The Indiana Economic Development Corp. offered Defender Direct up to $6 million in performance-based tax credits and up to $345,000 in training grants.

The company has current locations in Indianapolis, Greensburg and Sunman.

Press Release

INDIANAPOLIS (Jan. 30, 2008) – Governor Mitch Daniels joined executives from technology distributor and service provider Defender Direct today to announce the company’s plans to expand its Indiana operations, including creation of more than 1,100 new jobs.

The company, which distributes and provides products and customer service support services for ADT, GE Security and Dish Network, plans to invest more than $15 million in its Indiana operations by expanding its international headquarters in Indianapolis by at least 300 jobs. The company has not yet determined if the balance of the new jobs will come to one or more of the company’s current locations in Indianapolis, Greensburg and Sunman or a different Indiana site.

"Today, we celebrate major job growth in Indianapolis, but with the knowledge that the same great news is coming to other towns, too," said Daniels.

Founded in 1998 as a local security systems distributor, Defender Direct has grown into a 40-state distributorship for multiple technology brands and a provider of customer service operations that range from sales to home system installation. The company, which currently employs more than 400 associates in Indiana, has begun hiring managers, professional corporate staff and business development professionals.

"From the very beginning, the state of Indiana has proven to be a great home for our international headquarters and Indiana-based response center operations," said David Lindsey, president and chief executive officer of Defender Direct. "With the many favorable changes that Indiana has made to its business climate, and the leadership that both the city and state have shown in supporting this phase of our expansion, we hope to continue our growth here for a long time."

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Defender Direct up to $6 million in performance-based tax credits and up to $345,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. The City of Indianapolis will consider property tax abatement for expansion plans locally. In addition, the company is currently in negotiations with other communities to support new or expanded operations in those areas.

"This is great news for the City of Indianapolis and Marion County," said Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard. "Defender Direct is a well respected Hoosier company, and the fact that they are creating jobs in Marion County is a sign of not only their business success, but the success of our community in attracting jobs."

Defender Direct’s announced plans to expand in Indiana come as the company continues to garner regional and national accolades for its growth. Inc. Magazine ranked the company 845 on its 2007 list of 5000 fastest growing private companies, and the Indianapolis Business Journal ranked the company as the second fastest growing business in Indianapolis in 2007. The Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, a division of Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, also named the company one of the state’s fastest growing businesses in 2007 with its Indiana Growth 100 award.

Defender Direct’s announcement to expand its corporate headquarters in Indianapolis comes less than four months after Arcadia Healthcare (AMEX:KAD) announced plans to relocate its Detroit headquarters to Indianapolis’ north side, creating 400 new jobs.

About Defender Direct

Founded in 1998, Defender Direct is a leading supplier of ADT Security Systems, Dish Network Satellite Television, and GE Security services and products. In recent years Defender has been recognized as one of Indianapolis’ Top 25 Fastest Growing Private Companies and as a member of the Inc. 500 List of Fastest Growing Companies. Defender markets, sells and installs new products and services to homeowners throughout the U.S. The company is currently headquartered in Indianapolis at 6100 N. Keystone. For more information about Defender Direct, visit www.defenderdirect.com.

About IEDC

Created by Governor Mitch Daniels in 2005 to replace the former Department of Commerce, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation is governed by a 12-member board chaired by Governor Daniels. Indiana Secretary of Commerce Nathan Feltman serves as the chief executive officer of the IEDC. Since Daniels created the IEDC, the state has posted three consecutive years of record-breaking job creation. For more information about IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.

Source: Indiana Economic Development Corp.