NE INDIANA. COM
IN
KEEPING THINGS GOLDEN Geneva, Indiana, is home to one of Red Gold’s three state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities—bringing quality tomato products to your table.
FOOD PROCESSING
NATURAL ASSETS
“ The central location makes
Unlike many regions throughout the United States, Northeast Indiana is fortunate to have an abundance of excess water capacity to support the needs of food processing companies.
distribution easy and convenient,
There are a variety of certified shovel-ready industrial sites that have the infrastructure in place (water/sewer capacity, highway/ rail access, competitive electric/gas rates) to support new food processing projects.
the workforce is second-to-none, and the business atmosphere is definitely very proactive.”
MAJOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS CORN Indiana is the 5th largest corn producing state. In 2012, there were more than 751,000 acres of corn harvested for grain in the 11-county Northeast Indiana region. POET Biorefining and Green Plains each operate ethanol plants in the region using this corn supply.
TODD WALLIN VP & General Manager, Ellison Bakeries
WHEAT More than 60,000 acres of wheat were harvested for grain in Northeast Indiana in 2012. Star of the West operates a soft wheat flour mill in Ligonier that supplies many of the region’s bread and snack food baking operations.
DID YOU KNOW?
100%
of the marshmallows and caramels produced by Kraft Heinz are made right here in Kendallville, Indiana.
SOYBEANS Indiana is the 5th largest soybean producing state. In 2012, there were more than 762,00 acres of soybeans harvested in Northeast Indiana. Bunge operates a large soybean milling operation in Decatur.
MILK Indiana is 7th in the nation for the number of milk cow farms. Northeast Indiana registered over 800 milk operations with over $146 million in sales in 2012. Edy’s and Dean Foods all have ice cream plants in Northeast Indiana.
MAJOR EMPLOYERS
COMPANY
PRODUCTS
Maple Leaf Farms
Duck Processing
762
Miller Poultry
Chicken Processing
560
Edy’s Grand Ice Cream
Ice Cream and Other Frozen Treats
542
Kraft Heinz
Marshmallows, Marshmallow Crème, Caramel
373
Living Essentials
Energy Drinks
340
Red Gold
Tomato Preserving and Canning
310
Pretzels, Inc.
Pretzels and Other Snack Foods
300
Dean Foods
Ice Cream, Milk and Other Milk Products
279
Creighton Brothers
Chicken Eggs
269
Bunge North America
Oilseed Milling
258
Kralis Brothers
Chicken Processing
210
Inventure Foods
Chips and Other Snack Foods
150
Prairie Farms Dairy
Milk Producer
129
Saratoga Potato Chips, LLC
Potato Chips
100
New Horizons Bakery
Buns and Muffins
87
Source: Community Research Institute at IPFW
EMPLOYMENT
“ We have a straight shot to major markets in the U.S. and Canada. The location couldn’t be any better.” ED SNYDER Vice President, Living Essentials, Inc.
LOCAL ASSETS Given the strong food and beverage employment base, the region offers a healthy supply of workers who have been trained to work in an FDA-regulated food processing environment.
STRONG AND STEADILY GROWING CONCENTRATION OF FOOD PROCESSING COMPANIES Significant row crop and livestock operations exist, supported by major grain and processing firms.
Purdue University, located in nearby West Lafayette, Indiana, is regarded as a global leader in food science and technology. Purdue has long served as an educational and research partner to Northeast Indiana food processing companies. Purdue assets include:
A strong position in dairy including eggs, milk and ice cream production.
PILOT FOOD LAB
Northeast Indiana is home to the largest duck processor in the U.S. and a major tomato processor.
Major specialty products including, marshmallows, pretzels, cookies, pickles and fine chocolates are well established in the region.
CENTER FOR FOOD SAFETY ENGINEERING CENTER FOR INTEGRATED FOOD MANUFACTURING
Walmart, announced plans to build a 250,000-square-foot milkprocessing plant in Fort Wayne, which will help create more than 200 jobs by the end of 2017.
SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE WHISTLER CENTER FOR CARBOHYDRATE RESEARCH CENTER FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS
Agritourism is growing and uniquely canvassed with a strong Amish population throughout the area.
INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATES PROGRAM
Warehousing and distribution are also prevalent.
E M P LOY M E N T A N D WAG E S
LOW E N E R GY R AT E S
NEI 2016 EMPLOYMENT
2016 AVG. HOURLY WAGE
2016 NATL. AVG. HOURLY EARNINGS
Team Assemblers
15,506
$16.26
$14.78
110.0%
Retail Salespersons
10,780
$11.58
$12.46
92.9%
Cashiers
7,589
$8.95
$10.04
89.1%
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
6,125
$18.87
$20.17
93.6%
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
6,043
$12.22
$13.15
92.9%
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
5,076
$11.16
$12.34
90.4%
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General
3,898
$18.65
$18.53
100.6%
Source: Edison Electric Institute’s Typical Bills and Average Rates Report, 2014
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
3,820
$16.07
$18.52
86.8%
*Indiana Michigan Power (AEP) average industrial electric rate. AEP is Northeast Indiana’s largest electric service provider.
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
3,792
$25.99
$28.43
91.4%
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
3,494
$16.34
$16.08
101.6%
Shipping, Receiving, and Traffic Clerks
2,757
$13.89
$15.30
90.8%
OCCUPATION
Source: EMSI 2016.2 Class of Worker, QCEW
NEI/US
INDUSTRIAL SECTOR STATE/REGION
AVG. RATES (CENTS PER KILOWATT HOUR)
Northeast Indiana*
$0.0582
Ohio
$0.0677
Illinois
$0.0685
Indiana
$0.0697
United States
$0.0710
Michigan
$0.0768
Wisconsin
$0.0752
NE INDIANA. COM
DRIVE TIMES Distance from Fort Wayne city center to destination center by acceptable truck route CITY
MILES
HOURS
Toledo, OH
101
2
Indianapolis, IN
120
Dayton, OH
126
Columbus, OH
154
Detroit, MI
CITY
MILES
HOURS
Louisville, KY
235
4
2
Milwaukee, WI
254
5
2.5
Lexington, KY
262
5
3
Pittsburgh, PA
327
5.5
160
3
St. Louis, MO
371
6.5
Chicago, IL
167
3.25
Grand Rapids, MI
175
3
Cincinnati, OH
179
3.5
Cleveland, OH
207
4
Buffalo, NY
398
7
Toronto, Canada
406
7.25
Nashville, TN
408
7
Des Moines, IA
478
8.5
W E B S IT E : NE INDIANA. COM P H O N E : 877 469-3469
J ULY 2 016 THE 11 COUNTIES OF NORTHEAST INDIANA ARE:
ADAMS // ALLEN // DEKALB // HUNTINGTON // KOSCIUSKO // LAGRANGE // NOBLE // STEUBEN // WABASH // WELLS // WHITLEY