01/16/12 Last week members of the Plymouth Common Council took the second and final step in the Tax Abatement process for Hoosier Tire & Rubber. A public hearing was held on the application and Jennifer Laurent, Executive Director of the Marshall County Economic Development Corporation said, “Hoosier is one of the largest manufactures in Plymouth and Marshall County. This is the homegrown company of Robert (Bob) and Joyce Newton and has just over 400 employees between the Plymouth and Lakeville facilities.
Laurent introduced the three vice-presidents: Craig Benninghoff, Dennis Sherman, and John DeSalle. DeSalle explained their $8 million expansion project; bring all of their rubber mixing back to Plymouth. The project will add a 37,000 square foot building on the southeast corner of the existing facility. Construction work is already underway and should be completed in June with the new equipment arriving in July and mixing beginning in September with full production anticipated to begin November 1st, 2012.
The City Council approved a 6 year tax abatement for the $2,690,000 of real property and a 10 year abatement for the $5,625,000 in personal property.
In other business Councilman Mike Delp discussed his concerns with pedestrians walking on Baker Street east of Randolph with there are no sidewalks only a asphalt shoulder with cross-hatch paint indicating a walking area to drivers. He explained that he has been in the area daily seeing kids walking on the north side of the street.
Laurent also informed council members that there are economic development courses available for elected officials and scholarships are available for the courses.
