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With the purchase of new equipment Transilwrap Company, Incorporated, located in Richmond, Indiana will expand their product line and add 10 new jobs over the next year making a $2.5 million investment. The EDC of Wayne County is providing an EDIT grant of $45,000 to assist with the purchase of new equipment and/or for training of new employees. The request for EDIT funds will now go before the Wayne County Commissioners for their consideration. According to Ken Paust, President of the Wayne County Commissioners, “Wayne County wins again with another great expansion project. Transilwrap has been here for a long time and I’m glad they’re expanding here.”

From restaurant menus and book publishing lamination films, to in-store retail displays, nursery tag and label products, to sport board materials like snow boards, Transilwrap’s Richmond facility manufactures laminates and extrusion coatings for a diverse number of products on a global scale. Products are used by the medical, dental, banking, retail and security industries among others, and the company specializes in holograms, transferable or ultraviolet ink receptive and lamination films. The company also has a green line of products that are biodegradable. In addition to green products, the Richmond facility recycles or sells as much scrap as possible, sending less than 1% of plastic waste generated to the landfill. Richmond Mayor Sally Hutton says, “The City of Richmond congratulates Transilwrap on their expansion plans and we are thrilled that they have chosen our community for the expansion project. We’re fortunate to have this great company in our community and look forward to working with them for many years to come.”

The Richmond facility is the largest out of 9 other locations in the United States and Canada, with headquarters in Franklin Park, Illinois. U. S. Director of Operations, Keith Badgley says the location in Richmond is excellent for Transilwrap. “We have great access to major highways which puts us in close proximity to three major cities, our access to rail is important for receiving supplies, we have a quality workforce that is great to work with and finally, access to local government officials and economic development representatives is easy and immediate. Kevin Ahaus, chairman of the EDC of Wayne County Board of Directors says “Transilwrap called the EDC in the morning and we had staff meeting with them that afternoon. Our goal is to make business happen in Wayne County as fast as possible. Transilwrap is a perfect example of that.” Transilwrap has been located in Richmond for over 20 years.

Since January of 2009, the EDC of Wayne County, through its EDIT fund, has assisted existing businesses in the commitment to the retention and creation of over 172 jobs and provided training assistance funds to 14 companies. These projects have resulted in over $15.9 million in new investment in Wayne County. The county’s consolidated EDIT fund comes from funding provided by partnering towns in Wayne County who have agreed to provide half of their EDIT proceeds yearly for county-wide economic development. Partners in county-wide economic development currently include the towns of Cambridge City, Centerville, East Germantown, Economy, Hagerstown, Milton, Mt. Auburn, Richmond, Whitewater and Wayne County.

The EDC of Wayne County will provide EDIT funds to a Richmond company which will lead to new jobs and investment for Wayne County. Elevator Equipment Corporation, a manufacturer of hydraulics for the passenger and freight elevator industry, was recently awarded a three-year contract to make quality hydraulic jacks for a major elevator manufacturing company.  The contract is renewable at the end of the initial three-year period. Elevator Equipment Corporation will invest $150,000 in new machinery, retain fifty-two jobs and create fourteen new jobs in the next eight to ten months.  

The EDC of Wayne County has provided an EDIT grant of $10,180 to be used to assist with the purchase and installation of new machinery and/or for training of new employees. The company has also received a ten-year tax abatement from the city of Richmond for equipment.  According to EDC Board Chairman, Kevin Ahaus, this is the fifth project the EDC has partnered with this year.  Ahaus says, “We’re pleased to be able to work with Elevator Equipment Corporation on their new expansion.  Activity at the local level appears to be picking up and we’re glad to be able to provide assistance to local businesses as they create new investment in Wayne County.”

The company serves various markets throughout the United States. They provide elevator components, control valves and elevator systems for passenger and freight customers as well as manufacturing services.  According to Richmond Mayor, Sally Hutton, Elevator Equipment Corporation has had a positive presence in Richmond for a long time.  “We’re extremely happy to see their continued success and opportunity for growth in our community.”

The request for EDIT funds will now go before the Wayne County Commissioners for their consideration. Ken Paust, president of the Wayne County Board of Commissioners says, “Elevator Equipment Corporation’s expansion is great news for Wayne County.  Fifty-two jobs will stay here plus fourteen new jobs will be created because of this company’s investment.”

Since January of 2009, the EDC of Wayne County through its EDIT fund has assisted existing businesses in the commitment to the retention and creation of over 160 jobs and provided training assistance funds to 13 companies.  These projects have resulted in over $13.5 million in new investment in Wayne County. The county’s consolidated EDIT fund comes from funding provided by partnering towns in Wayne County who have agreed to provide half of their EDIT proceeds yearly for county-wide economic development.  Partners in county-wide economic development currently include Wayne County as well as the towns of Cambridge City, Centerville, East Germantown, Economy, Hagerstown, Milton, Mt. Auburn, Richmond, and Whitewater.

The town of Milton has received permission to begin construction on a $5 million wastewater collection system.  The town will receive $1,170,250 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, along with a $616,385 loan and $3,735,000 grant from the State Revolving Loan Fund for a total project cost of $5,521,635. 

Donna Powell, President of the Milton Town Council says the town is very fortunate to receive this funding, which will keep monthly sewer bills for residents to around $65, the lowest possible to install the badly needed wastewater system. She credits State Senator Allen Paul for assisting the town in their pursuit of funding, “Senator Paul has been very receptive to the issues and concerns of the residents in Milton and has worked very hard to help us find solutions to improve our town. We really appreciate all he has done on our behalf.” 

Powell also credits the various organizations working for the town on this project including the EDC of Wayne County who is providing grant administration and project development services, along with the Eastern Indiana Development District.  Strand Associates, Incorporated is the engineering firm on the project. 

As with many small towns in Indiana, Milton faces failed and failing individual septic systems on lot sizes that are too small to be corrected according to today’s ordinances.  In instances where new septic systems could be installed residents are looking at costs upward of $10,000.  The installation of the wastewater system will allow home owners to correct their failing septic tank issues, improve property values and allow new home construction to occur as well as possible business development.  Construction on the project could begin in May.  

The EDC of Wayne County exists to provide business and community development for all of Wayne County.  Partners in county-wide economic development currently include Wayne County along with the towns of Cambridge City, Centerville, East Germantown, Economy, Hagerstown, Milton, Mt. Auburn, Richmond and Whitewater.

A new product line at Crate Creations, located in the Rose City Business Park in Richmond, Indiana, will help local companies reduce waste going to the landfill and improve their bottom line.  Crate Creations currently manufactures wood decorator crates for the food and beverage industry.  But with the addition of two new machines, the company will be able to branch out into the bio fuel and animal bedding industries.  The new machines will allow the company to pelletize recycled wood waste from local companies into the animal bedding or bio fuel products.  Not only does the wood waste get recycled into new usable products, but companies no longer have to pay the cost of disposing wood waste in the landfill. Continue reading this post…

Hagerstown Plastics, located in Richmond, Indiana, will expand into the former Bev’s Threads building located at 621 S. J Street.  The new larger location will allow the company to expand operations, projecting the creation of 6 new jobs.  The larger facility will also allow the company to operate more efficiently and run multiple machines.  Their current facility will be used as a warehouse. The company manufactures a wide range of injection molded products and provides services including complete turnkey projects, part design, design and construction of molds as well as production.  Continue reading this post…

Nearly 30 new full-time jobs and a combined investment of $1.6 million will happen in Wayne County with the announcement of expansions in two Richmond companies.  Reel Options, a division of Vandor Corporation, and J. M. Hutton Company, Incorporated, will both purchase new equipment that will allow the companies to expand their product lines. The Board of Directors for the EDC of Wayne County approved EDIT applications for both companies in their regular board meeting.  J. M. Hutton Company, Incorporated will receive $18,080 to put toward the purchase of a building and equipment and Vandor will receive $15,640 to put toward the purchase of new machinery. Continue reading this post…

The customers of Richmond Power & Light will see approximately a 6% decrease in rates for the beginning of 2010. This comes after a rather turbulent 2008 and 2009. Some factors contributing to the ease in rates are; the overall demand for electricity has been steadily falling, RP&L is purchasing less coal, and the wholesale price for the electricity that RP&L has to pay has fallen as well. This is good news for all of the customers of Richmond Power & Light for the beginning of 2010. Continue reading this post…

Food redistributor working with Food For the Poor, food manufacturing community to collect and transport food and supplies. 

MT. STERLING, Ill. – Dot Foods, the largest food redistributor in the United States, is partnering with Food For the Poor and its food manufacturer partners to generate 100 truckloads of food products and transport them to Haiti as soon as possible. In addition, Dot will match all employee donations made to the Haitian relief effort and plans to immediately send two truckloads of product to Haiti on top of the monthly truckload donation it has been providing for the last 10 years. Continue reading this post…

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 23, 2009) – Seven sites across Indiana earned the title of ’shovel ready’ today, paving the way for businesses to quickly locate new operations on property ready for development.

The seven new sites located in Blackford, Daviess, Madison, Monroe, Orange, Vigo and Wayne counties join the list of 48 other ’shovel ready’ sites identified by the state since 2006 that have undergone extensive title work, proof of ownership, legal and environmental review and qualify for expedited permitting with state regulatory agencies.

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RICHMOND, Ind. (Sept. 1, 2009) – Jason Finishing Group, an international industrial abrasives maker, announced today that it will expand its operations here, creating nearly 50 new jobs by 2012.

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