Jackson County REMC plans to deliver service to customers in 10 counties, including rural parts of Jackson County, Indiana served by REMC.
The member-owned rural electric cooperative’s plans to make high-speed broadband service available to all of its customers through a fiber-to-the-home connection could have broader implications for southern Indiana.
Those include attracting new businesses and supporting the needs of agriculture and agribusiness in rural parts of Jackson County and parts of 9 other counties.
Officials discussed the project when asking Jackson County Council to approve abatement on the $5.43 million project. “Broadband connectivity has gone from being a luxury to a necessity,” REMC general manager Mark McKinney said.
The purpose of the project is to help prepare the company for the current and future needs of its 20,000 members.
Jim Plump, executive director of Jackson County Industrial Development Corporation, said this is a “win-win” for all involved because it will not only benefit the company and its customers but will improve the quality of life for everyone. He said when it comes to marketing the county to potential industries, this will eliminate a reason for companies to locate elsewhere by making sure infrastructure, including broadband, is in place.
The $5.43 million is the company’s initial investment for Phase I of the project, which has an overall price tag of $20 million just for Jackson County, and $60 million systemwide.
A local manufacturer of steel coil wire has plans to build a new warehouse in Seymour’s Eastside Industrial Park.
O&k American Corp. will invest an estimated $1.25 million this year to construct the building on the west side of its plant at 1625 Bateman Drive. Raw materials and other items needed to produce wire for existing and new markets will be stored in it.
The Japanese-based company supplies steel coil wire to automotive, construction and other markets worldwide.
Company vice president Chris White and Mary Winburn with Jackson County Industrial Development Corp. attended Monday’s city council meeting to request a tax abatement, allowing O&k to phase in paying taxes on the project over the next 10 years.
The council unanimously approved the abatement.
Construction of the warehouse is expected to begin this month and wrap up by the end of the year.
Last year, the company completed a 13,500-square-foot addition for a new annealing furnace to treat steal.
That project, including the new equipment, cost $5.2 million.
O&k opened in 2010 in the building that previously had served as a Kobelco Metal Powder of America plant, investing just more than $3 million to renovate the building. Kobelco closed in early 2009.
Between 2010 and 2016, the company invested nearly $35 million more, Winburn said.
As part of the current project, O&k will be working with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the city to relocate a ditch on the west side of the property to allow for the expansion.
With the new facility, the company plans to hire two new employees, increasing its current direct hire workforce to 45.
White said the actual number of workers at the plant is closer to 55 when temporary workers are factored in.
“Because of the difficulty in retaining team members, we’ve been using a lot more of the placement agencies while we’re trying to get them on board,” White said. “We want to have them all as our employees.”
O&k and other area manufacturers continue to face challenges when it comes to hiring “qualified and talented workers” from the area, White said.
“We stand ready to support Seymour and the state of Indiana in any effort to improve this condition,” he said.
Mayor Craig Luedeman said low unemployment in the area makes hiring difficult. The unemployment rate in Seymour and Jackson County averaged 3.2 percent a month this past year, and that 3.2 rate was lowest in the state in December, according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.
“If someone doesn’t have a job, it’s because they don’t want one or they aren’t looking,” he said.
Seymour has expanded the boundaries of its certified tech park to generate funding for the Jackson County Learning Center.
Four years ago, the city was granted the tech park designation by the state as a result of the Cummings Engine Hedgehog project, said Jim Plump, executive director of Jackson County Industrial Development Corporation.
A tech park allows the city to receive money from both sales and income tax revenue generated within the park. By state law, the money captured must be reinvested on fixed assets in the park, such as buildings, equipment and infrastructure.
The city had to submit the boundaries of the park to determine where the money could be spent, Plump said. Money was used to help put in a new parking lot, landscaping, sidewalk, road repaving and other improvements around Cummins on East Fourth Street.
“At that time, we drew the boundaries to incorporate the Cummins campus, plus the land to the south of the railroad where Cummins was going to put one of their new buildings,” he said.
Every four years, the city has to recertify the park, a process that was completed this past summer, Plump said.
In discussions and looking at possible uses of tech park funds, it was decided and approved by the state to expand the boundaries to include the learning center. The change was approved by the Seymour Redevelopment Commission and city council on Monday, Oct. 24th.
The learning center houses classrooms for Ivy Tech Community College, Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus and the Seymour Community Schools alternative education program.
Enrollment in programs has continued to increase, and many manufacturers, including Cummins, Aisin and Kremers Urban, use the center for workforce training.
Jackson County Industrial Development Corporation (JCIDC) hosted its annual reception with a “Reports, Reviews & Rewards” luncheon at the Pines Evergreen Room on Sept. 9, 2016.
The “Reports” part of the event featured Gerry Dick, President of Grow Indiana Media Ventures, and Host and Creator of Inside Indiana Business, who spoke about the Indiana economy, which he said was growing in a big and positive way.
Jim Plump gave the “Reviews” portion with a brief speech on the Jackson County economy, pointing out that Jackson County industries continue to invest in their future here, and in the future of our entire region. Plump noted that since the downturn of 2009, more than three-quarters of a billion dollars has been invested in Jackson County. In addition, industrial employment totals have continued to rise and surpass the “pre-downturn” levels, and wages as well continue to increase at a steady level.
Darren Wildman, manager of Cummins Seymour Engine Plant, was honored during the “Rewards” portion at the end of the event with an appreciation plaque for his outstanding effort and leadership in the growth of the Seymour Engine Plant, and his help in improving the workforce and educational opportunities through the Jackson County Education Coalition.
Two companies received approval from Seymour City Council for tax abatement on projects totaling more than $22 million.
Kremers Urban Pharmaceuticals, purchased by Lannett Co. Inc. in 2015, plans to invest $20 million to purchase new equipment to produce specialty generic medications, and an additional $1.8 million in logistics and distribution equipment.
Rose Acre Farms, which currently operates its headquarters on State Road 258 between Seymour and Freetown, has outgrown its office and is building a new corporate office at 1657 W. Tipton St. in Seymour. As part of that project, they plan to invest another $550,000 to renovate an existing building located just east of the new office site.
Aisin USA Manufacturing has chosen Seymour, Indiana for a $100 million investment to expand its manufacturing facilities and add 100 new jobs over the next 4 years.
The company manufacturers and supplies automotive components and systems, including door frame components, latching systems and seating and trim molding for vehicles such as the Honda Odyssey, Chevy Traverse, Toyota Highlander, Toyota Camry, Toyota Avalon, Toyota Corolla, Toyota RAV4 and Lexus models.
The expansion and investment are needed to accommodate design changes being incorporated by its customers, Aisin officials said.
Aisin USA in Seymour was the company’s first North American manufacturing facility for its parent company, Aisin Seiki in Japan. It also operates Aisin Drivetrain Inc. and Aisin Chemical Indiana LLC, both in Crothersville, Indiana.
“For nearly 30 years, Aisin USA has been one of our most important companies, and we obviously are pleased that they continue to invest here,” said Seymour Mayor Craig Luedeman. “This is great news, and we pledge our support to them.”
Jeff Nordman, executive vice president of Aisin USA said the company wouldn’t be able to grow if it wasn’t for the support of the city and the state which are proving incentives including local property tax abatement and conditional employment tax credits.
“Aisin is excited to expand and continue its operations in Seymour, Indiana,” Nordman said. “We have enjoyed a long and mutually beneficial relationship with Seymour and Jackson County.”
For complete story see: The Tribune, Jackson County, Ind. 8.24.16
