Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann joined executives from Indiana Packers Corporation, a pork products producer, today to announce the company’s plans to locate its second Indiana facility here, creating up to 98 new jobs by 2016. The company, a subsidiary of Japan-based Mitsubishi Corporation, will invest $2.28 million to purchase, renovate and equip a 56,500 square-foot facility on a 5.9 acre campus located at 1150 Vermont St. in Frankfort. The new facility, which will be operational in August, will allow the company to conduct fresh pork shipping and warehouse receiving operations. “Indiana’s agriculture industry continues to be a foundational part of Indiana’s economy. Products from Indiana farms and food processors can be found on tables across America and beyond,” said Ellspermann. “Our business-friendly tax and regulatory policies encourage and support business growth and expansion throughout Indiana and has helped us experience record job creation. We congratulate Indiana Packers on the success that has led to this expansion project.”
Indiana Packers, which currently employs 2,000 full-time Indiana team members, plans to begin hiring production packaging, warehouse and logistics positions this summer. Interested candidates may apply in person at the company’s Delphi, Ind. facility or their local WorkOne Center. “We are excited about the opportunities here in the Frankfort community,” said Russ Yearwood, president of Indiana Packers. “The location and strong workforce complements our economic growth plan. Selecting Frankfort for our facility was made possible due to the partnership between Indiana Packers, the state of Indiana, Clinton County and Frankfort officials. We look forward to a great partnership for many years to come.”
Founded in 1991, Indiana Packers produces 3.5 million pounds of fresh pork daily. Offering smoked meat product lines under the INDIANA KITCHEN brand, the company works closely with local livestock farmers and their feed suppliers to provide local meat choices. Indiana Packers serves retail and food service customers across the country and exports products to 31 foreign countries.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Indiana Packers Corporation up to $400,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $139,500 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. The city of Frankfort will consider additional property tax abatement.
“We always are pleased when a company is interested in locating – as Indiana Packers will do – into an existing structure because it means a formerly vacant property can be revitalized,” said Frankfort Mayor Chris McBarnes. “The fact Indiana Packers officials are willing to redevelop and inhabit the existing structure at 1150 Vermont Street is an important and appreciated step in our city’s enhanced economic development landscape. The creation of Frankfort’s Economic Development Plan played a key role in positioning Frankfort to attract such a strong food manufacturing leader.”
Indiana Packers is the latest agriculture company to choose Indiana for expansion. Earlier this month, Ellspermann joined Beck’s Hybrids to announce the company’s plans to invest $60 million to expand its headquarters in Atlanta, Ind., adding 100 new jobs.
About Indiana Packers
Indiana Packers is a national leader in the production of premium pork products, producing 3.5 million pounds of fresh pork each day. The company also offers a line of signature pork items that feature a variety of smoked meat products, including ham, bacon and sausage under the INDIANA KITCHEN brand. Buying local Indiana products makes perfect sense—for the economy, the environment and most of all, for your family and mine. Our INDIANA KITCHEN products begin on our neighboring farms—within roughly 150 miles of our Delphi, Ind. plant, run by farmers we know personally. It is the ability to work closely with these livestock farmers and their feed suppliers that creates a program of freshness, flavor and quality while supporting our local agricultural economy.
About IEDC
Created in 2005 to replace the former Department of Commerce, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation is governed by a 12-member board chaired by Governor Mike Pence. Victor Smith serves as the Indiana Secretary of Commerce and Eric Doden is the president of the IEDC.
The IEDC oversees programs enacted by the General Assembly including tax credits, workforce training grants and public infrastructure assistance. All tax credits are performance-based. Therefore, companies must first invest in Indiana through job creation or capital investment before incentives are paid. A company who does not meet its full projections only receives a percentage of the incentives proportional to its actual investment. For more information about IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.
Source: Indiana Economic Development Corp.