News
Company creating jobs in line for $455,000 state grant
2/17/2010
Author: Dennis Nartker
Published by: News Sun
A company creating 65 jobs with an expansion project in a Kendallville facility may receive a $455,000 state grant in addition to a tax abatement.
City Council Tuesday night authorized Mayor Suzanne Handshoe to pursue the Community Economic Development Fund grant for Creative Liquid Coatings Inc., after granting the Fort Wayne-based company 10 years of phased-in tax abatement on $2.5 million worth of robots and other equipment for coating products for the automotive, heavy truck and industrial equipment industries.
Nate Cole, a Region IIIA grant consultant, told the council that Region IIIA has received tentative notice from the state that the grant will be made available as long as Creative Liquid Coating Inc. meets the grant requirements for job creation and the city supports the grant request. The Kendallville Economic Development Commission reviewed the grant application and recommended city officials pursue it for Creative Liquid Coating Inc.
Stephen Geist, Creative Liquid Coating's operations manager, told council his company plans to install the robots and automated equipment on a paint line Noble Paint Co. is installing in the former Budd Co. building at 2620 Marion Drive in the East Industrial Park. Noble Paint Co. purchased the vacant building in 2006 and operates the Budd Co.'s existing paint line and an injection molding department.
Noble Paint Co. currently has 60 full-time employees on the site.
The council approved amending Noble Paint Co.'s tax abatement granted four years ago for 10 years of phased-in abatement on $6 million worth of equipment so the abatement begins this year on $8 million worth of equipment. Noble Paint Co. never initiated the original tax abatement with the state.
Geist said the new robotic paint line will be state-of-the-art and highly precise to meet the requirements of its customers. The expanded operation will begin in July and be fully operational by Sept. 1.
Creative Liquid Coating will be hiring skilled workers through Work One as soon as the state grant is received. The site will have approximately 125 full-time workers in the next six months.
"This is good news for Kendallville," remarked Councilman Regan Ford. Councilman Jim Dazey thanked Geist for his company's investment in Kendallville.
Handshoe said Noble County Economic Development director Rick Sherck and Region IIIA executive director Dave Koenig worked with the city on the grant request and tax abatements. Back to Top