A clean technology company that turns clean, green wood debris into an environmentally friendly charcoal product will receive Collier County job incentives to create 14 new jobs once it builds a headquarters in Immokalee.
The Board of County Commissioners, without discussion on Jan. 28, unanimously approved ArborX Inc. as a qualified applicant to the county’s Basic Industry Growth Promotion Incentive Program, agreeing to provide $49,000 in job incentives. Under state statutes, the company applied confidentially under the name “CARBO” and was approved under the county’s Fast Track Program in September; the vote makes its plans public.
“The project’s operation and directly related employment will support the diversification of Collier County’s economy and growth in manufacturing jobs,” Cormac Giblin, the county’s director of Housing Policy & Economic Development, wrote in a memo to commissioners, noting ArborX plans to invest about $2.5 million in capital expenditures.
State Sunbiz records show ArborX Inc., a Delaware corporation, was incorporated in Florida as a foreign, out-of-state corporation in April 2024 by its chair, Chris Borgeson, and four directors, out of Borgeson’s home on Winding Oaks Way in the Stonebridge development. Delaware records show it was incorporated in September 2023.
The company’s public relations firm said it will have more information about plans, job timelines and a launch date next month, after meeting with county officials.
ArborX, which diverts wood from traditional waste streams and turns it into biochar, plans to expand and move to about 15 agriculturally zoned acres at 2951 State Route 29 in Immokalee. Property records show that it’s an 11.64-acre vacant property.
Biochar is a carbon matrix, similar to charcoal that’s not fully incinerated and is environmentally friendly, more sustainable and renewable, ArborX’s website states. It’s used as an organic soil additive, absorbing or insulating material, water-treatment solution, air cleaner, silage agent or feed supplement.
The company says it’s transforming the way society uses wood waste with revolutionary green technology, a process that offers less expensive disposal, cleaner methods and provides upcycling into new products. It also offers drop-off sites for clients so ArborX can process, sort and convert wood waste into biochar more efficiently than current market offerings.
ArborX, which has five directors, will be paid $3,500 yearly for each job it creates, up to 14 new full-time-equivalent jobs during the first four years after its building receives a certificate of occupancy to open. The jobs will pay at least $50,654 annually. During the first year, ArborX will be required to create five jobs, three more the second year, four in the third year and two in the fourth year, when it must contribute $5,000 toward the county’s municipal solid-waste disposal. All jobs created must be maintained year to year.
The agreement states each new employee must be either a full-time employee working an average of 36 hours weekly, or ArborX can count two employees working at least 20 hours weekly as one full-time equivalent, as long as the employees receive full benefits.
Collier County created the Basic Industry Growth Promotion Incentive Program in September 2013, and it was revised in January 2015. Its objective is to boost the county’s economy by encouraging job-growth opportunities for expansions and recruiting new target-industry companies that might not qualify for the state’s Qualified Target Industries program.
The program usually provides $3,000 per job if a project creates at least five jobs within 12 months that meet the county’s average salary for their job classification, but ArborX is eligible for a $500-per-job bonus for businesses that involve energy efficiency, resource conservation or environmental sustainability.
County staff estimates the return on investment will be positive, Giblin wrote, with almost $900,000 in earnings and 18 direct and induced jobs among manufacturing, construction and transportation clusters by year four.
County Staff will coordinate with ArborX and the Clerk’s Office to monitor the project, including IRS and payroll records, while the Housing Policy and Economic Development Division will ensure ArborX remains current on county business tax receipts, property taxes and its Sunbiz registration. The project will be monitored by the clerk’s Office of Inspector General, which will conduct an audit prior to each incentive payment. The annual reports will be posted on the clerk’s website.
