Concrete plant expected to create 15 jobs in St. Joseph County

Valparaiso-based Smith Ready Mix will build its $2 million plant southeast of the intersection of Walnut and Edison roads. It plans to open the plant this summer, creating 15 jobs.

County officials have trumpeted the project by saying it shows their development efforts in the area near New Carlisle — on the northwestern edge of the county between Indiana 2 and U.S. 20 — are starting to pay off.

“This is the first of several projects that we believe we’ll land in the New Carlisle industrial park this year,” Bill Schalliol, the county’s economic development director, said at a recent county Redevelopment Commission meeting.

Douglas Smith, president of the family-owned company, said he views the area as a “potentially robust market for the future.”

“St. Joseph County and Bill Schalliol are trying hard to bring lots of projects to that area, and we’re confident there will be a significant workload there. It also allows us to reach the western side of South Bend, and it’s a market we can’t reach from our existing locations,” said Smith, explaining that because concrete is perishable, it can’t be transported much farther than 20 miles.