HCEDC Helps Sponsor NE Indiana Japan Summit

The Huntington County Economic Development Corporation joined "Title Sponsor" Indiana Michigan Power, NIPSCO, Duke Energy, Wabash Valley Power Alliance, Heartland REMC, the City of Wabash, Midwest Language Services, LLC, State Senator Andy Zay, and Grow Wabash County, as a financial supporter of yesterday's 4th Annual Japan-Northeast Indiana Summit.

 

The event was held in Wabash at the newly renovated Eagles Theatre and featured Rick Doering, the new plant manager for Teijin Automotive Technology's Huntington facility.  Doering offered remarks at the plenary session as well as during a panelist for a discussion regarding workforce development.

 

The featured speaker for the event was Consul General Hiroshi Tajima, Consul-General of Japan in Chicago.  Also presenting at the event was Bernard Swiecki, from the Center for Automotive Research.

 

Foreign direct investments in Huntington County include:

 

Brazil - Gerdau Steel

Canada - Onward Manufacturing Company

France - Schneider Electric

Germany - Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems of Knorr-Bremse

Italy - Golfo di Napoli Dairy

Japan - Helena Chemical Company's Midwest Terminal, a division of Marubeni of Japan

Japan - Teijin Automotive Technologies 

 

"It was a honor to meet the Consul General.  Japanese investments in Huntington County include our largest manufacturing employer, Teijin, having just announced an additional investment of over $110 million in Huntington," said Mark Wickersham, executive director of the Huntington County Economic Development Corporation.  "Rick did a fantastic job representing both Teijin and our Community at the event.  He commented that Teijin's employees believe they are building dreams, not just cars," Wickersham remarked.

 

Teijin's Huntington facility produces exterior body panels for the iconic mid-engine Chevy Corvette.  Buyers of this car very often find it a dream come true experience.  "The car is expected to be perfect and our friends, neighbors and family members working at the plant represent among the most committed and talented workforce anywhere.  They have to be.  They're expected to produce perfect products every time," said Wickersham.

 

Keith Gillenwater, President & CEO of Grow Wabash County and his team planned and executed the Summit and Wabash Mayor Scott Long welcomed participants.

 

"It was a fantastic regional event.  Congratulations to everyone who made it a success," Wickersham concluded.