VERSAILLES, Ind. (Sept. 9, 2008) - Governor Mitch Daniels joined
executives from international auto parts maker Belletech today to
announce the company's plans to locate a new manufacturing operation
here, creating more than 100 new jobs by 2012.
The company, a supplier of plastic parts and automotive glass to Honda
and other automobile manufacturers, will invest more than $4 million to
build and equip a 40,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in the
Versailles Industrial Park located along U.S. 421 south of the
1,700-person southeast Indiana town.
"Honda's choice to build its new North American production facility in
Greensburg is creating more new opportunities in Indiana. Honda
suppliers are already bringing hundreds of new jobs to great small towns
like Winchester and New Castle, and now Belletech is doing the same in
Versailles," said Daniels.
The company, a joint venture between AGC Flat Glass North America, Inc.,
PPG Securities Industries, Inc., and AGC-Takahashi Co. Ltd., will begin
constructing the new facility later this year and plans to begin hiring
managers, production associates and administrative specialists in 2009
ahead of the facility's completion in mid 2009. Once operational, the
company will supply automotive glass assemblies to the new Honda
production facility in nearby Greensburg.
"As a just-in-time, sequenced supplier to Honda Indiana, it was
imperative that we have a location within an hour drive of the Indiana
plant," said Mark McIntyre, vice president of Belletech. "After
consideration of several sites, both in Ohio and Indiana, Indiana became
the clear choice. The favorable business climate, support from state and
local governments and our positive interaction with the community made
Versailles, Indiana the best choice for our new manufacturing
operation."
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Belletech up to
$770,000 in performance-based tax credits and up to $36,000 in training
grants based on the company's job creation plans. The state will also
provide Ripley County with a grant of up to $120,000 to offset the cost
of infrastructure improvements needed to serve the new facility. Ripley
County will provide the company with property tax abatement at the
request of the Ripley County Economic Development Corporation.
"Belletech's investment in Ripley County brings new opportunities to our
community and further strengthens our position as a destination of
choice for business in the region," said Robert Reiners, president of
the Ripley County Commissioners. "We welcome Belletech as the anchor
tenant in our new industrial park and look forward to building upon this
success and recruiting new job-creating investment to Ripley County."
The Lawrenceburg Economic Development Fund, managed by the city of
Lawrenceburg and funded by entrance tax revenue at the Argosy Casino,
will provide Belletech with a grant of up to $630,000. Designed to
leverage gaming revenues to support economic development in southeast
Indiana, the fund has committed to issuing more than $17.6 million in
grants to economic development projects throughout the region in the
past three years.
"Building the region's economy by investing in projects that expand our
commercial and industrial environment is paramount with our Regional
Economic Development fund," said Lawrenceburg Mayor William Cunningham.
"It is our hope that with investments such as those we have made in
Honda, Cummins and others that Indiana will maintain and improve its
reputation as a Midwestern economic powerhouse."
Belletech's decision to locate its new operation in Indiana marks the
third announcement of a Honda supplier to locate in Indiana since the
company announced its plan to site a new production facility in
Greensburg. Located on a 1,700-acre site along Interstate 74 in
southeast Indiana, Honda's new Civic automobile production center is
expected to employ 2,000 associates. In 2007 interior parts provider TS
Tech announced plans to site a manufacturing operation in New Castle,
creating 300 new jobs, and metal parts maker Tomasco announced plans to
expand its operations by more than 140 employees in Winchester.
About Belletech
Belletech Corporation is an automotive supplier with international
affiliations dedicated to supplying the highest quality parts in the
industry. Sophisticated robotics and integrated systems are used in the
production of automotive glass assemblies, component subassemblies and
plastic injection molded parts. These processes combined with design
capabilities and complete logistics programs helped make Belletech a
leading supplier committed to exceeding our customers' expectations. For
more information about Belletech, visit www.belletechcorp.com.
About IEDC
Created by Governor Mitch Daniels in 2005 to replace the former
Department of Commerce, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation is
governed by a 12-member board chaired by Governor Daniels. Indiana
Secretary of Commerce Nathan Feltman serves as the chief executive
officer of the IEDC. Since Daniels created the IEDC, the state has
posted three consecutive years of record-breaking commitments for new
jobs. For more information about IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.
Source: Indiana Economic Development Corp.
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