The Enterprise Zone Commission (EZC) has approved tax exemptions for In the Mix Cakery LLC, a locally owned bakery, as the first business to qualify under the South Shore Trade Zone initiative. The decision, finalized during the EZC’s meeting on Thursday, grants the bakery a 100 percent tax exemption on authorized benefits for a period of 20 years.
In the Mix Cakery LLC has outlined a plan to expand its operations, promising to create employment opportunities in the community. In its first year, the bakery plans to employ five full-time staff members, including two owners and one paid apprentice. By the second year, staffing is projected to increase to seven full-time employees, and by the third year, the business aims to have ten full-time staff, all while continuing its apprenticeship program.
The bakery has also committed to providing life and health insurance, paid time off for its employees, and a $2,500 annual donation to local nonprofits on St. Croix as part of its community support efforts.
After deliberations in an executive session, the EZC board returned to unanimously approve the application for In the Mix, solidifying its support for the bakery’s expansion.
In 2023, the V.I. Economic Development Authority (VIEDA) Board reviewed and approved In the Mix Cakery LLC's application for expansion as part of the South Shore Trade Zone initiative. During that year’s annual report presentation, the EZC highlighted the bakery’s growth potential and its role in the local economy.
Commissioners expressed their support for In the Mix’s expansion, noting its success at the previous AgriFest, where the bakery sold over 31,000 cookies. The business, owned by a Black local woman with her daughter repatriating from the mainland to help manage operations, has become an integral part of the St. Croix community.
At the time, the board approved a five-year lease agreement for In the Mix, offering a starting rent of $6 per square foot, which would gradually increase to $7 per square foot over time. This approval was seen as a crucial step in allowing the bakery to expand its production capacity and explore exporting its products beyond the territory.
