Schellinger: Despite Pandemic, a Record Pace

Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger says the state is “continuing to log laps, albeit under a yellow flag,” during the COVID-19 pandemic, but is on pace to set another record for job commitments. Schellinger says so far in 2020, the state has locked in 168 projects, with commitments for 20,000 jobs and $2.7 billion in capital investment. “We’ve only announced about 49 of them,” said Schellinger. “We still have over 100 that haven’t been announced.”

Schellinger talked about economic development efforts during the pandemic on this weekend’s edition of Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick.

Last week, the state announced three projects, totaling more than 1,000 potential jobs.

Texas-based Mission Foods, a producer of tortillas, tortilla chips, flat breads and other baked products, confirmed plans for a 510,000-square-foot plant in Plainfield and the potential of up to 544 jobs by the end of 2026.

In northwest Indiana, Dallas-based Corsicana Mattress Co. selected LaPorte for a new boxed bed mattress manufacturing facility as it expands ifs footprint to the northern U.S. The deal represents a nearly $9 million investment and a commitment for up to 350 jobs by the end of 2023.

Indiana also continues to lure companies from neighboring Illinois.

Officials in Gary cut the ribbon last week on a new headquarters and production operation for Alliance Steel, which plans to invest $130 million and bring 130 jobs to Lake County.