks and have 20 employees.

During the discussion, Mayor Steve Dechant and Councilperson Jade Piros de Carvalho expressed their disappointment that the county, which will equally benefit from the reopening of the facility, provided such a small incentive package.