FARGO — Fargo's Tax Exempt Review Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 22, voted unanimously to recommend that CI Sport Inc. receive a five-year tax exemption for a new location it will soon be occupying — the former Gander Mountain site at 2121 43rd St. S., in Fargo.
Randy Thorson, an owner of CI Sport, told the tax exempt review committee that the former Gander Mountain location is being purchased by another company he has ownership in — Global Acquisitions — and CI Sport will lease the building space it is moving into.
Thorson said he is part owner of the space CI Sport currently occupies on Broadway in downtown Fargo, and he said there are no plans to sell that space at this time.
Jim Gilmour, strategic planning director for Fargo, said the soon-to-be vacated CI Sport location on Broadway will likely be redeveloped at some point, but he said there are no specifics plans on what will happen with the property.
He said the request for a tax break for the building CI Sport is moving to now goes to the City Commission for a decision. The City Commission is set to review the request at a meeting Feb. 11.
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According to information CI Sport provided the city, the company expects to grow its employee numbers from the current 83 to possibly as many as 134 after five years.
Gilmour said the tax break, if approved, would amount to about $44,000 annually for five years.
CI Sport designs and markets collegiate and corporate apparel on a regional and national level and services more than 2,200 college and high school bookstores around the U.S.
It also provides goods for corporations, including Amazon, Border States Electric, Pizza Ranch and Scheels.
"It's a big move, but we're excited about it," Thorson said of CI Sport's move to the former Gander Mountain building.
