Manufacturers Adding Northern Indiana Jobs
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowTwo manufacturers are growing in northern Indiana. The plans from Hickman, Williams & Co. in LaPorte and Mishawaka Sheet Metal in Elkhart involve a total of about 40 new jobs.
March 30, 2015
News Release
Elkhart, Ind. — Two companies today announced plans to expand their operations, creating 40 new jobs in northern Indiana.
“By building a business climate like Indiana's, we're witnessing homegrown companies like Mishawaka Sheet Metal growing here and national companies like Hickman, Williams & Company choosing to locate here,” said Eric Doden, president of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. “That growth is a direct product of the skilled workforce calling Indiana home—a workforce we're working collaboratively across the state's regions to grow even stronger.”
Launching its first Indiana operation, Hickman, Williams & Company will purchase, renovate and equip a 40,000 square-foot vacant facility in the North Point Business Park in La Porte, a state-certified shovel ready site. With renovation expected to begin this fall, the 125-year-old, employee-owned company will use the facility to process consumable materials for the metal and casting industries. In addition to building renovations, Hickman, Williams & Company plans to install up to 2,000 feet of rail connecting the property to the South Shore Railroad to allow for the delivery of raw materials. With additional facilities in Alabama, Pennsylvania, Illinois and California, the company currently employs about 90 full-time associates across the country, with plans to create up to 20 new Hoosier jobs by 2018.
Mishawaka Sheet Metal, a distributor and fabricator of aluminum, steel and sheet metal products, is investing $1.5 million to equip its approximately 75,000 square-foot Elkhart facility. Experiencing increased demand from area RV, cargo trailer, horse trailer and shuttle bus manufacturers, the company is currently installing an additional laser cutting machine and a cut-to-length line to increase production. Founded in 1991, Mishawaka Sheet Metal currently employs 60 Hoosiers. The company plans to create up to 20 new jobs by 2018 and has already begun hiring production technicians and metal fabrication equipment operators. Interested applicants may apply at the Elkhart WorkOne office or online at www.IndianaCareerConnect.com.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Hickman, Williams & Company up to $140,000 in conditional tax credits based on the company's job creation plans. Mishawaka Sheet Metal, LLC was offered up to $100,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $20,000 in training grants based on the company's job creation plans. These incentives are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is ineligible to claim incentives.
La Porte County approved additional incentives for Hickman, Williams & Company. Elkhart County supports Mishawaka Sheet Metal's project at the request of the Economic Development Corporation of Elkhart County.
About Hickman, Williams & Company
Hickman, Williams & Company is 100 percent employee-owned and serves global metals producers and other industries with a wide range of materials including metallurgical coke, ferroalloys, specialty metals, alloys, briquetted alloys, carbon additives, coal, pig iron, abrasives, fused silica and fluorspar. The company also markets related equipment and supplies such as electrodes, refractories, ceramic filters, lime and ladle nozzle sands.
About Mishawaka Sheet Metal
Mishawaka Sheet Metal is a full service distributor and fabricator of aluminum, steel and sheet metal products. We are dedicated to providing innovative solutions to our customers throughout the United States and Canada. Our ability to purchase materials directly from leading mills at the best possible price will give you the competitive edge for your aluminum and steel fabrication needs. This, coupled with a skilled workforce dedicated to embracing the demands of the markets we serve, has placed MSM in the enviable position of having strong customer relationships that contribute to their success.
MSM offers a complete array of fabrication processes in order to give you as much of a completed product as you require. Starting with providing coils to OEM's and fabricators, MSM can provide material that is cut to length, slit, blanked, PVC backed, roll formed, bent, punched, welded, plasma cut, laser cut, fabricated and assembled. Drop shipments direct from the mill are also available with optional steel or aluminum fabrication as needed. In addition, MSM can solve large program issues by providing forecasting and cost analysis. The more aluminum, steel, tread plate or raw materials you need, trust that we can deliver.
About IEDC
Created in 2005 to replace the former Department of Commerce, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation is governed by a 12-member board chaired by Governor Mike Pence. Victor Smith serves as the Indiana Secretary of Commerce and Eric Doden is the president of the IEDC.
The IEDC oversees programs enacted by the General Assembly including tax credits, workforce training grants and public infrastructure assistance. All tax credits are performance-based. Therefore, companies must first invest in Indiana through job creation or capital investment before incentives are paid. A company who does not meet its full projections only receives a percentage of the incentives proportional to its actual investment. For more information about IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.
Source: Indiana Economic Development Corp.