Contract Packager to Locate in Indiana

Contract packager K-CoPACK LLC announced that it will locate a new bottling facility in Ashley, Ind.

The company plans to invest nearly $1 million to locate its initial cleaning products production and packaging operation in an existing 74,000-square-foot facility, formerly occupied by another cleaning products manufacturer, according to the Indiana Economic Development Corp.

Chris Petersen, the former site manager for the previous occupant, recently established K-CoPACK to provide contract-packaging services of cleaning products for household, automotive, institutional and industrial applications for customers throughout the United States, according to the state.

The Indiana Economic Development Corp. offered K-CoPACK LLC up to $125,000 in performance-based tax credits based on the company's job-creation plans. The town of Ashley has approved additional property tax abatement at the request of the Steuben County Economic Development Corp.

The project is expected to create up to 35 jobs by 2013. The company plans to begin hiring production workers immediately and will continue to ramp up production over the next three years, according to the state.

"I am looking forward to starting operations of our new business venture here in northeast Indiana," Petersen said. "The location in Ashley, with its close proximity to the interstate highway system, is strategically placed for nationwide distribution. I very much appreciate the investment Wayne Klink and his family have made in our operation as well as the support from the Indiana Economic Development Corp., the Steuben County Economic Development Corp. and the city of Ashley. Their support has certainly assisted us in making the decision to bring manufacturing and manufacturing jobs to the area and state."