Four companies today announced plans to expand their operations and create 126 new jobs in northeast Indiana.

“As the home to one of the most affordable business climates in the nation, it’s no wonder that companies keep selecting Indiana as their home for job creation,” said Governor Mike Pence. “Here in the Hoosier State, these businesses find Indiana’s world-class workforce that can create everything from cabinets and truck suspensions to caramel corn and furniture, products that are sold across the nation and around the world.”

Furniture manufacturer Transformations by Wieland is investing $2.4 million to renovate a 76,000 square-foot facility in Fort Wayne. The new facility, which the company is moving into this week, consolidates the company’s operations from three buildings into one, moving all manufacturing, shipping, customer service, marketing and research and development under one roof that is more than double the size of its current facility in rural Allen County. Building renewable and recoverable furniture for university residence halls and lounges, Transformations by Wieland is also currently enjoying growth manufacturing furniture for other commercial markets. The company, which currently employs 56 Hoosiers, plans to create up to 34 new jobs by 2018 and has already begun hiring.

Commercial casework and retail store fixture manufacturer Advanced Cabinet Systems (ACS) is investing $1.5 million to expand its Marion, Indiana based manufacturing operation. The new 100,000 square-foot facility, which opens this month, will expand the company’s total footprint and enable it to meet growing demand from K-12 schools, hospitals and retail stores across the country for its products. The move will also allow ACS to consolidate offices with its parent company, JGBowers, Inc. With its growth, ACS will create up to 30 new jobs by 2016. The company, which employs more than 50 Hoosiers, has already begun hiring for cabinet manufacturing positions. Interested applicants with woodworking experience may apply through Peoplelink Staffing’s Marion location or online at www.peoplelinkstaffing.com.

Hendrickson USA, a manufacturer of suspension parts and systems for the heavy truck and bus industry, is investing $11.3 million to construct and equip a 57,000 square-foot addition to its 122,000 square-foot facility at 101 S. Progress Drive in Kendallville. With its growth, the company will also install new equipment at its second, 60,000 square-foot Kendallville facility to increase production capacity of rubber bushings for truck suspensions manufactured around the world. A subsidiary of Itasca, Illinois-based Boler Corporation, Hendrickson USA serves heavy truck and bus manufacturers including Navistar, Kenworth, Peterbilt, Volvo, Mack, Freightliner and Blue Bird. The company, which currently employs 180 Hoosiers in Kendallville, plans to begin hiring later this year for manufacturing, lab technician and engineering positions, creating up to 41 new jobs by 2019. Interested applicants may apply online at www.hendrickson-intl.com/work-for-Hendrickson.

Snax in Pax, a producer of gourmet caramel corn and fudge, is investing $3.8 million to construct and equip a 27,000 square-foot addition to its Topeka facility, nearly doubling the size of its operation. The 22-year-old company’s expansion is currently under construction, with plans for the addition to open in June. Snax in Pax’s products are currently sold at grocery stores around the nation, with growth in the caramel corn market currently concentrated in the value-priced sector. The company, which currently employs 15 Hoosiers, plans to create up to 21 new jobs by 2017. Interested applicants may apply in person at the company’s Topeka facility.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Advanced Cabinet Systems, a division of JG Bowers, Inc., up to $150,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $100,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. Hendrickson USA, LLC was offered up to $325,000 in conditional tax credits based on its job creation plans. Snax in Pax, Inc. was offered up to $100,000 in conditional tax credits based on the company’s job creation plans. Transformations by Wieland, Inc. was offered up to $225,000 in conditional tax credits based on its job creation plans. These incentives are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is ineligible to claim incentives.

The city of Marion approved additional incentives for Advanced Cabinet Systems at the request of Grant County Economic Growth Council. The city of Kendallville will consider additional incentives for Hendrickson USA at the request of the Noble County Economic Development Corporation. LaGrange County approved additional incentives for Snax in Pax at the request of the LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation. The city of Fort Wayne approved additional incentives for Transformations by Wieland at the request of Greater Fort Wayne, Inc.