COLUMBIA CITY, Ind. – Sites Medical LLC, a medical device company serving the orthopedic industry, announced plans today to expand its operations and create up to 45 new jobs by 2017.

“The motor of the medical device industry is centered in northeast Indiana,” said Eric Doden, president of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. “Top graduates from universities across our state find a place with companies like Sites Medical. Indiana’s workforce is well equipped with the know-how to help high-growth companies reach their full potential, and with our low tax business environment and central location, it’s clear why medical device companies consider Indiana a state that works.”

The homegrown-Hoosier company will invest $1.9 million to lease and equip a facility in Columbia City, expanding its total footprint in the community by approximately 8,000 square feet.

Sites Medical plans to grow its in-house services to include specialty testing, prototyping, specialty manufacturing and quality and regulatory services this spring. The company anticipates beginning to hire engineers, technicians and inspectors later this year.

“Indiana, Whitley County in particular, has a great culture and talented workforce,” said Greg Stalcup, president and chief executive officer of Sites Medical. “This, combined with the support provided by local and state government, has made expanding our business in this community possible.”

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Sites Medical LLC up to $350,000 in conditional tax credits based on the company’s job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. Whitley County approved additional incentives at the request of the Whitley County Economic Development Corporation.

Whitley County is home to a growing community of medical device companies. Late last year Micropulse, a medical device manufacturer for the orthopedic and cardiovascular industries, and Blue M Medical, a manufacturer of custom medical devices, also announced plans to grow in Whitley County, together creating a combined 125 new jobs by 2016.