Area Development
Conn-Selmer, Inc., a manufacturer of band and orchestra instruments, will invest $2.2 million to consolidate operations from LaGrange, Ill. to Elkhart, Indiana, creating up to 23 new jobs.

The Elkhart-headquartered company, which is a subsidiary of Steinway Musical Instruments, will move its percussion instrument manufacturing operations to its 90,000 square-foot woodwind instrument facility located at 1000 Industrial Parkway in Elkhart, Indiana. Conn-Selmer, which currently employs 346 Hoosiers at its four Elkhart facilities, plans to begin hiring additional production and manufacturing associates early next year.

“In an effort to remain the only full-line band instrument manufacturer in the United States, consolidating these facilities will help reduce overhead and provide us the best opportunity to achieve this goal,” said John Stoner Jr., president and chief executive officer of Conn-Selmer. “We appreciate the support of our project by the city of Elkhart and the state of Indiana.”

“Companies continue to march to the Hoosier State where they find the notes for success, the perfect harmony of a talented workforce, low-taxes, fiscal stability and pro-business policies,” said Dan Hasler, Secretary of Commerce and chief executive officer of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. “Conn-Selmer has a long-standing history in Indiana and we are pleased our state fits the beat of their long-term business plan.”

As an incentive The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Conn-Selmer, Inc. up to $120,000 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. The city of Elkhart approved additional property tax abatement at the request of the Economic Development Corporation of Elkhart County.

“Conn-Selmer is one of Elkhart’s oldest and largest private sector employers. They have a long and storied history with our community,” said Elkhart Mayor Dick Moore. “We are grateful for their vote of confidence in our community and we are proud to have the opportunity to partner with them in this expansion project.”