Gov. Dave Heineman today awarded $477,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to the City of La Vista to assist Graepel North America, Inc., establish new manufacturing operations. The project will result in 14 full-time positions.
“We are excited to have this manufacturing powerhouse become an integral part of Nebraska’s business landscape, and we’re honored to serve as the company’s very first North American manufacturing operation,” Gov. Heineman said. “With Graepel’s rich history and outstanding reputation for manufacturing high quality products, we are very much looking forward to a long, productive partnership.”
Mark Zumdohme, Graepel North America, Inc. General Manager, said, “Graepel appreciates the support and collaboration with the State of Nebraska and the favorable business climate of the region. The sales representation in Nebraska since 2006 led to substantial growth of Graepel’s business in North America. This now enables setting up the first Graepel manufacturing plant in the U.S. and job creation in Nebraska. Graepel has been in business for more than 120 years and has long-term plans for its brand new facility in La Vista.”
La Vista will loan the company $472,000 to purchase equipment and machinery, and use the remaining $5,000 for administrative costs.
Graepel North America, Inc., will invest $1.728 million to complete the project. The La Vista facility marks the company’s first North American manufacturing operations, although it has supplied the U.S. with products since 1993 and has operated a sales office and warehouse here since 2006. Nebraska was chosen as the home of the facility due to location, business climate and proximity to shipping hubs.
Headquartered in Germany, Graepel manufactures perforated and stamped sheet metal components for the agricultural machinery, construction equipment and trucking industries worldwide. Graepel North America, Inc., will serve the North American market.
CDBG program funds are administered by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. Federal funds are made available to the state from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s CDBG program.