GOSHEN — More jobs are on the way to Elkhart County following a meeting of the Elkhart County Council Saturday morning.
Elkhart County Council members Saturday granted final approval to two tax phase-in requests, one of which promises to bring approximately 30 new jobs to the area, while the other calls for the hiring of additional employees once its initial construction phase is completed.
Automotive Climate Control
First to be approved Saturday was a confirmatory resolution supporting a five-year tax phase-in agreement with the company Automotive Climate Control, an Elkhart-based mobile air conditioning and heating systems supplying company.
According to county attorney Craig Buche, Automotive Climate Control is currently looking to expand and consolidate its existing operations in Michigan into its existing Elkhart headquarters. Along those lines, the company plans on constructing a new, 120,000-square-foot facility next door to its existing facility at 22428 Elkhart East Blvd., Elkhart, to house the expanded operations.
Buche indicated that the expansion promises approximately $7.5 million in new real estate investment, as well as approximately $2.45 million in new manufacturing equipment.
Through the expansion, the company has also indicated plans to hire approximately 30 new full-time positions.
In order to qualify for the tax phase-in agreement, Automotive Climate Control has agreed that it will stay in operation at its Elkhart location for no less than eight years. Should the company fail to meet its obligations under the phase-in agreement, Automotive Climate would be forced to repay the county a prorated portion of the total real estate and personal property taxes saved as a result of the tax phase-in agreement.
Universal Trailer
Next to be approved was a confirmatory resolution supporting a five-year tax phase-in agreement with Universal Trailer, a cargo, horse, livestock and specialty trailer company located at 52395 C.R. 29, Bristol.
Through the project, the company has indicated expansion plans at its Bristol facility involving an investment of $8.9 million in new real estate redevelopment, as well as $11.358 million in new manufacturing equipment.
While no new hires have been announced yet in relation to the expansion, Buche indicated Saturday that the company plans to retain their existing 137 production workers, and will likely hire a number of additional workers once the expansion project is completed.
In order to qualify for the tax phase-in agreement, Universal Trailer has agreed to stay in operation at its Bristol facility for no less than eight years.