Great Dane Planning Terre Haute Expansion
(photo courtesy of our partners at WTHI)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowChicago-based Great Dane LLC is looking to expand operations in Vigo County. Our partners at WTHI-TV report the truck trailer manufacturer plans to invest $50 million to upgrade and add new equipment at its facility in Terre Haute and create 125 jobs.
The project involves consolidating the fabrication operations at nine of Great Dane’s plants around the county into one location at the Terre Haute facility. Matthew Johnson, plant manager at Great Dane of Terre Haute, says the nine facilities will continue assembly operations.
According to documents filed with the county, Great Dane plans to invest more than $42 million in new equipment for the expansion. Additionally, the company will invest nearly $8 million to make improvements to the existing facility.
The 125 new jobs will come with an average wage $25 per hour. The project is also expected to retain 483 jobs with an average wage of $21.69 per hour.
“This is exciting for me,” Johnson told WTHI. “I’ve done these types of projects before and that’s probably the most exciting part is being able to bring something new [to the community]. It’s where I live. It’s where my employees live. So if I can improve the quality of life for them it helps with the whole operation.”
Great Dane is seeking real and personal property tax abatements for the project that would save the company a total of $2.7 million over 10 years. If approved, the expansion would take place over three phases from February 2022 through the end of 2024.