Area Development
Cruiser RV has announced it will expand operations in LaGrange, Indiana, and create up to 200 jobs over the next three years. Currently it employs 140 full-time Indiana workers.

Based in Howe, Indiana, this manufacturer of lightweight travel trailer produces four RV brands, and is a sister firm to DRV Luxury Suites (a high-end fifth wheel manufacturer).

Cruiser will invest over $850,000 to lease a 140,000-sq.-ft. LaGrange manufacturing facility, make infrastructure improvements, and add machinery for a new production line The space is situated close to the firm's manufacturing facility and headquarters in Howe.

"We simply were busting at the seams in our current Howe facility and faced making a big decision," said Cruiser RV President Jeff Fought. "We've been a single plant organization since our inception, but we feel this is the logical next step for us. The LaGrange plant will give us the needed flexibility to expand our current product offering, while reducing our lead time during the peak selling season and improving overall product quality."

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Cruiser RV, LLC up to $1,750,000 in performance-based tax credits based on the company's job creation plans. The town of LaGrange will consider more abatement and tax increment financing bonds at the request of the LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation.

Hiring for some of the new manufacturing and administrative jobs begins this month. The company plans on beginning production at the new facility by the end of this year.