Conner told WKVI that about 15 potential investors met and learned more about the project and discussed the need for a hotel in the area. Local business and industry leaders expressed that several representatives visit not only the Pulaski County area, but the Knox and Culver areas and it would beneficial to them to see this project become a reality.
While not all the newly created jobs will be given to county residents, Origer said it is still a great gift to the county.
“In one respect, it’s almost impossible to elaborate on just what a gift this is to Pulaski County. Braun is already far and away the largest employer; they’ve got just a little more than 800 people working in Winamac, and of those 800, somewhere between 350 and 400 are Pulaski County residents. The number of jobs they’re creating if that same 46-ish percent ratio of residents to total employees continues, we’re looking at 35 new jobs for residents,” Origer said.
While that number may seem small, but take into consideration the fact that the county only has around 7000 people on the labor force rolls at any given time, and Origer said it’s a nice bump up for the area.
“We don’t have the capacity for, you know, 200, 300 jobs at a time. This is hitting the sweet spot, and the property tax investment, the increases we’ll see in income taxes, the increase we’ll see in money – payroll that residents have to be spending in the area – it’s just fantastic,” Origer said.
The company makes wheelchair accessible vehicles and lifts and is spending $7.5 million to relocate production from its facility in Kalamazoo, Mich. A new production line should be fully operational next year and will allow Braun convert additional Dodge, Chrysler, Honda and Toyota minivans into rear-entry, wheelchair accessible vehicles. The company is also adding another production line to accommodate the conversion of trucks and SUVs.
Origer said the council approved the abatement for parts of the expansion, particularly personal property, such as equipment and other items. He said the business is looking at purchasing more than $2 million in assessed value worth of equipment to go into the plant over the next couple years.
He explained this goes a long way to show the company’s dedication to the area, as Nick Gutwein and Ralph Braun both have strong ties to the community.
“The relationship they’ve had, the workforce that they have been able to find in this community – they don’t see any reason they’d ever have to pick up and leave. Nick is originally from Pulaski County, Ralph Braun spent his entire life here in Winamac. Ralph was dedicated to this community, Nick is dedicated to the community, the entire management and workforce of that company is dedicated to Winamac and to Pulaski County, and I think more than any words could ever prove that, the investment they are making in this location right now shows how deeply dedicated they are to continuing to grow in and with Pulaski County,” Origer said.
Origer said the expansion should wrap up sometime late 2015. The Indiana Economic Development Foundation offered the Braun Corporation up to $500,000 in additional tax credits and up to $10,000 in training grants based on its job creation plans. The company will only qualify for these and other local incentives if it meets its hiring and expansion goals. Braun Corporation is already interviewing candidates for additional engineering, management, information technology, sales, marketing and aftersales positions and anticipates more hiring over the next year. Find more information about openings online at www.braunability.com.
The office will house two centers and a number of specialty programs. The Small Business Development Center and the Procurement Technical Assistance Center will work to provide integrated resources and consulting services to businesses in Indiana that have fewer than 500 employees.
Origer will give a “State of the County Economy” report, but he said that his talk won’t be very long. He said three other guest speakers will be featured at the event, focusing more on the tourism aspects of the county.
The Pulaski County Council Monday night approved a motion to advertise for a $52,000 appropriation to allow a design engineer firm to conduct studies to find suitable locations to improve rail access in the industrial park in Pulaski County. Nathan Origer, executive director of the Pulaski County Community Development Commission, told the council that the county’s strategic plan – which had been composed in 2010 – calls for development of the agricultural-technology alternative-energy industrial park on the west side of the county, which would be served by rail.
Nathan Origer of the Pulaski County Community Development Commission approached the county commissioners this week to request permission to purchase a manual covering building codes and other information for the Planning Commission. According to Origer, the money is available in the Planning Commission budget, and it can be appropriated to Training and Supplies to cover the cost of the manual. However, Origer says, that appropriation would require approval from the county council.
The Pulaski County Community Development Commission is working on bringing businesses into Pulaski County this year and one focus will be attracting ag-oriented industry on the west side of the county where rail is available. Executive Director Nathan Origer says he will also keep the welding classes open for interested students.
The Pulaski County Community Development Commission Board members have a lot of projects on tap for this year.
“We’re going to continue to build our efforts towards some Youth Retention programming,” said Executive Director, Nathan Origer. “Ideally, we’d like to get some non-voting youth members on our board contributing. We are planning an Economic Summit for probably late spring and this year it’s going to focus on entrepreneurial development, business start-ups, people who have a business and need to figure out how to take the next step in expanding their businesses and sustaining their businesses.”
The second in a series of economic summits for Pulaski County is scheduled for today. With a focus on “Branding Your Business,” the economic summit will be held today at 11:30 a.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Winamac.
Marketing Consultant Jim Walton of Brand Acceleration from Indianapolis will be present to make a presentation and explain how businesses can improve their image, and keep their current clientele while expanding to new clients as well.
