Tipton — In many ways, it was a fitting final visit to Tipton County for out-going Gov. Mitch Daniels last week.
Back in 2007, Daniels joined with local officials and representatives from Getrag Transmission and Chrysler to announce a new $580 million transmission plant at the intersection of U.S. 31 and Ind. 28 while standing on the steps of the Tipton County Courthouse.
Last Wednesday, Daniels stopped in the recreational vehicle he used during his 2004 and 2008 campaigns at Sherrill’s Restaurant with the 800,000 square foot building in the background. Chrysler Group announced Monday it was investing $162 million for equipment and will create 850 jobs to build 9-speed transmissions in the facility.
“It has been a long journey,” Daniels said of efforts to fill the facility. “It goes back to try, try again.”
Daniels said he remembered in 2006 meeting with Getrag officials and how happy the state was to have landed the proposed manufacturing facility.
“When Chrysler went under we had to start back up the hill,” he said. “We found Abound Solar, which was supposed to be the hot company in a hot business. It turned out the business wasn’t go good and we lost them.”
Daniels said he was very happy for Kokomo and Tipton which will see close to $400 million in investments by Chrysler and the creation of 1,400 jobs over the next few years.
“This is going to work,” he said, “going to be solid. It shows us you keep after things, something better happens.”
Daniels said the state was in discussions with Chrysler for a long time about the Tipton County location.
“I always said no one wants to see a recession,” he continued. “But sometimes companies and businesses come out stronger. When Chrysler was ready to expand, Indiana was a natural place to do it.”
The Indiana Economic Development Corp. is in discussions with Chrysler on the providing of tax credits for job creation.
“We never risked taxpayer dollars,” Daniels said. “If the jobs weren’t created, there would be no job training or job creation tax credits.”
Daniels said the state climbed up the hill trying to land a company in the facility three times before landing the planned transmission manufacturing by Chrysler.
Looking back on the economic recession, he said at the time 60 percent of the RV business was located in northern Indiana. Daniels said companies had to decide on whether to remain in California or Oregon or stay in Indiana.
“Today 80 percent of the RVs are being manufactured in the state,” he said.
Daniels said the story behind the Tipton County facility is not the only case where a business planned to invest in the state and the recession caused a change in plans.
“We’ve had some disappointments,” he said. “But we’re having a record year, not including this announcement.
© 2024 Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.