Monday night Durham City Council members voted to offer Burt's Bees, Inc. incentives to move to the American Tobacco District downtown.

"We are in competition for this deal - with one of the places being Wake County," said Bill Kalkhoff, President of Downtown Durham Inc.

The unanimous decision by the city council approves a contract with Burt's Bees in the amount of $138,750 for the relocation, creation and retention of 183 jobs. The economic development incentive spells out specific goals the company must reach if it decides to move downtown.

"There is a financial gap in the deal," Kalkhoff said. "It's cheaper for Burt's Bees to stay where they are or to move to Wake County than to come to downtown. The incentive is to help fill some of that gap."

The company moved to the Triangle in the early ‘90s and its offices are currently located off of Davis Drive near Morrisville. The company is known for its natural personal care products, including skin and hair care products, soaps, lotions, and lip balm.

"Today we continue to grow despite the adverse economy," said John Replogle, President of Burt's Bees. "We employee about 400 people across our three campuses."

Replogle told council members moving downtown will help the company work closer with non-profits and other groups.

"We believe it's the right thing to do," he said. "We're looking to grow and be a vital part of the revitalization of downtown Durham."

Kalkhoff said moving the company downtown would also create a momentum that could accelerate growth here.

"This is one of those companies that will help in our recruitment efforts in the future," he told council members.

Durham resident Victoria Peterson told the council they needed to make sure Burt's Bees hired local residents.

"I have lived in this community for years - 20 or 30 years. I have watched the City and the County invite companies in this community to give them incentive packages," Peterson said. "I've also observed companies are going to hire our Durham local citizens. Mr. City Manager, many times that really does not happen. Please make sure our local citizens will get some of these jobs."

"Your average salary is $81,000. Many of our local citizens, our home grown citizens here in Durham do not have the kind of skills and the ability to really go out and make $81,000."

Kevin Dick, Interim Director of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, responded by saying Durham's JobLink will be the first source from which Burt's Bees will recruit talent. Possible positions could be in administration, sales, accounting, marketing, information technology, finance, and human resources.

"Many of them would require four-year degrees based upon about the nature of those positions," Dick said. "Whereas there are some inner-city residents who do not possess advance degrees - Durham actually has the highest percentage of college-educated graduates of any city in the Triangle and I think among the top three in the state of North Carolina."

"There are many Durham residents, especially in this economy, who have four-year degrees, community college degrees or greater who have been laid-off from jobs as well and they need to be served, too."