QUOTE
Firm to relocate to LaPorte County
By Laurie Wink, The News-Dispatch
LaPORTE - Vanair Manufacturing Inc. will move from its home in New Buffalo, Mich., and relocate into a building twice as large in LaPorte County, bringing with it new jobs.
The LaPorte County Council on Tuesday approved a request from Kokot Brothers Development LLC for an economic revitalization area and tax abatement to develop a 60,000-square-foot building on a former farm on County Road 300 North in Coolspring Township, just south of Michigan City.
Council President Jerry Cooley said Vanair is committed to creating some 60 new jobs paying $21 an hour over the next three years.
“It's a great opportunity for the county to get more jobs,” Cooley said. “The property tax (for the parcel) is $250 a year. When you figure the gain in the county income tax, we'll make up in one week what we get in property tax for one year.”
Ralph Kokot, owner and chief executive officer of Vanair Manufacturing, said he appreciates the economic incentives offered to move his company from Michigan to LaPorte County. He said the company plans to actively recruit new employees from LaPorte County.
“We will be looking for a myriad of employees, from professional engineers to assembly-line laborers - a cross-section of skill sets,” Kokot said.
If all goes well at a public hearing at the March 26 County Council meeting, Kokot said he plans to break ground sometime between mid-April and May 1. He said he has talked with three LaPorte County contractors about constructing the new building and expects to make a decision within a month.
Vanair Manufacturing has been at its present location on U.S. 12 just west of New Buffalo since it was founded in 1972. Kokot bought the company in 1997. He said the 44-employee company manufactures vehicle-mounted air compressors and its major market is utility companies.
Contact reporter Laurie Wink at lwink@thenewsdispatch.com
By Laurie Wink, The News-Dispatch
LaPORTE - Vanair Manufacturing Inc. will move from its home in New Buffalo, Mich., and relocate into a building twice as large in LaPorte County, bringing with it new jobs.
The LaPorte County Council on Tuesday approved a request from Kokot Brothers Development LLC for an economic revitalization area and tax abatement to develop a 60,000-square-foot building on a former farm on County Road 300 North in Coolspring Township, just south of Michigan City.
Council President Jerry Cooley said Vanair is committed to creating some 60 new jobs paying $21 an hour over the next three years.
“It's a great opportunity for the county to get more jobs,” Cooley said. “The property tax (for the parcel) is $250 a year. When you figure the gain in the county income tax, we'll make up in one week what we get in property tax for one year.”
Ralph Kokot, owner and chief executive officer of Vanair Manufacturing, said he appreciates the economic incentives offered to move his company from Michigan to LaPorte County. He said the company plans to actively recruit new employees from LaPorte County.
“We will be looking for a myriad of employees, from professional engineers to assembly-line laborers - a cross-section of skill sets,” Kokot said.
If all goes well at a public hearing at the March 26 County Council meeting, Kokot said he plans to break ground sometime between mid-April and May 1. He said he has talked with three LaPorte County contractors about constructing the new building and expects to make a decision within a month.
Vanair Manufacturing has been at its present location on U.S. 12 just west of New Buffalo since it was founded in 1972. Kokot bought the company in 1997. He said the 44-employee company manufactures vehicle-mounted air compressors and its major market is utility companies.
Contact reporter Laurie Wink at lwink@thenewsdispatch.com