Bearcat Corporation, a manufacturer of aluminum products, announced plans Tuesday to expand its operations in Elkhart County, creating up to 40 new jobs by 2019.
“Here in Indiana, one in five Hoosier jobs are in the manufacturing industry,” said Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger. “Across the state, manufacturers like Bearcat are supporting their communities by providing good, quality jobs, while making products that power our world. With a laser-focus on advancing education and workforce development, Hoosiers will be prepared to fill the jobs of tomorrow and will help make Indiana a magnet for jobs.”
The homegrown Hoosier company is investing more than $6 million to purchase new equipment and expand its current 44,000-square-foot facility at 2431 E. Kercher Road in Goshen, adding an additional 6,000 square feet. The company produces a variety of products for the marine industry, marching bands and recreational vehicles (RVs), including ladders, band stands, podiums and dock accessories, and plans to expand its product line to include stainless steel products. As part of its growth, Bearcat Corporation will add a new fully-automated anodizing line. The company began its expansion in January and plans to have its new space operational in May.
Founded in 1971, the company currently employs 23 full-time associates in Goshen and plans to begin hiring for metal fabrication and anodizing manufacturing positions in May. Interested applicants should apply with human resources at the company’s headquarters.
“Bearcat Corporation has had a long history in northern Indiana,” said Nick Davis, vice president of operations for Bearcat Corporation. “We have found that Elkhart County is an ideal place to grow a business due to an experienced and proven labor force. We also feel that the support from the state along with our local governments makes Indiana a great place to be for years to come.”
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) offered Bearcat Corporation up to $150,000 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. The city of Goshen supports the project.
Indiana is home to the highest concentration of manufacturing jobs in the nation and is a national leader in manufacturing job growth. With the state’s unemployment rate at 3.9 percent, which is below the national average and at its lowest point since 2001, manufacturers like Bearcat Corporation help employ one in five Hoosiers at about 8,500 manufacturing facilities across the state.
About Bearcat
Bearcat Corporation has been in the aluminum fabrication business since 1971 producing custom aluminum and steel products that are used in both the trailer and marine industries. Recently, the company started producing stainless steel materials and will provide band stands and podiums for marching bands.
