LAGRANGE — RV giant Forest River announced a major expansion of its operations Tuesday, a move which will invest $6.7 million in LaGrange County, which neighbors Elkhart County to the east.
Forest River, a manufacturer of recreational and commercial vehicles, has
purchased four existing facilities — three located at 1255 N. S.R. 9 and another on Dutch Drive, northwest of downtown LaGrange — which cover 450,000 square feet of floor space on 100 acres of land, according to a media release.
Three of the facilities, which have sat empty for over eight years, are currently undergoing renovations.
The expansion will allow the company to hire an additional 425 new employees.
Mark Eagleson, LaGrange town manager, said the expansion plans were "the largest economic growth the town has seen in at least 20 years." He said the town, located approximately 45 minutes east of Elkhart, was excited about the announcement and that the expansion plans put an end to the long process of filling the former Champion Home Builders Inc. facilities.
"While unemployment in the county is fairly low, this does provide additional high-quality and high-wage jobs," said Eagleson. "This will also draw people in from other areas and will benefit local businesses."