120 jobs, $4 million investment in Berne

With a nearly $4 million investment into a new facility in Berne, a female-owned industrial coatings supplier is looking to put 120 jobs in the Adams County community.

According to a press release, Indiana Coatings Inc. plans to begin production in January. Company officials hope to have 120 new jobs created by 2018.

Those interested in applying for the jobs can apply through the WorkOne Northeast website at www.workonenortheast.org.

The newly incorporated company serves automotive and appliance industries. The company is affiliated with a similar facility in Ontario, Canada, and hopes to become certified in a number of quality-control areas to meet its customers coating needs, according to the release.

“International businesses like Indiana Coatings choose Indiana because of our state’s logistical advantages, low cost of doing business and talented workforce,” said Victor Smith, Indiana secretary of commerce, in the press release. “As Canadian companies continue to see the business advantage our state offers, Indiana Coatings continues the trend of international relocations to the Hoosier State in a time when Hoosier employment is at an all-time high.”

At an estimated cost of $3.8 million, the company will put its factory in the former Ficosa North America plant, 917 Liechty Road, according to the release.

“We are happy to have found Adams County and for the Berne community to become the home of our new business,” said Ashok Bhatt, treasurer of Indiana Coatings, in the press release. “Our mission is to provide the best quality product at a fair price for our customers. The city of Berne, Mayor McKean, the Adams County Economic Development Corporation and the state of Indiana have given us the tools we need to fulfill this goal.”

The company received up to $1 million in conditional tax credits. The performance-based credits cannot be claimed until Indiana residents are hired, according to the release. 

The city of Berne also approved additional incentives at the request of the Adams County Economic Development Corp., according to the release.

“We are grateful that Indiana Coatings has chosen the city of Berne for their new business,” Berne Mayor Bill McKean said in a written statement. “This is an international group from Canada that we will welcome with open arms. It is a new corporation to Indiana and I was so pleased to hear them say that they want to become an integral part of Adams County and the Berne community.”