Area Development
Two Indiana manufacturers will expand operations and add 35 new jobs between them, according to Indiana economic development officials. Superior Essex, a maker of magnet wire and cable, will invest $500,000 to expand its distribution operations in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and create 15 new jobs. "We are pleased with the cooperation, support, and interest from local, county, and state officials regarding our investment in the local economy," says Ronald Harris, the company's vice president of distribution. "It is exciting to further build our ties to the area by growing distribution operations here." The state has offered Superior Essex up to $100,000 in performance-based tax credits and up to $25,000 in training grants, contingent on job creation; the city will also support property tax abatement. In Warsaw, Indiana, The Flexaust Company, a manufacturer of hose and ducting products, will invest more than $1 million to update equipment at its 120,000-square-foot facility and create 20 new jobs. The state is providing the company with a $54,000 grant to train employees in production methods, resource planning, and workplace problem solving. "We serve a variety of industries and have been fortunate to maintain a steady flow of business," says Steve Hagan, the company's controller. "This training program will allow us to increase the skills of our workers, ultimately making us more competitive."