Continental Structural Plastics Establishes Facility in Huntington
August 12, 2010
Huntington, Indiana
Huntington County Economic Development client Continental Structural Plastics Corporation or CSP, was officially welcomed to Huntington on August 11, 2010 by Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, U.S. Congressman Dan Burton, Indiana State Representative Dan Leonard, Huntington Mayor Steve Updike and dozens of other local elected officials and the Economic Development Community.
CSP plans to invest over $9 million and create nearly 350 jobs by the end of 2012. The first phases of manufacturing operations are expected to begin in September.
In his remarks, Huntington County Economic Development Executive Director Mark Wickersham welcomed the company and distinguished guests by recognizing CSP as the 20th industrial expansion or attraction project in Huntington over the two and a half year period he has served as the Executive Director.
Wickersham credited recent success to a number of factors including the logistical convenience of Huntington’s location in the marketplace. “The earliest people to live in the area discovered that only a short “land portage” in the area interrupted a seamless waterway connecting the upper Great Lakes with the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico. From that point forward, Huntington County has been recognized as a logistics and commercial center,” said Wickersham. “From the early days of river transportation to canals, to railroads, modern interstate highways and aviation, if location and convenience of travel is important to a manufacturer, Huntington is a very good place to do business,” he added.
Another more relevant factor Wickersham added was simply the cooperative economic development team in Huntington. “Our clients have discovered quickly that they do not need to spend any effort trying to convince our elected officials that their projects are important. We want to be partners to promote opportunities for businesses to be successful,“ Wickersham said. “Instead of an attitude which says, ‘well you can’t do that because…’ our philosophy is, ‘Okay, here’s what we need to do together to get the job done.’”
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels and U.S. Congressman Dan Burton both expressed their appreciation to CSP for making a decision to locate in Indiana.
Governor Mitch Daniels offered among the most welcoming comment any business could hope for from an elected official when he announced, “On behalf of the State of Indiana, I want you to know that the first thing we want you to do in Huntington is make money. We want you to be successful.”
U.S. Congressman Dan Burton, who had just returned from Washington, presented Company Officials with a U.S. Flag which, at Burton’s request, had been specially flown over the U.S. Capitol Building in honor of CSP and their decision to come to Huntington. Burton, originally elected in 1980, has represented Huntington County since 2002 when it was added to Mr. Burton’s district as a result of the 2000 Census. “Bringing new jobs to Indiana is a top priority right now, so I’m thrilled to be in Huntington today to welcome Continental Structural Plastics to our great State,” Burton said.
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