The Economic Development Perspective
Marshall County Economic
Development Corporation
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Get to Know Marshall County Businesses - Indiana Composites
Corporate Headquarters: Bourbon
Date Established: 2016
Industrial Sector: Transportation Equipment
Primary Product:
Fiberglass Components for RV & Marine Industries
Number of Employees: 51
It's been just over 2 years since Indiana Composites, LLC located to Bourbon, making the Town its new business headquarters. Already, the business, which manufactures fiberglass components for the marine, RV, and specialty vehicles, has made its mark on the Town. Their Bourbon building had previously been vacant for many years. Now it has been renovated, and new equipment added at a roughly $3.8 million capital investment. There was a quick turnaround on production, with initial employees being hired and production starting just a few weeks after the expansion was announced.
The state-of-the-art Bourbon facility offers a closed molding fiberglass production shop with open molding capability to produce consistent, high-quality parts in an efficient setting. Indiana Composites' initial plans for the operation demonstrated a need for 200 employees by 2019 which is a significant boost to Bourbon and Marshall County's economy. Customer opportunities continue to grow, and staff are being added to meet that demand.
Northern Indiana is known to many as the RV Capital of the world thanks to the high concentration of RV manufacturing facilities. Marshall County is proud to be home to several of these businesses, including Indiana Composites.
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Planning Pays off for Marshall County with Stellar Announcement
Building off Culver's recent Stellar designation and the community's success in the Regional Cities Initiative (RCI), Marshall County is once again being recognized for our planning efforts. The Marshall County Crossroads region has been named a 2018 Stellar Communities finalist. The regional group consists of leaders from Marshall County, Argos, Bremen, Bourbon, Culver, LaPaz, and Plymouth. Stellar helps communities develop strategic investment plans, promote partnerships, and implement solutions to the challenges they face. As a finalist, Marshall County is leveraging 6 years of planning through its quarterly roundtable County Development for the Future meetings. The County is also leveraging 3.5 years of planning through RCI and over 2 years through Culver's previous Stellar application process. Thanks to Kevin Overmyer and Ginny Munroe, as well as everyone who contributed to writing the application.
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Pretzels Plant Proves Successful, Expansion on the Horizon
Pretzels, Inc is celebrating one year of production at the Plymouth location with new expansion plans. Due to market demand and growing customer base, Pretzels Inc. will expand the facility with a $9 million investment. The company plans to install a second oven and new packaging line, as well as create 35 new jobs with an average wage of $17.90 per hour. The expansion is supported by a 7-year phase in, personal property tax abatement. The abatement was approved by the Plymouth City Council following a public hearing on March 11th.Pretzels located to Plymouth in October 2016 with an $18 million expansion and has since hired nearly 70 employees. The Plymouth Pretzels building was originally developed by the community to attract manufacturers looking for quick customization to meet specialized business needs. Pretzels' sustained growth shows that this facility was a smart investment for both the company and community. Thanks to the success of this project in Plymouth, a similar building is being constructed in Argos.
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Oasis Announces Another Major Expansion
Oasis Lifestyle, LLC, is expanding for the second time in four years (the first time under the business named Composite Technology Assemblies). Oasis, a leader in the fiberglass tub and shower industry, will be investing $1.9 million to improve production capacity. The capital investment is supported by a local tax abatement and will include two building expansion projects, at an estimated $1.8 million, and over $134,000 in new equipment. This is the second tax abatement for the Plymouth company, which purchased a new building and equipment in a $1.2 million expansion in 2014 as Composite Technology Assemblies. Thanks to the Plymouth City Council for supporting this expansion, and to Oasis Lifestyle for investing in the Plymouth community.
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Marshall County Life Center Bond Closing, Project to Break Ground Soon
With financing being finalized, the long-awaited Marshall County Life Center is on track to break ground this summer. The closing date on the bond financing officially took place on May 17th. Closing of the New Market Tax Credits will occur by the end of May or beginning of June. Located just off US Hwy 30 near Lifeplex, this project includes a 27,000 sq. ft. Aquatic Center with a 10-lane pool, and an Early Child Learning Center. New Market Tax Credits will provide $1 million in funding to the Aquatic Center and $2 million to the Early Child Learning Center. The funding structure for this project also includes Regional Cities funding, and TIF funds. The City of Plymouth, Ancilla College, and Plymouth School Corporation recently passed agreements to lease and use the aquatic facility. On May 1st, the project was also approved by the Plymouth Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals.
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Plymouth Returns to Entrepreneurial Roots
Marshall County has had a rich history of entrepreneurship and successful startups. Our community is continuing that tradition by supporting Notre Dame's IDEA Week in South Bend. The goal of IDEA Week is to introduce entrepreneurs, developers, and investors to each other and to highlight the economic growth of our region. The Plymouth Redevelopment Commission will provide $15,000 in seed funding per year for three years, and the Marshall County Community Foundation (MCCF) awarded $10,000 to help fund this initiative. This financial support will allow us to partner with Notre Dame under the shared goal of fostering entrepreneurship. Sponsoring IDEA Week will help us position Marshall County as a hub of innovation and will drive more activity to our developing E-Hubs in Plymouth and Culver. Thanks to the Plymouth Redevelopment Commission and MCCF for supporting local entrepreneurial activities.
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Easterday Construction Stands the Test of Time
One of Marshall County's businesses has been recognized for its longevity. On April 11th, Easterday Construction Co., Inc., which has been in business for 90 years, was honored with the Governor's Half Century Business Award. To qualify for the Governor's Century and Half Century Business Awards, businesses must have been in operation for at least 100 or 50 consecutive years and have demonstrated a commitment to community service. Easterday Construction is a fourth-generation, family-owned company in Culver that specializes in commercial and industrial construction projects in northern Indiana. The award represents Easterday Construction's commitment to the Marshall County economy.
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Progress Across Marshall County
Argos Community Building Receives Funding
A new development in Argos that will improve quality of life is one step closer to becoming a reality. Marshall County was recently awarded $500,000 for the construction of a multi-purpose community building on the 4-H Fairgrounds in Argos.
The Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) announced the winners of the Community Development Block Grant Program on April 5th. The building will be approximately 8,000 square feet and will accommodate more than 400 community members for a variety of year-round events. Earlier this year, the Marshall County Council pledged $215,000 toward the project. There is also a local match of $300,000 which is coming from the Town of Argos and fundraising efforts.
New Bourbon Business Signals Growth
After months of hard work on behalf of the town to bring new business to the area, Bourbon recently celebrated the grand opening of a new Dollar General. Bourbon and Marshall County leaders came together for the ribbon cutting on Saturday, May 12th. The $1 million development will grow Bourbon's commercial corridor along US Hwy 30 and SR 331 and bring 10 new jobs to the community. During the ribbon cutting, Bourbon and Marshall County leaders spoke about the impact this project would have on the county's Stellar application. Marshall County was recently named a finalist, and Bourbon has already pledged $5,000 to help secure the designation. Last year, the Bourbon Town Council annexed land, and invested $80,000 in infrastructure expansion to facilitate the development. This planning demonstrates that Bourbon is a business-friendly community, focused on growth.
Culver Connects to Commercial Businesses
Culver is taking important steps to better understand and respond to the needs of local businesses. The Town of Culver, the Marshall County EDC (MCEDC), and Culver Main Street Corporation, are launching the Culver Business Expansion and Retention (CBEAR) program. This program will assess and determine the needs of retail and commercial businesses through one-on-one interviews with business leaders. The data collected from Culver businesses will allow Culver to continue to develop plans that address business concerns and help businesses thrive. Understanding the needs of commercial and retail businesses will ultimately aid in the town's long-term growth.
Workforce Development Solution in Day Care Operation
High-quality childcare and prekindergarten education are vital to growing our workforce now and in the future. After a tax abatement approval by the Plymouth City Council, Weir Enterprises LLC, also known as Carey's Child Care, will soon be opening a new early learning facility in Plymouth through a $500,000 expansion. The new facility will double the number of children served and employees staffing the center. The new facility is registered as an On My Way Pre-K provider, which makes prekindergarten available to low-income families. Last year, Marshall County was named an On My Way Pre-K county, becoming one of just 20 in the state to participate in this pilot program. Carey's Child Care will improve educational opportunities for our youth and strengthen our workforce through this program.
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Regional Cities Update
Marshall County has made significant progress on several of its Regional Cities funded projects over the last few months. The following is a brief update on the projects in each community:
Argos
Construction is drawing to an end for the
Argos Manufacturing Center. Manufacturing Centers are customizable buildings that speed up the process for a new business to begin operations by more than 50 percent. Foundations and walls for the Argos Manufacturing Center are in place, and windows and public utilities are being installed. Water and electric have been connected to the development and sewage is near completion. The project is on track to be substantially complete by the end of May 2018.The public is invited to come see the finished building at the ribbon cutting ceremony and open house on June 6th at 11 a.m.at 151 Dewey St. in Argos.
Bremen
The Town of Bremen has reached a major milestone on the
Rolling Meadows housing development, which will address business needs in the community. Situated southeast of town, the residential development will include 53 lots of houses, condominiums, and villas. Currently, 4 units have been completed and 4 more are under construction. This project received $83,000 through Regional Cities to support infrastructure expansion to the development. With Phase I infrastructure completed, the Regional Development Authority (RDA) has now closed on project funding.
Culver
Construction on Culver's
Sand Hill Farm project is proceeding well. The 24-unit, 3 story housing development consists of three separate buildings, connected with breezeways. Windows and porches have been installed. The building developer has also donated a parcel of land to Habitat for Humanity. Thanks to their recent Stellar designation, Culver is also exploring funding options for Phase II of Sand Hill Farm, which would provide even more workforce housing to support the needs of local employers.
Plymouth
The
REES Theatre project recently finished Phase I restoration, which includes exterior renovations. The theatre has been added to Plymouth's TIF District #1 project list. A capital campaign is underway with the goal of re-opening the REES Theatre in 2020, which is the building's 80th anniversary. Just down Michigan Street, the
River Gate South housing development is taking shape. Ground level parking lots have been constructed for all three buildings, and work has begun on the remaining three floors of apartments. Work on the 39-unit complex is expected to be completed in late July or August 2018.
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Invest in Marshall County
The Marshall County EDC would like to say thank you for your commitment in supporting the "Invest in Marshall County" campaign. The private/public partnership was launched in 2015 to increase private sector support for economic development.
New investors pledging funds to the campaign and partnering with MCEDC include:
- Farm Innovators, Inc.
- Oasis Lifestyle, LLC
- Marshall County Convention and Visitors Bureau (In-Kind)
Returning investors include:
- Lake City Bank
- Wabash Valley Power Association, Inc.
- First Merchants Bank
- Northern Indiana Public Service Company
- DAC Enterprise, Inc.
- Indiana Michigan Power
- Indiana Technology and Manufacturing Companies
- Centier Bank
- Marshall County Community Foundation (In-Kind)
- United Way of Marshall County (In-Kind)
- Marshall County Museum (In-Kind)
- Masterson & Associates, Inc.
- Collins & Company Realtors
- Banner Electric, Inc.
Thank you, together we will strengthen and grow Marshall County's economy.
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