Elkhart, LaGrange will be getting 350 RV jobs by 2012

Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly

Dometic Corp. announced plans Tuesday to expand its manufacturing operations at its plants in LaGrange and Elkhart.

The company, which makes accessories ranging from air conditioners to sanitation systems for the RV market, will invest a combined $10 million and could create 350 new jobs by 2012.

The plan includes more than $6.8 million to move the company's refrigerator manufacturing operations from Sweden to Elkhart, creating 241 new jobs; and $3 million to move production from a plant in Mexico, which was destroyed by a fire in April, to LaGrange, where it will increase its capacity to manufacture retractable RV awnings.

The company currently employs 60 people at its Elkhart operations and plans to begin hiring assembly, welding, maintenance and management workers immediately to prepare for a production launch in the fall.

"Our growth is a direct result of our product quality and the dedication of our associates. This new RV refrigerator factory in Elkhart allows us to serve over 70 percent of our customers located within a 50-mile radius," said Doug Whyte, president of Dometic, in a statement accompanying the announcement.

The Indiana Economic Development Corp. offered Dometic up to $1.1 million in performance-based tax credits and up to $320,000 in training grants for the two projects. The city of Elkhart approved an additional property-tax abatement and the town of LaGrange also is considering a property tax abatement.

"We've never had a doubt. RVs will be back," said Gov. Mitch Daniels, who traveled to Elkhart for Tuesday's announcement. "Elkhart will be back, and will resume its place as a major center of economic strength for our state," said Daniels.

Dometic, founded in 1958 as a division of Electrolux, now holds operations in 10 countries and employs more than 4,200 associates. In addition to refrigerators, the company manufactures retractable awnings, climate control systems and sanitation systems for the RV, automobile, heavy truck and marine markets.