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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Lake Area Designs Invests $1.5 Million To Relocate Its Furniture and Custom Molding Plant To LaGrange, Indiana

02/05/2013
Lake Area Designs, a wood furniture and custom molding manufacturer for the recreational vehicle and commercial industries, will invest $1.5 million relocate its operations from Sturgis, Mich. to LaGrange, Indiana, creating up to 34 new jobs by 2016. LAD designs and manufactures wooden furniture, including coffee tables, chairs and end tables. The company, which also specializes in custom wood moldings such as door trims and base rails, supplies to multiple RV companies across northeast Indiana.

"We are very excited to make the move to Indiana to be closer to our customer base in northern Indiana," said Rob West, president of LAD. "Being able to do business in a right-to-work state that provides companies with the necessary tools to be successful made the decision to relocate here an easy one and we look forward to growing in LaGrange County and the state of Indiana."

The company will lease and renovate a 24,000 square-foot facility located at 1200 N. Detroit St. in LaGrange. LAD plans to move its operations to the new facility when construction is completed in April. The company will retain ten employees from Sturgis and begin hiring additional manufacturing and production associates in June.

"Companies like LAD are actively seeking out friendly, low-cost environments with highly productive workers. As one of the most highly-rated business climates in the nation, no better place fits that description than Indiana," said Victor Smith, Indiana Secretary of Commerce.

As an incentive, Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Lake Area Designs, LLC 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 LaGrange approved additional tax abatement at the request of the LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation.

"We are happy to support a new business in the town of LaGrange," said Mark Eagleson, president of the LaGrange Town Council. "The woodworking industry has great roots in LaGrange County and this new venture will not only create new jobs but support the industry that we already have established."

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