Area Development
OMCO, a manufacturer specializing in steel metal forming for the transportation industry, plans to invest $6.7 million to expand its Pierceton, Indiana, production center, creating up to 40 jobs by 2016.

The Wickliffe, Ohio-based company will invest renovate and equip its existing 85,000 square-foot facility in Pierceton, adding an additional 42,000 square-feet of functional manufacturing space by mid-2014. The expansion will allow OMCO to increase manufacturing capacity for its diversified customer base.

OMCO, which currently employs more than 500 associates nationally, including more than 120 in Indiana, plans to begin hiring machine operators, maintenance associates, tool and die specialists and material handlers next year. Interested applicants may apply by visiting any Elwood Staffing location.

"After evaluating our most cost-effective options for a plant expansion, the Pierceton facility was chosen for a number of reasons," said Gary Schuster, President and CEO of OMCO. "At the top of that list was the highly committed and talented workforce available to us in northern Indiana, along with the outstanding support we receive from the Pierceton community, its governing bodies and the state of Indiana."

"Each component of the manufacturing process builds more than just a supply chain--it helps build our economy," said Eric Doden, President of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. "With Indiana's skilled workforce and the support of our strong, pro-growth policies, we are witnessing extraordinary growth in advanced manufacturing. Companies find a competitive advantage here, so it's no wonder Indiana is known as a state that works."

As an incentive, The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered OMCO up to $325,000 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 town of Pierceton approved additional tax abatement at the request of the Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation.