Quarterly Newsletter - Jackson County Industrial Development

Jackson County Industrial Development Corporation
JCIDC Quarterly
2nd Quarter 2016
NEW OFFICE BUILDING PLANNED
Rose Acre Farms Plans New Facility;
More Investment Announced by
Seymour Tubing and Cummins
Rose Acre Farms announced they will invest $5 million on
a new 27,000 square foot office building to be located on
the west side of Seymour.
Artist Rendering of New Rose Acre Farms Office Building
Company officials attended Seymour City Council meeting on April 11th to request tax abatement for the new
facility, which will be located next to Covered Bridge Health Campus in the 1500 block of West Tipton Street.
The abatement request was approved.
Force Design is the architect and Force Construction will serve as general contractors with work underway and
construction expected to be complete in early 2017.
In addition, Rose Acre Farms purchased the former Skaggs building on Seymour’s west side and is in the
process of renovating that facility for warehouse and logistics as their operations continue to grow.
AISIN DONATES VEHICLE TO JCIDC
To help commemorate the
company’s 50th anniversary,
AISIN donated a new
vehicle to Jackson County
Industrial
Development
Corporation.
Keys to a 2016 Toyota
Highlander were presented
From left, Toshio (Tony) Tanaka, Scott Turpin,
to JCIDC during a ceremony Craig Luedeman, Kevin Gabbard and Jim
at Aisin Holdings of America Plump at AHA offices during presentation
of new vehicle to JCIDC from AISIN
(AHA) in May. JCIDC executive officers Kevin Gabbard and Craig Luedeman, plus director Jim
Plump, attended the event.
“More than 70 components on this vehicle are produced by AISIN
companies in North America,” said Scott Turpin, president of Aisin
World of America (AWA) and Aisin Drivetrain (ADI), who was
joined by Toshio (Tony) Tanaka, president of Aisin Holdings
of America and other AISIN officials in making the presentation.
“Obviously, JCIDC greatly appreciates the generosity of AISIN,”
said Gabbard. “Not only does the company employ more than
2,000 associates at their Jackson County facilities, but this also
once again demonstrates that they are an outstanding corporate
citizen.”
(OFFICE BUILDING continued on page 2)
“INDUSTRY SHOWCASE”
RETURNS TO
JACKSON COUNTY FAIR
Due to a successful 2015 showing,
Jackson County Industrial Development
Corporation will again sponsor a
“Showcase” at this year’s Jackson
County Fair in Brownstown. The event
will be held in Building 4 at the Jackson
County Fairgrounds, and local industries
will be on display from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Monday through Friday, July 25-29.
Companies that are returning to the fair
this year are Aisin companies of Jackson
County, Seymour Engine Plant, Excel
Manufacturing, Pet Supplies Plus,
TouchPoint, Marion Kay, Rose Acre
Farms, Kremers Urban Pharmaceuticals,
and Valeo.
There is interest from
additional companies to participate so a
full house is anticipated.
“Many fair visitors are from outside of
(INDUSTRY continued on page 2)
JCIDC ATTENDS HANNOVER SHOW
Jim Plump, executive director of JCIDC, joined other members
of the South Central Indiana (SCI) economic development
regional marketing group in attending the annual Hannover
Messe in Germany.
As part of South Central Indiana’s annual marketing plan,
members attend at least one trade show in Europe each year,
and this was the third straight year at Hannover. SCI
partnered with the Indiana Economic Development
Corporation at the show.
According to organizers, over 190,000 visitors attended the
week-long show, which was highlighted by the opening
ceremonies with German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel and
U.S. President Barack Obama.
Jim Plump, left, listens as company officials explain
possible growth into the U.S. during the Hannover
Masse. Plump and other members of the South
Central Indiana regional group attended the show
in Germany in late April.
“Numbers from abroad jumped dramatically,” said
show organizers. “In particular, more exhibitors
and visitors than ever before from China and the
USA crowded onto the exhibition grounds. And
never before have so many political decisionmakers and corporate CEOs from the industrial
sector been represented at Hannover Messe.”
Posing with Bruce Andrews, deputy secretary of the U.S. Dept. of
Commerce (center) and Vinai Thummalapally, executive director of
Select USA (far right) are members of the South Central Indiana
regional economic development group Kathy Ertel (Jennings County),
Darrell Voelker (Harrison County) and Jim Plump (Jackson County)
at the State of Indiana booth at the Hannover Messe.
Joining Plump at the show were Jason Hester
(Columbus), Kathy Ertel (Jennings County),
Darrell Voelker (Harrison County), and Wendy
Dant Chesser and Matt Hall (both from Clark and
Floyd counties).
(INDUSTRY continued from page 1)
Jackson County and perhaps are unaware of the many
opportunities that exist for employment,” said Jackie
Hill, Workforce Partnership Director. “Many of the
companies that will exhibit currently have job openings
and this could be an excellent time for them to identify
potential candidates.”
Members of the JCIDC staff, as well as members of the
JCIDC Board of Directors, will be in attendance daily to
support the industries.
(OFFICE BUILDING continued from page 1)
Also during the 2nd quarter, Cummins and Seymour
Tubing announced expansion plans.
SPEC BUILDING PROGRESSING
Work is progressing on the 70,000 square foot
building at Seymour’s East Side Industrial Park.
Completion is expected during 3rd quarter 2016.
Cummins announced new investment of $5.4 million, of
which $3.8 million will be real property and $1.5 million is planned for personal property.
Seymour Tubing will invest $665,000 in new equipment during 2016 and, like Cummins, received approval for
tax abatement.
Although no new jobs are expected by either company as a result of the investments, the expansions will allow
both companies to retain more than 1,000 employees.
JCIDC Workforce Partnership, in partnership with Purdue Polytechnic College (Purdue College of Technology), hosted the 2nd annual
Jackson County LEGO Robotics Camp June 6th – 10th at the
Jackson County Learning Center. This year, we were pleased to
welcome 4H as a partner in the LEGO program. Twenty-eight boys
and two girls, 3rd—6th grade, spent three hours each day building
and programming Lego Mindstorm robots to maneuver obstacle
courses, perform various tasks, utilize touch and light sensors, and
completed the week with a timed multi-task challenge competition.
The camp, led by Professor Joe Fuehne, Associate Professor of
Mechanical Engineering Technology and Director for Purdue
University College of Technology-Columbus, is the first step in
LEGO campers learn about the
getting students at a young age to think logically and get them
week ending challenge
interested in careers involving robotics. Fuehne said the students
learning they can make a career out of robotics is one benefit of the camp. “At the end of it all, I want them to
have fun,” he said.
Each year, Lego has a different game that presents different challenges. This year’s game with FIRST Lego
League had 15 challenges, and students had two minutes to complete as many tasks as possible with their
programmed robots. Each student was presented with a LEGO kit at the end of the week.
JCIDC Workforce Partnership
2nd Annual Robotics Camp Another Huge Success
Jackie Hill, Workforce Partnership Director said the camp is a fun way to get kids interested in technology and
robotics. “Our goal is to develop opportunities through camps and other programs for students to get them
interested in robotics,” she said. “We also offer a summer camp for middle school students that introduces them to VEX
Robotics and other areas of manufacturing ultimately hoping to engage students at the high school level. All five Jackson
County high schools have VEX Robotics competition teams.”
A couple of engineers from Seymour Engine Plant – Cummins also were on hand to help out with the camp. “Industries
see the importance and are willing to invest their people and their time in making this happen,” Hill said. “This is their future
workforce.” Also, local companies and industries donated and/or loaned computer laptops for the students to use during
the camp.
Jackson County 4-H is rolling out a robotics club, and Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana are also starting a Seymour-based Lego
robotics team. With all this new generated excitement, we will be able to partner together to provide more camps next year
enabling more students to get involved.
FAST PASS: Aisin Employees Teach For Future Careers
For the first time, JCIDC Workforce Partnership partnered with Aisin Holdings of America Inc. and Ivy Tech to bring an Ivy
Tech “Fast Pass to Advanced Manufacturing” Summer Camp to Jackson County middle school students. The 3-day camp,
held June 8th - 10th, was designed by Ivy Tech and free to Jackson County middle school students. Six middle school
students worked with Aisin USA Mfg., Inc. engineers and Ivy Tech Community College instructors on a robotics building
portion of the camp, puzzling over pieces of VEX robots. “We are focusing on robotics because robots are in the spotlight
and a large part of life today,” said Jody Deckard, Workforce Partnership Coordinator. “The careers for those able to work with them are in high demand.”
Students were given an in-depth tour of the Aisin facility and were taken through
the training routines given to new employees at the plant, learning how to do
several of the basics of the jobs that could be required. “The students did a
good job with the touring,” said Bob Sexton, SHS teacher who served as an
instructor at the camp. “They learned how to follow instructions, did an
assembly line with Legos and spent time in safety training.”
Students maneuver the VEX robots
during the Ivy Tech Fast Pass Camp
at Aisin Holdings
After touring and training, the students learned about VEX robots and started
assembling them. On Friday, they learned about computer programming to
program the robots to respond to remote-control commands. “We wanted to
make it fun, maybe get them interested in a career in engineering,” said Sarah
Foist with Aisin USA Mfg., Inc. “Even if they just go into high school with a
different mindset, they may see new opportunities.”
2016 Board of Directors
Kevin Gabbard, President
Melvin Beeker
Kevin Johnson
Lonn Stuckwish
(MainSource Bank)
(RQAW Corporation)
(Ranger Enterprises LLC)
(Berkshire Hathaway)
Curt Kovener, V.P.
Dan Davis
Scott Lurkins
Mike Weir
(Town of Crothersville)
(Community Foundation)
(LIRC)
(Town of Medora)
Craig Luedeman, V.P.
Scott Davis
John Nolting
Chuck Wells
(City of Seymour)
(Seymour Aviation Authority)
(Town of Brownstown)
(The Tribune)
Jeff Morning, Secretary
Ray Eakins
Chip Orben
Brian Wheeler
(Brownstown Chamber of Commerce)
(Old National Bank)
(Duke Energy)
(Brownstown EDA)
Marvin Veatch, Treasurer
Rodney Farrow
Fred Pollert
Wynn Wright
(Jackson County Bank)
(City of Seymour)
(Seymour Industrial Corporation)
(Indiana American Water)
Cheryl Baker
Jay Fischer
Brad Pritchett
(HWC Engineering)
(SIHO)
(Jackson County REMC)
JCIDC Staff
Arann Banks
Warren Forgey
Matt Reedy
(Jackson County Visitor Center)
(Schneck Medical Center)
(County Commissioners)
Tricia Bechman
Rob Hooker
Becky Schepman
(Seymour Chamber of Commerce)
(County School Superintendents)
(Jackson County Council)
Jim Plump
Mary Winburn
Jackie Hill
Jody Deckard
2016 Contributors
Board Level
Gold Level
Silver continued...
Berkshire Hathaway
Brownstown Chamber
Brownstown EDA
Brownstown Town Board
City of Seymour
Community Foundation
County Council
County Commissioners
Crothersville Town Board
Duke Energy
HWC Engineering
Indiana-America Water
Jackson County Bank
Jackson County REMC
Jackson County Visitor
Center
Louisville & Indiana Railroad
MainSource Bank
Medora Town Board
Old National Bank
RQAW Corporation
Ranger Enterprises LLC
Schneck Medical Center
Seymour Aviation Authority
Seymour Chamber
Seymour Industrial Corp.
SIHO
The Tribune
Aisin USA Manufacturing
Andersons
Biehle Electric
DEEM, LLC
Peoples Bank
Royalty Companies
Runnebohm Construction
Seymour Tubing, Inc.
SpaceGuard
Vernon Township Trustee
Pollerts’ Inc.
Rumpke of Indiana
State Bank of Medora
Vectren
Silver Level
Contributor Level
Aisin Chemical Indiana
Bloomfield State Bank
Cornerstone Environmental
Dunlap Construction
Force Construction
Gaylor Electric
Goecker Construction
Harmon Construction
Kenny Glass
King’s Trucking
Kremers Urban
Lawyer Excavation
Marmon Retail Products
Metronet
MEP
Milestone
O&k American Corp.
Bronze Level
B&H Electric
Blue & Company
Rose Acre Farms
Shelby Materials
Wayman & Associates
Aisin Drivetrain, Inc.
Christopher B. Burke
Engineering
Cooler Design, Inc.
Mark Dennis & Co., CPA
Harrell-Fish Inc.
Independent Land Survey
Jackson Co. Water Utility
Midwest Natural Gas
Mussett Nicholas
Eric Reedy & Assoc.
River Valley Financial
Rust Construction
Shepherd Insurance
Strand Associates
Wilhelm Construction
Workforce
Partnership
Aisin Chemical Indiana
Aisin Drivetrain, Inc.
Aisin Holdings of America
Aisin USA Mfg.
Brownstown Schools
City of Seymour
Columbus Container
Columbus Education
Coalition
Community Foundation
Elwood Staffing
Excel Manufacturing
Excel Tool
E & H Tubing, d/b/a
Indiana Steel & Tube
Jackson County Visitor
Center
Kremers Urban
Marmon Retail Products
O&k American
PD Pharmatech
R.R. Donnelley
Schneck Medical Center
Seymour Engine Plant
Seymour Tubing, Inc.
Touchpoint Packaging
Valeo North America Inc.
Wal-Mart Distribution
Special Event Sponsors
Aisin Group
Force Construction
Louisville & Indiana Railroad
Schneck Medical Center
Beatty Insurance
Harrell-Fish Inc.
MainSource Bank
SIHO
Berkshire Hathaway
Indiana American Water
Old National Bank
Tribune
Duke Energy
Jackson County Bank
Bob Poynter of Seymour