The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is providing $1.5 million in Economic Development for a Growing Economy corporate income tax credits over the next 10 years, another $500,000 to the city for water and sewer improvements, $107,000 for job training and nearly $600,000 in various other tax credits, sales tax exemptions and grants. "The attractive business credits and incentives that became available, coupled with the outstanding cooperation we received from state DCEO officials and the City of Ottawa, helped make our decision on where to build a much easier one," says PetsMart senior vice president Tony Truesdale.

However, location also played a role in bringing the distribution center to McShane Corp.'s 80-acre business park. "McShane Corp.'s site was selected due to its location on Interstate 80 and the firm's ability to structure a lease and construction completion schedule that satisfied our client's immediate requirements," says Edward Lowenbaum of Trammell Crow Co., a member of a team that represented Phoenix-based PetsMart.

McShane Construction and Harris Architects are building the distribution center, which is being financed by LaSalle Bank, on a 10-month schedule. Witt Truit and Jason West of Trammell Crow Co., along with Eric Termansen of Western Retail Advisors, LLC also represented PetsMart in negotiations that also included Thomas G. Barbera of Trammell Crow Co., McShane Corp.'s representative. In addition, Jerry Halterman and Dan Reynolds, owners of the land where the distribution center will be built, are partnering with McShane Corp. on the build-to-suit deal.