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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Hoist Liftruck Mfg. To Establish Manufacturing Center In East Chicago, Indiana

08/13/2015
Hoist Liftruck Mfg., Inc., a manufacturer of high-capacity material handling equipment, plans to expand its manufacturing operations to East Chicago, Indiana. The company plans to create up to 500 new jobs by 2022.

The company will purchase, renovate and equip an approximately 550,000-square-foot building at 4407 Railroad Ave. in East Chicago, expanding a majority of the company’s operations from Bedford Park, Illinois. Originally designed for Blaw-Knox to manufacture tanks for the U.S. Army, the facility has remained largely vacant for the last 10 years. The new site will allow the company to expand its production of heavy-duty forklifts to accommodate a significant increase of new unit orders resulting from several strategic contracts awarded to Hoist Liftruck.

According to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation the company, which currently employs more than 300 associates, expects to close on the property late this summer. The expansion will create hundreds of new jobs in Indiana this year with additional jobs in the coming years.

“Our East Chicago expansion represents a significant investment in Hoist Liftruck in order for us to meet our growing demand,” said Marty Flaska, President/CEO of Hoist Liftruck. “We are excited to partner with East Chicago and the state of Indiana on this project that will be integral to our growth.”

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Hoist Liftrucks Mfg. Inc. up to $8.25 million in conditional tax credits and up to $200,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. These incentives are performance-based, meaning the company is not eligible to claim incentives until jobs are created. The city of East Chicago has approved additional incentives at the request of the Lake County Indiana Economic Alliance. The Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority and NIPSCO also approved additional incentives.

“Comparing business climates from around the Midwest to Indiana, the Hoosier advantage is clear,” said Governor Mike Pence. “Our low taxes, affordable cost of doing business and skilled Hoosier workforce are key factors in helping companies grow. Today, Indiana’s unemployment rate is the lowest among our neighboring states because businesses like Hoist Liftruck are looking at the numbers and choosing to expand to the vibrant communities in our state.”

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