City and state officials, as well as Hartford residents and a few special guests, gathered at 400 Bob Barry Drive in Hartford City Friday afternoon to announce and welcome the city’s newest business addition – ShaLee Oils LLC.
“It’s an exciting day; a great day for Blackford County,” said Executive Director of the Blackford County Economic Development Corp., Jacob Everett, as the event began.
“What a great day, what a great day. Not only is it beautiful but it’s a great day for Hartford City,” added Mayor Ben Hodgin.
The company was founded by Bill Knapp, and primarily “buys and sells vegetable oil,” according to Margaret Knapp, who along with their daughter, Lisa Mills, helps Bill oversee their company.
“We do recycle oils, but we take oils and we make them up so they are fitting to the customers who need them as far as animal feed supplements,” said Bill. “They all need a certain amount of oil in their diets. We tailor it to bigger companies that use a lot. We also, at the same time, service industrial companies.”
ShaLee Oils will soon inhabit an empty shell building that has sat at the Bob Barry drive address since 2000.
The shell building was initially bought by an ethanol manufacturing plant in 2006 and the company kept the site until 2011.
But according to Everett, the building is very much bare and in a state that suggests nothing happened much within its doors between that five-year period.
“It’s an empty building, so it makes it easier to put in exactly what we need,” said Margaret.
“We’re thrilled to see this building put to use and generating benefit for the community and new jobs,” said Everett. “The building has always had really good potential. We just struggled to find the right user and the right fit, and I truly believe this is a great fit for the company and a great fit for the community.”
“This building has been waiting 15 years for this day, so it is a phenomenal day,” said Cameron Radford, who was present on behalf of Senator Joe Donnelly.
“You’re going to love this community,” continued Radford. “Indiana is in the middle of America; we are America’s heartland. And Hartford City is in the heart of Indiana, so, you’re not going to find a better place than right here in Hartford City to run this company.”
Karen Glaser was also in attendance representing Congresswoman Susan Brooks.
“We extend a very warm Hoosier welcome to the Knapp family,” she said.
“My message is very simple and on behalf of the state of Indiana, on behalf of the governor, thank you to the Knapp family,” said Indiana State Secretary of Commerce Victor Smith. “You guys can put your money and make your investment any place. And for you to choose Indiana and specifically Blackford County and specifically Hartford City, thank you.”
Margaret said that the oil is shipped via truck or rail to clients all over North America.
Although the new Hartford City entity is not officially a branch connected to the Knapps’ 30-year-old business in Canada, they are comparable.
According to an official press release by The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), Bill Knapp founded his original business in 1986 when he “recognized a need in the local community for restaurant grease rendering and recycling.”
“My husband is the innovative one,” said Margaret. “He created it, found a market for it and he’s been doing this for about 30 years.”
The business owner noted that other U.S. states were included in their search for the perfect business setting, but the trio set their hearts on Hartford.
Everett said that he first began talking with the Knapps back in 2014, but it wasn’t until 2015 that the talks became more real.
Not only did they like the people of the town and the shell building when they visited Indiana, the state also provided additional incentives for the business, according to Margaret.
“The state of Indiana gave us the most incentives. We couldn’t refuse,” she said.
“We looked at some of the logistics and they were favorable right here, and then we found the state of Indiana and they were even more favorable,” agreed Bill.
“We had been talking to Jacob for quite awhile and April was the first time we actually saw it,” said Margaret. “We saw pictures but that was the first time we came out here.
“Everyone has been just so nice and has welcomed us to the city. The mayor, and everybody – it’s just been great,” she added.
“Hartford City manufacturers are thriving,” Mayor Hodgin told the IEDC. “We are delighted that ShaLee Oils has chosen to relocate its operation here to join in the economic success of our community. This family-owned business is a great addition to Hartford City and will provide excellent jobs for our citizens.”
Although the Knapps plan to continue living in Windsor, Ontario and work from afar, the drive to Hartford City is only four hours and beginning construction on the building is hoped to commence soon.
“We have to start building the offices pretty soon,” said Margaret.
Although January 2016 is when the Knapps are told production can most likely begin, they are hoping to speed up the process.
“I’m hoping to be running in the next few weeks,” said Bill with a laugh. “But that’s probably not going to happen. If it is January that’s it, but I think we’ll beat January.”
“We’re really looking forward to working with everyone and it’s pretty exciting for us,” Margaret continued. “We are anxious to get started.”
It is proposed that seven jobs will be initially created in Hartford for the company and that the approximate average pay is expected to be close to $17 per hour.
“Indiana’s skilled labor force and superior business climate create the perfect environment for the future success and growth of our company at its new home in Hartford City,” Bill told the IEDC.
Everett said that Blackford County is gaining a real treat in the company’s relocation.
“We want to bring in long-term economic development,” said Everett. “I felt from early on working with Bill and his family that they were a great family, they ran a really solid business, know their business well and would fit in with this community and the type of companies we want to have here. I felt from day one that it would be a good fit for both sides of the equation.”
There is still much work ahead, however. According to the IEDC, ShaLee Oils will invest $1.2 million to “purchase, renovate and equip” the building, and the IEDC is to provide Hartford City with up to $50,000 in “infrastructure assistance from the state’s Industrial Development Grant Fund.”
Hartford City hopes to do its part as well, said Everett.
“We are going to be leading the effort to [help] build the rail spur for them; they will have to have a new rail spur,” he said. “So we are going to be asking the county commissioners to use some edit funding and the Hartford City TIF District to contribute some funding to go along with the state funding.”
Everett also noted that Hartford City Common Council members may be approached at their September meeting for a tax abatement regarding the company.
“Getting a second rail spur and a second rail user on that line is a great development for the community,” Everett continued. “The more rail business we can develop, it adds value to everybody in that industrial park who could potentially use that down the road, and when we add major infrastructure like that, it means we are growing. “That’s definitely a good sign,” he said.
Everett said that the new investment is exciting, and that Hartford plans to help ShaLee Oils in any way possible on its’ quest to be successful in Blackford County.
“When they locate here, we don’t take the approach that ‘Hey, let’s get this deal signed and then we just fade away,’” he said. “We want to stay engaged with them and support them.
“Just like any of our existing large companies, I try and maintain a relationship with them that’s ongoing. So whether they have a problem or whether they want to grow, I can aid them in that process,” he said.
Everett said that he hopes the ShaLee Oils relocation will bring future investments to Blackford County.
“One of my goals has been [to create] a bigger economic presence in Blackford County.
“Hopefully this is the beginning of growing some international investment here,” he said.
“I want to thank the one and only City of Hartford for the warm welcome we’ve had,” concluded Bill. “One thing we noticed, my daughter Lisa in particular, is everywhere that we went in town… nobody knew us but they treated us great. And the people here were very hospitable and for that I am very, very grateful.
“I can’t say enough. Thank you to everyone here, especially the taxpayers. Because I’m not that naïve and I know where the money comes from,” Bill continued.
“I have a vision that this can not only start up, but build up, and go a long way. I believe if things go my way, we will double our volume maybe in a couple years,” he said.
“I think they will be successful here, I really do,” said Everett.
“We’ve got a lot of positive momentum going here,” he added. “We have probably 325, maybe pushing 350 now, jobs tied to recycling.
“This is a great addition to the niche we have developed here and I’m proud of that,” concluded Everett.