Four companies to invest $21 million locally, creating 67 mew jobs

News-Sentinel (Fort Wayne, IN)

Feb. 24--Four companies are planning projects that would create 67 jobs through a total investment worth more than $21 million.

The largest job-creator would be Sanko Gosei Technologies, which is planning to invest $3.16 million in new manufacturing equipment, $100,000 in information technologies equipment and $2.2 million in building improvements at 6509 Moeller Road in New Haven. The expansion is expected to create 40 direct labor jobs with an average salary of $22,800 and eight indirect labor jobs paying an average of $33,600. New Haven City Council next week will consider a tax abatement request that, if approved, would save the company $324,852 over five years.

The company was established in 2015 and had about $30.5 million in sales last year. Based in Japan, Sanko Gosei is a supplier of numerous components and systems, including air conditioning, automotive, communications and injection molding.

In terms of dollars, however, the project by Silverado Cook Properties LLC is the largest. The company is proposing to erect a "speculative" building of between 80,000 and 180,000 square feet at 1919 W. Cook Road at a cost of about $14 million. The project would create no jobs immediately, but spec or "shell" buildings are designed to attract employers by offering space that can be completed quickly to meet companies' specific needs. Fort Wayne City Council will consider an abatement Tuesday that would save the developers nearly $2.4 million in taxes over 10 years.

Indian Motorcycles of Fort Wayne, meanwhile, plans to create 11 jobs with a total payroll of $619,800 through a $925,100 investment that would replace the vacant building at 3710 E. State Blvd. with a 15,600-square-foot sales and service facility. The company is seeking an abatement that would reduce its taxes by about $284,000 over seven years.

Finally, KDS Investment Properties will create eight jobs and a payroll of $360,000 through a $797,000 project that would create a 10,120-square-foot addition to its warehouse and offices at 4604 Arden Drive. The company builds satellite TV systems for senior living communities nationwide. Its requested abatement would reduce the company's taxes on the improvements by about $209,000 over eight years.