Grote Industries Adding New Jobs By 2017, Investing in the Community

MADISON, Ind. - Grote Industries, LLC, a manufacturer and marketer of vehicle lighting and safety systems, announced plans today to expand its headquarters here, creating up to 33 new jobs by 2017.

The Madison, Indiana-based company will invest $20.7 million by the end of 2018 to renovate and equip its 370,000 square-foot facility, accommodating new growth associated with its LED vehicle lighting business. In addition to installing new advanced manufacturing workcells in August, the company is also upgrading existing capabilities to support a more lean production environment.

"Grote's success started in southern Indiana with innovative manufacturing techniques and the hard work of a Hoosier," said Victor Smith, Indiana Secretary of Commerce. "Lighting systems in our cars and other places find their origins in Indiana, with growth made possible in a business environment rooted in limiting expenses and maximizing opportunity."

Grote, which currently has 1,288 employees globally, including 424 full-time Indiana associates, has already begun hiring for new positions in Madison.

"As a place to do business and call home for our company, Indiana continues to demonstrate its commitment to the growth, well-being and success of our business," said Dominic Grote, president and chief executive officer of Grote. "So when we made the decision to make this level of investment for our future, we felt there was no better place than Madison. We have a phenomenal workforce and are doing everything we can to ensure our team and our products are innovative and competitive in the global market. Our investment and the support from IEDC will help us achieve both of these objectives."

Located in Indiana since 1960, Grote produces vehicle safety systems for original equipment manufacturers and the vehicle aftermarket, with its lighting equipment sold on semi-tractors and trailers, passenger cars, buses, industrial vehicles, recreational vehicles and agricultural machinery. An international, family-owned company, Grote Industries also operates facilities in Canada, Mexico, Germany and China. With its LED lighting growth, Grote will help speed the vehicle lighting industry's transition from incandescent lamps to new lighting technology.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Grote Industries, LLC up to $100,000 in training grants based on the company's job creation plans. These incentives are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The city of Madison supports the project at the request of the Jefferson County Industrial Development Corporation.

"We are thrilled that Grote Industries is making yet another significant investment in its plant and its workers here in Madison," said Madison Mayor Damon Welch. "The state's investment in Grote and their employees will help them succeed in an extremely competitive global marketplace. And their commitment to having a highly skilled workforce benefits the entire community."

Indiana has added 241,800 private sector jobs since July 2009, which ranks among the top 10 states nationally. Led by international manufacturers like Grote, Indiana's private sector has grown at a rate of 10.4 percent over the same period.

About Grote

Grote Industries is a leading worldwide manufacturer and supplier of lighting products and related safety systems for commercial, military, and specialized vehicles. In existence for more than 110 years, Grote engineers and manufactures LED, LED LightForm, fluorescent and incandescent lamps, mirrors, wiring systems, turn signal switches, connections and reflective accessories for trucks, trailers, farm and construction equipment, plus fire, rescue, and armored vehicles. Grote, a family-owned multinational company, provides state- of-the-art solutions for OEM and aftermarket customers across the globe from offices in Madison, Indiana, Markham and Waterloo Ontario, Canada, Niederwinkling, Germany, Monterrey, Mexico, and Shanghai, China. Additional information is available at grote.com.

About IEDC

Created in 2005 to replace the former Department of Commerce, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation is governed by a 12-member board chaired by Governor Mike Pence. Victor Smith serves as the Indiana Secretary of Commerce and Eric Doden is the president of the IEDC.

The IEDC oversees programs enacted by the General Assembly including tax credits, workforce training grants and public infrastructure assistance. All tax credits are performance-based. Therefore, companies must first invest in Indiana through job creation or capital investment before incentives are paid. A company who does not meet its full projections only receives a percentage of the incentives proportional to its actual investment. For more information about IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.

Source: Indiana Economic Development Corp.