Feedback Earth seeks TIF for company expansion

Feedback Earth hopes to sign a TIF with Grafton to help with the expansion of their Creeper Hill company, which creates high-quality animal feed out of food waste.

Approaching the Select Board Tuesday night, CEO Alison Greenlee and COO David Jenicek said the company has addressed its notorious odor issues and has ceased producing products with the soy byproducts determined to be the cause of the noxious smell. Back in June, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection assessed a $9,520 penalty to the Creeper Hill company for violations of the air pollution control and solid waste regulations in late 2021 and earlier this year.

Jenicek stressed that the company has been working closely with DEP, retaining an odor consultant and establishing an odor reporting hotline.

Of the reports filed since then, many were related to sewer smells and trash collection and the DEP confirmed one was related to illegal dumping, Jenicek added,

“I understand the smell issue,” Select Board member Ray Mead said. “I’m in the neighborhood, I’ve smelled it.”

Greenlee said the company is now the largest producer of animal feed in New England. The company is planning to build a $2 million expansion to the existing building, which will create at least 15 new jobs.

“These reports challenge us, but they also help us,” she said of the past smell problem.”We’re here to establish the best facility in Grafton.”

The board agreed to refer Feedback Earth’s request to the TIF subcommittee.

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