Company to add jobs at two Indiana production facilities

Jesselyn Bickley
TheStatehouseFile.com

RUSHVILLE, Ind. – A seed manufacturer and processor announced plans Thursday to expand two production facilities in Indiana adding up to 41 jobs by 2016.

Formerly Pioneer Hi-Bred International, DuPont Pioneer founded in 1926, produces and supplies hybrid or improved varieties of maize, soybean, sunflower, canola, rice, sorghum, alfalfa, cotton and wheat to farmers in more than 90 countries. The company seeks to sustain and improve global agriculture.

DuPont Pioneer, headquartered in Johnston, Iowa, is adding a combined $26.3 million in capital investment for both locations.

DuPont Pioneer will invest $13.7 million into the Tipton facility adding up to 20,800 square feet and 20 new jobs. The other $12.6 million will be invested into the Rushville facility, adding up to 21 positions. Both expansions are expected to be completed by October and will allow the company to condition and Process its Optimum AcreMax family corn seed products.

President of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation Eric Doden said he is not surprised DuPont Pioneer chose Indiana as the preferred business location for growth and efficiency.

“This decision reflects the strengths of Indiana’s business climate, particularly in the areas of workforce, location and cost and our commitment to being a leader in the agricultural community,” Doden said.

Agriculture is one of the leading sectors of Indiana’s economy, with a $20 billion annual impact. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Indiana  is home to 62,000 farms, 14.8 million acres of farmland and ranks in the top 10 nationwide for agriculture exports of corn, feed and fodder, soybeans and pork.

Brad Lance, business director of the DuPont Pioneer Heartland business unit, said DuPont Pioneer has operated in Indiana for more than 70 years and plans to be a good long term partner to the state.

“We value the relationship we have with both of these communities, counties and the state of Indiana,” Lance said.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered DuPont Pioneer up to a combined $265,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $45,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans.

The tax credits are performance-based, meaning the company isn’t eligible to claim the incentives until Hoosiers are hired. The city of Tipton and Rush County approved additional tax abatement for these projects at the requests of the Tipton County Economic Development Organization and the Rush County Economic and Community Development Corporation.

“The expansion of this agri-business is a most welcome economic development event for Tipton County,” said Tipton Mayor Don Havens.

“Rush County is excited to have a prestigious company like DuPont Pioneer expanding and building their future in our community,” said Gerald Mohr, president of the Rush County Council.

DuPont Pioneer currently has 500 full-time Indiana employees and more than 12,000 worldwide but plans to begin hiring additional production technicians in the fall.

Jesse Bickely is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.