Elkhart County is on the verge of receiving some holiday cheer -- in the form of new jobs.
The Elkhart County Council is expected to give final approval today on a tax abatement for Fortress Technologies that will result in 266 jobs coming to Elkhart County over the next seven years.
Also today, the council will begin the two-step process needed to approve tax abatements for three other companies that would result in another 135 jobs over the next few years.
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Here are the details regarding the proposed expansions:
- Fortress Technologies will invest
nearly $7.2 million to convert the old Pilgrim International plant along U.S. 20 in Middlebury into a full-frame RV chassis manufacturing plant.
Its seven-year tax phase-in is expected to get final approval today. - Indiana Galvanizing will create 60 new jobs in 2013, while making an investment of more than $3 million in Middlebury.
According to the release from the Indiana Economic Development Corp., Bob Monnig Industries and Universal Galvanizing Inc. will make the investment to purchase, renovate and equip a 97,000-square-foot facility by this summer.
The company is a steel parts galvanizing manufacturer.
"Elkhart County was a perfect fit for the new location," Ryan Monnig, plant manager of Bob Monnig in Glasgow, Mo., said in the release. "Not only did it meet the geographic requirements, but it also has the small-town values and work ethic that we feel is vital to our success."
The Indiana EDC offered the company up to $400,000 in performance-based tax credits and up to $50,000 in training grants based on the company's job creation plans. - Smart Cabinetry, a kitchen cabinet manufacturer, announced plans Friday to expand its operations in New Paris and create up to 75 new jobs by 2016.
The company plans to invest $11.4 million to renovate and equip its current 169,000-square-foot facility there, according to a release from the state. The plans include adding new kitchen cabinet manufacturing, finishing and assembly lines by 2015.
"With markets getting stronger and our nation's outlook brighter, Smart believes its growth in market share will continue but is only facilitated and achievable by an excellent available labor force and Indiana's business-friendly environment which when combined gives us the confidence to make the commitment to move," Kirk Barron, president and chief operating officer of Smart, said in the release. "We look forward to working with both state and local governments to create jobs and continue the momentum we started three years ago."
The IEDC offered Smart, up to $600,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $100,000 in training grants based on the company's job creation plans. - Alliance Aluminum Products in Bristol with an investment of more than $1.6 million, plans to add 10 jobs to its current 13.
http://www.southbendtribune.com/business/sbt-more-elkhart-county-jobs-20121208,0,4294400.story
