Ground Effects, LLC, an automotive installer of spray-in bed liners, announced plans to locate a new facility in Roanoke, Indiana, creating up to 160 new jobs by 2017.
The Ontario, Canada-headquarted company will invest $3.4 million to lease and equip a 40,000 square-foot facility located at 13204 Aboite Road in Roanoke. The facility, which will be operational by December, will process bed liners and other automotive accessories for Roanoke's General Motors plant.
"The automotive industry fuels Indiana's economy through investments from innovative companies like Ground Effects," said Governor Mike Pence. "The road to economic growth and good jobs for Hoosiers is paved by Indiana's pro-growth business environment, where companies know that they'll enjoy the benefits-including low taxes, robust infrastructure and a talented workforce-that come from operating in a state that works for business."
Ground Effects, which currently employs more than 600 full-time associates across North America, will begin hiring for all production-related positions later this year. Interested applicants can learn more by visiting www.gfxltd.com/employment.
"The innovative application techniques of spray-in bed liners developed by Ground Effects for General Motors will provide consumers with a best-in-class product that complements the new Indiana-built Sierra and Silverado products," said Jim Scott, president of Ground Effects. "This facility will allow General Motors to provide automotive accessories at the factory level instead of shipping out of state or installing at the aftermarket level, which is a huge benefit to Allen County-the home of both light and heavy duty truck manufacturing. The commitment and the assistance offered by the Alliance and the State of Indiana to our project through the planning phase has allowed us to move from concept to reality in a relatively short period of time."
Founded in 1986, Ground Effects is a tier one supplier for major automotive manufacturers, utilizing a highly-refined process to install bed liners on trucks assembled in Roanoke. By centralizing operations near the General Motors assembly plant, the company plans to initially install 20,000 bed liners a year, with full production expected to eventually reach 50,000 a year. Ground Effects also operates locations across Canada, Michigan, Kentucky and Missouri
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Ground Effects, LLC up to $825,000 in conditional tax credits based on the company's job creation plans. These incentives are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. Allen County will consider additional tax abatement at the request of the Fort Wayne-Allen County Economic Development Alliance.
"We have greatly anticipated the influence that General Motors would have on attracting other businesses to the community," said Allen County Commissioner Nelson Peters. "Allen County is happy to welcome Ground Effects and looks forward to the job opportunities this will provide to the area".
Automotive companies and their suppliers continue to grow Indiana's economy. According to Conexus Indiana, one in every 10 cars produced in the United States was assembled in the Hoosier State. Indiana is home to the second largest automotive industry in the country, with more than 630 companies producing upwards of $9.8 billion in goods each year.
About Ground Effects
Ground Effects was established in 1986 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada and has evolved into a multi-faceted supplier of quality interior and exterior accessory components for the automotive industry. Current operations include more than 600 employees across 14 facilities that focus on manufacturing of automotive parts, mass vehicle customization, surface coatings, commercial cabinetry and millwork. The key to success for Ground Effects begins with innovative product engineering and broad manufacturing capabilities that include technologically advanced metal working techniques, robotics, automation, and a highly skilled workforce. Charitable outreach is part of the Ground Effects culture with particular focus on Make-A-Wish foundation and Enable Haiti. For more information about Ground Effects, visit www.gfxltd.com.
About IEDC
Created in 2005 to replace the former Department of Commerce, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation is governed by a 12-member board chaired by Governor Mike Pence. Victor Smith serves as the Indiana Secretary of Commerce and Eric Doden is the president of the IEDC.
The IEDC oversees programs enacted by the General Assembly including tax credits, workforce training grants and public infrastructure assistance. All tax credits are performance-based. Therefore, companies must first invest in Indiana through job creation or capital investment before incentives are paid. A company who does not meet its full projections only receives a percentage of the incentives proportional to its actual investment. For more information about IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.