AccuTemp Products, Inc., a developer of commercial food service equipment, announced plans today to grow its headquarters and research and development center in Fort Wayne, creating up to 14 new jobs by 2017.

The homegrown-Hoosier company will invest $765,660 to equip its two Fort Wayne facilities, which are a combined 40,000 square feet. The new equipment, which includes the installation of special tooling, testing machines, new phones and computers, will be operational this month. The expansion will enable the company to upgrade its production line and provide additional staffing support to serve a growing customer base for the company’s line of griddles.

“Hoosiers at their core are innovators, often sparking a change in the way their industries look at themselves,” said Eric Doden, president of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. “From our world-renowned universities to our growing vocational education programs, our Indiana workforce is well equipped to meet the needs of growing companies looking to reach the next level, a core reason why Indiana is a state that works.”

AccuTemp, which currently employs more than 50 full-time Indiana associates, has already begun hiring additional sales associates.

“We’re excited to be growing our operations here in Indiana,” said Scott Swogger, president and chief executive officer of AccuTemp. “For more than 20 years, our company has experienced the benefits of doing business here, from the state’s affordable cost of doing business to its strong workforce. Indiana works for AccuTemp, so we’re looking forward to getting more Hoosiers working for us.”

Founded in 1993, Fort Wayne is home to AccuTemp’s worldwide headquarters and its research and design center, which also handles distribution operations. The company sells commercial food service equipment such as steamers, griddles, skillets and kettles to a broad customer base including healthcare facilities, schools, restaurants, resorts, grocery stores, prisons, hotels and the military.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered AccuTemp Products, Inc. up to $150,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. These incentives are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The city of Fort Wayne approved additional incentives at the request of Greater Fort Wayne, Inc.

“I continue to be encouraged by the positive momentum we’re seeing in our local economy,” said Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry. “It’s great to see the investment being made by AccuTemp. Fort Wayne is well positioned as a leader in job and business growth thanks to the commitment by companies like AccuTemp.”

Source: The Indiana Economic Development Corp., Inside INdiana Business