Akron Business Receives Manufacturing Readiness Grant
August 20, 2020 at 11:38 p.m.
By Staff Report-
The grants are part of the Economic Activity Stabilization and Enhancement (EASE) program designed to stimulate manufacturing investments that will position Hoosier operations, and the sector overall, for future growth and prosperity.
Among the recipients was Pike Lumber Company, Fulton County, which received a $95,320 grant award. Located in Akron and founded in 1904, Pike Lumber is Indiana’s largest manufacturer and distributor of quality kiln dried lumber, with sales throughout the U.S. and around the world, according to the news release from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. The company is investing in machining technology in order to upgrade one of its Indiana sawmills in Akron.
“The response we received from Indiana businesses to the Manufacturing Readiness Grant program was incredible, as manufacturers across the state have been enduring the pandemic and are moving forward with positive momentum despite shared challenges,” said Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger. “We couldn’t be more grateful to these companies for contributing to Indiana’s bright economic future.”
The 20 manufacturers receiving grants represent 16 Indiana counties and cover a wide range of specialties, including automotive, aerospace and defense, machinery and construction, furniture and home products, and health care and medical. Together, these businesses plan to invest more than $8.2 million in technology and equipment to position their businesses for future growth by increasing capacity and modernizing operations, the release states. Six of the 20 manufacturers – Arroyo Industries LLC (dba Direct Path Alliance), Bed Techs Inc., Indiana Face Mask, Mursix, Sugar Creek Bottling Company and Wolf Corporation – are accelerating operational investments in health care manufacturing technology to support critical COVID-19 response efforts.
The program has received significant interest since it was announced in May and additional grant applications are under review, according to the IEDC. While these applications, if approved, would exceed the allocated program funding, Conexus, with the input of a peer review panel, will continue to assess applications and make funding recommendations to the IEDC, which will fund select applications if and when additional funding becomes available. Eligibility requirements and the grant application are available online.
For more than a decade, Conexus Indiana, one of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) nonprofit initiatives, has been positioning the Hoosier State as the best place for advanced manufacturing and logistics industries to invest, employ and succeed. By collaborating with industry, academic and public sector partners on a shared vision for an innovative, skilled workforce and stronger business climate, Conexus Indiana has helped to create opportunities for advanced manufacturing and logistics companies, prepare Hoosiers to succeed in the state’s largest industry sectors and maintain Indiana’s competitive advantage.
For more information, go to www.conexusindiana.com.
For more information about the IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.
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The grants are part of the Economic Activity Stabilization and Enhancement (EASE) program designed to stimulate manufacturing investments that will position Hoosier operations, and the sector overall, for future growth and prosperity.
Among the recipients was Pike Lumber Company, Fulton County, which received a $95,320 grant award. Located in Akron and founded in 1904, Pike Lumber is Indiana’s largest manufacturer and distributor of quality kiln dried lumber, with sales throughout the U.S. and around the world, according to the news release from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. The company is investing in machining technology in order to upgrade one of its Indiana sawmills in Akron.
“The response we received from Indiana businesses to the Manufacturing Readiness Grant program was incredible, as manufacturers across the state have been enduring the pandemic and are moving forward with positive momentum despite shared challenges,” said Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger. “We couldn’t be more grateful to these companies for contributing to Indiana’s bright economic future.”
The 20 manufacturers receiving grants represent 16 Indiana counties and cover a wide range of specialties, including automotive, aerospace and defense, machinery and construction, furniture and home products, and health care and medical. Together, these businesses plan to invest more than $8.2 million in technology and equipment to position their businesses for future growth by increasing capacity and modernizing operations, the release states. Six of the 20 manufacturers – Arroyo Industries LLC (dba Direct Path Alliance), Bed Techs Inc., Indiana Face Mask, Mursix, Sugar Creek Bottling Company and Wolf Corporation – are accelerating operational investments in health care manufacturing technology to support critical COVID-19 response efforts.
The program has received significant interest since it was announced in May and additional grant applications are under review, according to the IEDC. While these applications, if approved, would exceed the allocated program funding, Conexus, with the input of a peer review panel, will continue to assess applications and make funding recommendations to the IEDC, which will fund select applications if and when additional funding becomes available. Eligibility requirements and the grant application are available online.
For more than a decade, Conexus Indiana, one of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) nonprofit initiatives, has been positioning the Hoosier State as the best place for advanced manufacturing and logistics industries to invest, employ and succeed. By collaborating with industry, academic and public sector partners on a shared vision for an innovative, skilled workforce and stronger business climate, Conexus Indiana has helped to create opportunities for advanced manufacturing and logistics companies, prepare Hoosiers to succeed in the state’s largest industry sectors and maintain Indiana’s competitive advantage.
For more information, go to www.conexusindiana.com.
For more information about the IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.
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