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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Wayzata Home Products Invests $12.1 Million To Establish Connersville, Indiana, Manufacturing-Distribution Center

10/04/2013
A producer of high quality semi-custom kitchen cabinets, Wayzata Home Products, will invest $12.1 million to locate its manufacturing and distribution operations center at the former Ford-Visteon industrial site in Connersville, Indiana, creating up to 309 jobs by 2018.

Wayzata Home Products, parent company of the online kitchen cabinet resource CliqStudios.com, plans to purchase and refurbish the 1.8 million square-foot plant on a 183-acre campus at 4747 Western Avenue in Connersville. The facility, which is expected to be operational early next year, will house cabinet fabrication, finishing, assembly and distribution operations.

"Our purchase of the Connersville facility is part of a long-term strategy to add capabilities and infrastructure to enable continued growth and allow exploration of new business opportunities," said Andy Juang, CEO of Wayzata Home Products. "We are in this for the long-haul and remain committed to a strategy that will generate a positive impact and create economic value for the hardworking families of Connersville well into the future."

"We've set the groundwork for a world-class business environment here in the Hoosier State," Gov. Mike Pence said . "Companies based elsewhere continue to select Indiana because of our skilled manufacturing workforce, low taxes and fiscally sound practices. Welcome to Indiana, Wayzata Home Products; together, we're celebrating your plans to bring new jobs and investment to our state, while continuing to look forward at the promise of the future and new opportunities this rejuvenated spirit holds for the Connersville community."

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Wayzata Cabinetry, LLC up to $2 million in conditional tax credits and up to $200,000 in training grants 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.

In addition, the Indiana Brownfields Program, an environmental program of the Indiana Finance Authority, provided Wayzata Connersville RE, the purchasing entity, and Wayzata Home Products, the operating entity, as well as their prospective lender, a clarification letter to address concerns about cleanup liability related to environmental contamination associated with the historic manufacturing activities on the property. The city of Connersville also offered funds using revenues generated from the issuance of a tax increment financing bond.

"The city of Connersville has been diligently working the past seven months with Wayzata Home Products. We are extremely happy and proud that Connersville will be the home of Wayzata Connersville," said Connersville Mayor Leonard E. Urban. "The new company will employ over 300 people in the next five years and will be investing approximately $12,500,000 in our community. The best news is the former Visteon facility will now be productive and back to manufacturing. This gives the citizens of Connersville and Fayette County a new and hopeful outlook for the future of our community."

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