Area Development
A pet supplies manufacturer, Scott Pet Products, Inc., plans to relocate its operations center from Tishomingo, Okla. to Newport Indiana, creating up to 80 new jobs by 2014.

The company, which specializes in natural dog chews, treats and wild bird seed, will open a manufacturing and distribution warehouse located on its nine-acre campus in Vermillion Rise Mega Park. The facility, which will be fully operational in January, will house the company’s beef and pork dog treat operations.

“With a long history in Indiana, Scott Pet Products is a familiar name among pet owners,” said Michael Bassett, president of Scott Pet Products. “We not only chose this location because of its close proximity to our corporate headquarters, but we have come to appreciate Indiana’s workforce and business-friendly environment.”

Scott Pet Products, which employs 110 associates at its Rockville, Indiana headquarters, is currently hiring additional positions in quality control, supervision, maintenance and production at its Newport facility.

“Indiana is nationally recognized for having the best business climate in the country and it is no wonder we broke the state’s all time record for deals last week,” said Governor Mitch Daniels. “With the hard work of Hoosiers and the pro-growth environment we’ve created, we know that Scott Pet Products will join a growing list of successful relocations to Indiana.”

As an incentive the Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Scott Pet Products, Inc. up to $70,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. These incentives are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. In addition the state offered Vermillion County a grant from the Industrial Development Grant Fund of up to $250,000 to assist with off-site infrastructure improvements. The Vermillion County Economic Development Council also approved incentives at the request of the Newport Chemical Depot Reuse Authority.

“We are excited to have Scott Pet Products locate at Vermillion Rise Mega Park. To see a regional company relocate its manufacturing operation from another state and expand in our industrial park is wonderful,” said Tom Milligan, vice president of the Newport Chemical Depot Reuse Authority. “This project will not only impact Vermillion County, but it has ramifications for the entire West Central Indiana region. We look forward to a long and prosperous working relationship with Scott Pet Products.”