Chicago-based Midwest Truck & Auto Parts received a warm welcome Thursday as it broke ground on its first Indiana facility, at the Ameriplex at the Crossroads Business Park in Merrillville.
In front of a backdrop of red, black and white balloons inside a white tent buffeted by the wind, Gov. Eric J. Holcomb greeted Midwest’s father and son team, CEO and president Mark Chudacoff and his son, Michael Chudacoff, business development manager.
“Welcome to the land of Triple AAA ratings… and Hoosier hospitality,” Holcomb said, referencing the state’s bonding ranking. “It’s a great day in Merrillville.”
Holcomb, who was in Munster Wednesday for the groundbreaking of the South Shore Line’s West Lake expansion, said Midwest Truck and Indiana were a good fit. “What you do, that’s our DNA. We make things, that’s our heritage.”
The company will be housed in the 125,000-square-foot new 208,000-square-foot warehouse at 9401 Georgia St., just south of 93rd Avenue and east of Pinnacle Hospital. Crow Holdings International of Chicago is developing the warehouse.
It’s estimated the $21.5 million construction project will provide about 200 temporary construction jobs over a 12-month period.
Mark Chudacoff said he hopes the facility will open by late summer or early fall of next year. He said it will employ more than 100 workers in all types of jobs from warehouse workers to office staff.
Mark Chudacoff said he hopes the facility will open by late summer or early fall of next year. He said it will employ more than 100 workers in all types of jobs from warehouse workers to office staff.
He said Indiana offered a healthy business climate, stability and lower costs. “Indiana has proven to be a friendly place to do business,” he said. “We look forward to being a fixture here.”
Michael Chudacoff said factors that led to the company choosing Merrillville were the new business park, its location near major highways, and its proximity to Chicago.
He said the company supplies after-market components for heavy, medium, light duty and performance automotive truck and auto applications, serving customers in 50 countries. It was founded in 1946 as military surplus and civilian truck parts supplier, he said.
Midwest Truck has locations in California, Georgia, Illinois and Texas. It aims to distribute products to customers within 48 hours.
The Indiana Economic Development Corp. offered Midwest Truck up to $1.5 million in conditional tax credits based on its job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning the company is eligible to claim incentives once state residents are hired.
The Merrillville Town Council approved a 10-year tax abatement for the project on Sept. 22 at the request of the Lake County Indiana Economic Alliance.
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