Companies Commit to 1,000 Hoosier Jobs
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowGovernor Mike Pence says today's jobs announcements show Indiana is bouncing back from a “tough time in the life of our economy.” He detailed expansion plans today from seven companies involving the creation of more than 1,000 jobs in the state. The projects include Bluebridge Digital, which was founded by an Indiana Wesleyan University student in his dorm room, adding nearly 200 jobs in Fishers by 2022. Other investments include expansions in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and Greenfield. December 18, 2013
News Release
STATEHOUSE, Ind. – Governor Mike Pence and executives from seven companies announced today new investments in central Indiana expected to create a combined 1,013 new jobs over the next few years.
“The companies joining us here today have a key role to play in Indiana's resurgent economy,” said Pence. “Though their lines of work vary greatly, they are connected by their resiliency and demonstrate the growth potential of Hoosiers and the companies they help drive. I'm thrilled to be joining these Hoosier business leaders as they bring life to our vision of more jobs and increased opportunities across Indiana.”
Today's news comes amidst the state's record breaking year of economic development results. In 2013, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) secured job commitments from 261 companies from across the country and around the world, an increase from 256 companies in 2012 and more than any other year on record. The 261 companies anticipate investing $2.63 billion in their Indiana operations and creating 21,420 new jobs in the coming years. The new positions, which companies anticipate to hire over the next five years, pay an expected hourly wage of $21.72, above the state's current hourly wage of $20.01. An overview of Indiana's 2013 economic development activities can be found here.
“2013 will go in the record books as another groundbreaking year for Indiana,” said Pence.
“After jumpstarting the year with the passage of the largest tax cut in state history, we seized our moment to share Indiana as a state that works throughout our borders and to centers of industry around the world. And with Indiana's private sector growth far outpacing the national average, our message is resonating as more companies than ever are choosing Indiana for growth. In the coming year, we will remain steadfast in our commitment to maintaining a low-tax, fiscally sound climate and continue to position Indiana as a state that works for business.”
St. Louis-based Ascension Health, the nation's largest Catholic and largest nonprofit healthcare system, will expand the Ascension Health Ministry Service Center (MSC) located on the northwest side of Indianapolis, creating up to 549 new jobs by 2016. The MSC, which opened in late June 2011, provides 24 shared services across human resources, supply chain and finance such as payroll, purchase order management and accounts payable. By the end of 2014, the MSC will expand its services to support Ascension's 150,000 associates serving in more than 1,900 sites of care in 24 states and the District of Columbia. Ascension is anticipating additional growth in shared services over the next few years. To accommodate this growth, the MSC will be adding approximately 30,000 to 50,000 square feet in the next few months by expanding within their current facility and leveraging additional Ascension space within the immediate area. The MSC currently employs more than 500 associates with plans to add an additional 500 over the next 3 years.
Bastian Automation Engineering, a division of Indianapolis-headquartered Bastian Solutions, will invest $1 million to lease, renovate and equip its production facility on its seven-acre campus in Greenfield, creating up to 60 new jobs by 2016. The investment will include additional space for the design and production of a new line of standard products. Currently employing 53 full-time Hoosiers in Greenfield, 147 employees across Indiana and 384 employees worldwide, the productivity-focused manufacturing systems provider has already begun hiring assembly, welding, design, project management, metal fabrication, finishing and engineering associates.
Founded in 2011 by Santiago Jaramillo in his dorm room at Indiana Wesleyan University, Bluebridge Digital helps universities, churches, tourism destinations and other organizations engage with their communities through full-featured, easy-to-update mobile apps. The company, under the leadership of Jaramillo and his business partners, Mitch Shields and Adam Weber, has made plans to invest approximately $311,000 to lease 4,500 square feet office space in Fishers and add up to 199 new jobs by 2022. Bluebridge moved into its new office in the fall and is actively recruiting for positions including account management, operations, sales and marketing at www.bluebridgeapps.com/jobs.
North Dakota-based Classic Alumadeck, which designs and manufactures aluminum deck and railings, plans to invest more than $3 million to locate its first Indiana facility in Indianapolis, creating up to 65 new jobs by 2016. The nearly 40,000 square-foot facility located at 3050 S. Arlington Ave. on the southeast side of the city is expected to opens its doors by the end of the month. Classic Alumadeck, which primarily serves the apartment industry, is currently hiring a variety of positions for the new location, including drafters, welders, laborers and painters.
Fort Wayne-headquartered DuCharme, McMillen & Associates, a state and local tax consulting services firm, plans to invest $2.78 million to expand its Indianapolis operations and locate a new office on the northeast side of the city at Keystone at the Crossing, creating up to 62 new jobs by 2016. The company, which provides services to Fortune 1000 corporations throughout North America, currently employs 125 associates in Indianapolis and nearly 40 in Fort Wayne. The new 42,000 square-foot space is expected to be operational in July 2014.
Gruuv Technologies, an information technology engineering consulting firm, plans to invest $450,000 to expand its operations in Indianapolis, adding up to 29 new jobs by 2017. Launched in 2010 in Indianapolis with a pure focus on Microsoft engineering, Gruuv has since evolved into a firm focusing on systems, networks, virtual and physical data centers, technology strategy, and implementation and support services with clients across the country. It is currently hiring engineering, information technology, project management and sales associates.
Homegrown-Hoosier company Perceivant, LLC, a big data and real-time analytics platform, will invest $309,000 in a leased location in Indianapolis, creating up to 49 new jobs by 2018. Serving underserved clients in the mid-market on a national scale, focusing on health and life sciences, higher education and financial services with its fully-hosted cloud solution, the company is actively hiring software engineers and information technology positions.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Ascension Health Shared Services, LLC up to $4,800,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $200,000 in training grants based on the company's job creation plans. Bastian Automation Engineering, LLC was offered up to $375,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $50,000 in training grants based on the company's job creation plans. BlueBridge Digital, LLC was offered up to $1,850,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $50,000 in training grants based on the company's job creation plans. Classic Alumadeck was offered up to $275,000 in conditional tax credits based on the company's job creation plans. DuCharme, McMillen & Associates, Inc. was offered up to $425,000 conditional tax credits and up to $75,000 in training grants based on the company's job creation plans. Gruuv, LLC was offered up to $330,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $35,000 in training grants based on the company's jo