Another Illinois Company Chooses Indiana
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowAn Illinois company has announced plans to move its headquarters to Crown Point and add about a dozen jobs by 2017. Illini Hi-Reach Inc. says it will invest more than $13 million in the project. The company is a rental provider of aerial work platforms and material handling equipment. July 2, 2014
News Release
CROWN POINT, Ind. – Illini Hi-Reach, Inc., a rental provider of aerial work platforms and material handling equipment, announced plans today to relocate its corporate headquarters and service hub from Lemont, Illinois to here, creating up to 13 new jobs by 2017.
The company will invest $13.6 million to construct and equip a 30,000 square-foot facility at 520 E. 110th St. in Crown Point. The facility, which will start construction next week and begin operations by November, will allow the company to better serve construction, industrial and commercial segments in northwest Indiana, as well as expand into new markets across Indiana and Michigan.
“Headquarters thrive here because Indiana has built the optimum business environment for their growth and success,” said Victor Smith, Indiana Secretary of Commerce. “With our central location and robust transportation network, customers and clients are never too far away. Add in our low tax and limited regulatory environment, and it is clear why Indiana is a state that works for Illini Hi-Reach and companies across the world looking to gain a competitive advantage.”
Illini Hi-Reach, which currently employs approximately 30 full-time associates, plans to begin hiring managerial and sales staff, service representatives, trucking personnel and marketing professionals in November. Interested applicants may apply by emailing a resume to lworkman@hi-reach.com.
“After considerable research and deliberation, Illini's board of directors chose Crown Point, Indiana as the new corporate headquarters for our company and its long-term expansion plans,” said Larry Workman, president of Illini Hi-Reach. “Indiana's overall economic health and its positive business environment is an excellent fit for our company. Additionally, Crown Point is an ideal location for our new state-of-the-art service and support facility, our largest to date, for these same reasons, as well as its proximity to our other existing markets that we have enjoyed much success over the past 20 years.”
Founded in 1993, Illini Hi-Reach offers a rental fleet of aerial work platforms and material handling equipment for construction projects in the Chicago and northwest Indiana regions. The company provides next day service for clients, with nearly 1,000 total rental units available, including scissor lifts, boom lifts and telehandlers. Illini Hi-Reach has been a factory-authorized JLG parts and service center for 10 years.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Illini Hi-Reach, Inc. up to $115,000 in conditional tax credits based on the company's job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The city of Crown Point will consider additional incentives.
“The city of Crown Point is extremely excited to welcome Illini-Hi Reach to the city,” said Crown Point Mayor David Uran. “We would like to thank Mr. Workman and his team for choosing to invest in Crown Point. I know that not only the jobs that are created will benefit our city, but also the relationship with a quality community partner will also serve our city well. Due to the amount of investment, the quality of construction proposed and the creation of new jobs for our community, we are committed to assisting Illini Hi-Reach with all applicable financial incentives.”
Earlier this year, Indiana enacted legislation placing its corporate income tax on a reduction schedule, in addition to providing local communities with enhanced tools to provide further property tax relief to small businesses. With Indiana's commitment to help companies keep costs down, the state's unemployment rate has declined 2.1 percent in the last year, the nation's third largest drop.
About Illini Hi-Reach
Independently-owned and operated since 1993, Illini has become one of the leading aerial and material handling equipment suppliers in the greater Chicagoland and northwest Indiana marketplaces.
For over 20 years, Illini Hi-Reach has been providing our ever-growing customer base with the fastest and most productive construction and industrial rental equipment available. Our vastly experienced management team and employees are 100 percent committed to complete customer satisfaction and jobsite productivity.
Illini has been a trusted equipment supplier on a vast majority of major construction projects from southern Wisconsin to northern Indiana that includes huge projects in the major Indiana steel mills to all major road and bridge work in the greater Chicagoland area.
Illini continues to strategically grow and expand to meet our customers' workload and equipment requirements throughout the Midwest U.S.
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: The Indiana Economic Development Corp.