A well-established business in the Knox Industrial Park has plans to significantly grow its local presence over the next few years. J.W. Hicks owner Jim Hicks told the Knox City Council he intends to expand the company’s two existing plants in the industrial park, add a stand-alone fabrication building and build a corporate office and research facility at the corner of Klockner Drive and Pacific Avenue.
The company is currently headquartered in Merrillville but has operated in Knox since 1993. J.W. Hicks supplies parts to the steel industry and has recently branched out into recycling used materials.
Hicks says immediate plans call for the expansion of the existing precast plant.
“We’re going to put 24,000 square feet of warehouse. We’re going to add mixers and a new oven to make small shapes, not only the giant ones but the smaller ones. We’re adding two additional overhead cranes with additional dust collection and lab test equipment — some research equipment,” Hicks told the council.
Later plans call for an investment of between $6 and $8 million to expand the slidegate plant. Hicks says the company enjoys a strong market share in a competitive industry and intends to keep it that way.
“People that we compete with now are so much bigger than us. If we don’t grow rapidly, we’ll get killed by intimidation.”
J.W. Hicks currently has 70 employees and is looking to add roughly 45 more by the time the expansion and corporate headquarters relocation are complete.
Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charlie Weaver has worked with Hicks since 1992 and says he’s a man of his word.
“He has always been conservative on his commitment. He’s always exceeded his commitment to you, both in terms of investment and in terms of employees. His compensation is some of the best in the county. They run a very proud ship, and we should be proud of them because there’s nobody else doing what they do in the United States. We’re thrilled to have them here and be part of what they do. If Jim Hicks says it, you can bank on it.”
The Knox City Council unanimously approved a 10-year tax phase-in for $600,000 worth of real property and a seven-year abatement for $550,000 in personal property for J.W. Hicks. Both contain clawback provisions which will require the repayment of all abated taxes should the company fail to meet the terms of the agreement.
Hicks says his sons will soon be taking over the operation of the company but says they are committed to maintaining and growing the family-owned business.
We’ll share his detailed presentation of the proposed expansion Sunday at noon on Kankakee Valley Viewpoints.
