ANGOLA — The Steuben County Council approved a tax abatement Tuesday for a fishing lure manufacturer coming to Orland that could add 91 jobs to the area.
The council approved an economic revitalization area declaratory resolution for LureCraft Fisherman's Shop, a LaGrange manufacturer of fishing lures and components, in October. The company will have soon have a new manufacturing facility in Orland, owner Kim Straley said.
Company officials are projecting the creation of up to 91 new jobs by 2017, the Indiana Economic Development Corp. announced.
Steuben County Economic Development Corp. Executive Director Dave Koenig said this was the first tax abatement for the production facility, which will be revitalized and is expected to be running by December.
LureCraft will invest $408,000 to purchase, renovate and equip the 22,000 square-foot facility in Orland, which will increase its operations by more than 15,000 square feet from its current LaGrange facility. The new location will allow the company to grow its fishing lure production, expand its warehouse and ship its products around the world.
The Indiana Economic Development Corp. offered LureCraft Fisherman’s Shop, Inc. up to $350,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $100,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans.
Founded in 1966, LureCraft manufactures liquid soft plastic, coloring, plastic molds and aluminum molds used to manufacture and assemble fishing lures. Since 2006, the company has tripled its revenues from fishing lure components for national and international audiences.
In other business, the council formed a committee of councilmen Wil Howard, Dan Caruso and President Rick Shipe to look at future tax abatements.
“I think it’s a good project and will work out,” Caruso said.