International supplier to open mineral processing facility, research hub in Jeffersonville
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An international supplier of specialized minerals plans to invest $14.3 million to develop its first U.S. facility at Ports of Indiana-Jeffersonville to supply Midwest manufacturers with greener mineral additives for use in electronic glass, plastics, paint and fiberglass
The Ports of Indiana announced Tuesday that Lumina Sustainable Materials will add a mineral processing facility, logistics base and laboratory as well as 50 full-time positions by 2027. State officials said the jobs will average $35 per hour.
The facility will serve the rapidly growing polymers, electronic glass, coatings, aerospace, and building and construction markets, the state said.
Lumina CEO Brian Hanrahan called the value of the total package offered by the state “unmatched.”
“The ability to ship by barge into the Midwest, to leverage logistics facilities and services and to partner with the port on future expansions and container exports makes Jeffersonville a perfect place for our U.S. processing and research facility,” Hanrahan said in a news release issued by the Ports of Indiana. “We mapped our target customers for polymers, coatings, and building and construction, and Jeffersonville is in the center of it all.”
Lumina will be processing anorthosite, a silicate mineral that can replace less environmentally friendly raw materials and is mined in Greenland. Anorthosite will be shipped from Greenland to New Orleans by ocean vessel and then by barge to Jeffersonville.
In addition to mineral processing, the Jeffersonville site will manufacture advanced polymer additives, including concentrates of novel flame retardants, performance modifiers, and lightweight mineral fillers.
Lumina plans to renovate an existing building at the Jeffersonville port that has been vacant for more than 10 years and will partner with Ports of Indiana to develop a shared laboratory facility for research and educational uses by community partners and schools. The facility will use the port’s barge and rail services and serve as Lumina’s processing and logistics hub for the Western Hemisphere, the state said.
“This investment brings exciting opportunities for new, high-wage jobs and strengthens our position as a logistics and research hub for advanced industries,” said Jeffersonville Mayor Mike Moore.
Based on the company’s job creation plans, the IEDC pledged to provide Lumina with up to $725,000 in incentive-based tax credits. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning the company is eligible to claim incentives once Hoosiers are hired.
“Considering Lumina could have located anywhere in the Western Hemisphere, we’re extremely honored they picked our Jeffersonville port,” said Lance Allison, CEO of One Southern Indiana. “It’s gratifying for our regional economic development team to partner with a forward-looking company like Lumina that is committed to providing economic and environmental value to our region.”