Local government and business leaders joined officials from DD Dannar LLC to announce a new corporate headquarters, high-tech engineering, and Mobile PowerStation® assembly facility in Muncie, Indiana. DD Dannar LLC, a producer of alternatively powered heavy equipment for the governmental sector, will create 288 new jobs and will invest as much as $4.65 million in real estate improvements, equipment, and technology over the next 4 years. The company will initially occupy 25,000 sq. ft. in the Delaware County-owned Business Center facility, located at 4620 W. Bethel Ave, Muncie, IN. Additional space will be added as the company grows.
“Today’s announcement is a testament to our community and the quality of our workforce. We know that this was a competitive project with many cities and states under consideration. High-tech engineering and vehicle assembly, significant capital investment, and good paying jobs are what Muncie and so many communities are aggressively seeking. DD Dannar LLC provides all of these,” said Mayor Dennis Tyler.
The Muncie facility will serve as a corporate headquarters and will produce the Dannar Mobile PowerStation® (MPS), a revolutionary new vehicle, and the first in a new class of purpose-built vehicles for the government and military that will perform maintenance and provide supplemental off-grid power. The MPS represents an innovative solution boosting the productivity of multi-purpose work equipment using clean energy. DD Dannar LLC was launched from the awareness that the large equipment companies are focused on global opportunities building nations and feeding populations. The company is seeking to fill a void in the market by focusing on purpose-built, multi-use product solutions, using alternative power supply with new technologies.
Danner brings a unique approach to manufacturing, establishes a new distribution model, and the ability to meet changing environmental regulations. Distinctive features of the MPS include multiple work-tool and quick-hitch attachment points, multi-mode steering and modern “Safeman” controls. The Dannar MPS will be the first vehicle of its kind to combine battery electric power with a hydraulic drive-train.
”Muncie has the right people to produce the Mobile PowerStation® with quality and pride” said Gary Dannar, CEO and Founder of DD Dannar LLC.
A performance-based incentive package that includes a $150,000 low-interest loan, free rent for three years, and $500,000 in improvements at the Business Center facility is under consideration by the Delaware County Redevelopment Commission. The company will ramp up its hiring as the facility is finished out and orders are received. Projections call for 20 employees in the first year, growing to 479 in year five. The average pay rate of the new jobs is projected to be $27.33 per hour. The Commission is expected to take final action on the proposal next week.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered DD Dannar LLC up to $2,600,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $25,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives.
“It takes hard work, planning, patience and a vision. It takes team building and people working together. Today’s announcement shows the rewards of such endeavors. The Commissioners and the Redevelopment Commission are pleased to have played a role in this project. We thank DD Dannar LL for their confidence in Delaware County,” said Larry Bledsoe, President of the Delaware County Board of Commissioners.
“When we see exciting, innovative businesses like Dannar LLC choosing to locate and grow in Muncie-Delaware County, we know we are doing the right things to encourage economic development. We celebrate the company’s decision to invest and create new jobs in Muncie,” said Jay Julian, President and CEO of the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development Alliance.
About DD Dannar LLC
DD Dannar LLC is an emerging Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of purpose built vehicles for the US governmental market. The Dannar MPS is a revolutionary new vehicle, the first in a “new” class of hybrid-electric vehicles for governmental fleets that will perform infrastructure maintenance and provide supplemental off-grid power. For more information about DD Dannar, LLC, please visit www.dannar-pressrelease.com.
About the Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance
The Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance (EDA) represents a consortium of economic development entities dedicated to the growth and prosperity of Muncie-Delaware County, Indiana through the implementation of the Vision 2016 Economic Development Plan. Our purpose is to allocate and leverage economic development resources to sustain and enhance the economic growth, vitality and global competitiveness of Muncie-Delaware County as a superior business location. The EDA’s administrative entities are Delaware Advancement Corporation and the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce. For more information, visit www.muncie.com.