Two companies today announced plans to expand their operations and create 69 new jobs in northeast Indiana.

“There’s a reason why Indiana continues to have the highest concentration of private sector manufacturing jobs in the United States,” said Governor Mike Pence. “By any measure, Indiana’s the best place to start or grow a business. And with the state’s strong business climate, companies like C&R Plating and Indiana Marine Products keep doing what they do best here, and that’s leading to remarkable job growth for this state.”

Specialty finishing and metal plating company C&R Plating, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Michigan-based KC Jones Plating Company, will construct and equip a 7,000-square-foot facility in Columbia City, which will connect two existing structures and bring the company’s total footprint to 37,000 square feet. With its growth, C&R Plating will add a new highly- automated, computer-controlled plating line that will allow it to double its plating capacity and help its clients in the agriculture, commercial, automotive, defense and electronics industries increase the wearability, corrosion protection and the appearance of their products. With construction already underway and the new facility expected to be operating by September, the company plans to create up to 29 new jobs in general plating, shift supervision and quality control by 2017.

Indiana Marine Products, a manufacturer of dash assemblies and wiring harnesses for boat manufacturers including Bennington and Brunswick, will invest $1.5 million to renovate and equip its 55,000-square-foot facility on nine acres in Angola. The company also plans to purchase a 38,000-square-foot building in Angola, which is expected to be operating by July. Indiana Marine Products is currently experiencing strong growth in the marine industry, especially with supplying products for the pontoon boat market. With the expansion of product offerings including logistics management and the addition of value-added services such as loaded helm stands, the company plans to create up to 40 new jobs by 2018. Indiana Marine Products is currently hiring general factory associates, as well as engineers, accountants and purchasing and customer service professionals. Interested applicants may apply by sending a resume to [email protected].

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered IMP Holdings, LLC up to $175,000 in conditional tax credits based on the company’s job creation plans. C&R Plating Corporation was offered up to $120,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $45,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. These incentives are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is ineligible to claim incentives.

The city of Angola approved additional tax abatement for IMP Holdings, LLC at the request of the Steuben County Economic Development Corporation. Also, the city of Columbia City approved additional tax abatement for C&R Plating Corporation at the request of the Whitley County Economic Development Corporation.

In 2002, the specialty finishing and plating company, C&R Plating Corporation was purchased by KC Jones Plating Company. Today, more than 70 employees combine their knowledge and skills with state of the art technology to ensure that C&R Plating Corporation is your best choice for electroless nickel plating, zinc, zinc-alloy or any of our other special finishing processes. The company is known for its ability to plate very difficult parts, as well as its fast turnaround and jewelry-like appearance.

Indiana Marine Products is a premier manufacturer of dash assemblies and wiring harnesses primarily supporting OEM boat manufacturers. Our people, processes and systems are designed to assist our customers in developing creative, functional and aesthetically pleasing products and insuring that the products are of the highest quality and delivered to support the most efficient manufacturing processes for our customers.

Source: Indiana Economic Development Corp.; Inside INdiana Business