SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) _ The South Bend Common Council has approved a property tax abatement request for a large FedEx Ground distribution center on the city's northwest side.

The South Bend Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/1P86WVW) the abatement is valued at nearly $600,000 over five years, during which time FedEx will pay $694,000 in new taxes. The facility near the Indiana Toll Road is among 70 expansion projects aimed at strengthening FedEx's ground shipping capacity. 

The abatement will be on $15 million in new handling equipment for the facility that is expected to create six full-time and 65 new part-time jobs over five years.