Terry Murphy at Muncie Free Press - Delaware County Indiana | News and Information

General Motors parts supplier making multi-million dollar investment and adding 75 local jobs

By Rick Yencer

MUNCIE. IN - A growing General Motors parts manufacturer is making a new $11.5 million investment and adding 75 jobs to the local economy in 2013.

 For about $500,000 in property tax abatement, Magna Powertrain of America is add millions in new equipment to make transmission parts and assemblies for GM.

 Delaware County government made the investment in tax abatement for the new equipment besides the 75 more jobs to the Cowan Road plant that now as 290 fulltime employees. It is the third Magna expansion in recent years.

 Terry Murphy, vice president of economic development for the Delaware County-Muncie Economic Development Alliance, said the job that average more than $15 an hour would come by 2014 when the expansion is complete. Magna will be hiring operators, and engineers by Fall. Applicants can apply online at www.magna.com/careers.

Free Press Report

MUNCIE, IN -  A local foundry that makes prototype castings for automotive transmission makers got tax breaks this week for a $300,000 expansion.

 Muncie City Council granted property tax abatement to Muncie Casting Corp. on a plant expansion and equipment to build castings used for automobile transmissions.

 Bob Buchert, company owner, said much of their work goes to Allison or Borg Warner, and the new equipment would help keep four jobs on that machine.

By Rick Yencer

MUNCIE, IN  - The Townsend Corp. that provides storm relief, utility line construction and vegetation management is moving its headquarters to the Ontario Systems campus this spring.

 And the company with $120 million in yearly revenue and nearly 2,000 employees will bring its front office and administration with 35 people and $2.9 million.

 The deal includes about $150,000 in property taxes abated which Muncie City Council unanimously approved on Monday in return for the jobs and the property owner, GJT-32 LLC, a company with offices in Milwaukee, WI. agreeing to do about $1 million in improvements to accommodate Townsend offices.

By Rick Yencer

 MUNCIE, IN - Magna Powertrain that does business with General Motors, Chrysler and Allison is expanding and creating 21 new jobs.

 And Delaware County Council offered its support to the $10 million project by granting property tax abatement on a 50,000 square foot expansion and $8.9 million in new forging equipment and laser welders. The company came to Muncie in 2004 and built a plant ay 4701 S. Cowan Road on the edge of the southside Industrial Centre.

 Steve Brand, Magna general manager, explained the company was moving its warehouse out of the plant and installing equipment to increase component production for its group of auto makers.

 The company currently employs 326 people with 287 that are fulltime and posts about $7.7 million in salaries. With an extra 21 positions,that would amount to $655,000 in extra salaries,  Magna hopes to keep its workforce around 300 fulltime production workers.

 Terry Murphy, vice president of economic development for the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, said Magna had invested more than $100 million in the community with the plant and its production. It is similar in size to Keihin North American that is a parts supplier primarily for Honda.

By Rick Yencer

MUNCIE, IN - Brad Bookout found some trade and commerce in China that could benefit Muncie during a recent trip there with fellow economic development officials.

By Rick Yencer

MUNCIE, IN - The hallowed ground of the Ball Brothers glass factory has evolved into one of the best plastic packaging makers in the United States. Spartech Packaging Technologies is building a $19 million expansion and adding 32 local jobs at the site.

The company showed off its new expansion  Tuesday on the grounds where the first Ball glass jars were made more than a century ago. The tower still stands on Memorial Drive at Macedonia Avenue, marking the spot.

 Carol O'Neill, senior vice president of packaging technologies, said Spartech might not be the biggest packaging maker, but it is the best when it comes to technology and performance.

 About 75 employees, company executives, local development and government officials gathered at the Spartech plant that already employs more than 100 people to get a view of the plant expansion that will get $2.6 million in local development financing, another $300,000 from the state and other incentives to add a couple more production lines under a 60,000 square foot building that could be done next year.

By Rick Yencer

 MUNCIE, IN - Plenty of Delaware County manufacturers could benefit from a trade mission by Muncie and Indiana to the Far East next week.

By Rick Yencer

YORKTOWN, IN - Park One, an interstate commerce site,  got a much needed boost Wednesday that will help ensure sanitary sewers. Additionally, a rail connection will help make it viable for business.

Delaware County Council stepped up to the plate and adopted a $3.2 million bond to fund the utility and transportation work with federal development funds and local economic development income tax money helping pay for the debt.

By Rick Yencer

ALBANY, IN - Bell Aquaculture is undertaking a huge expansion, making it the largest yellow perch production facility in the world.

 Just down the road and around the corner from Garfield the Cat's home base, Paws, Bell Aquaculture is building more production and wastewater facilities on 72 acres of land it owns at 11550 E. Gregory Road near Albany to increase fish production to 28 million a year by 2016.