Woodworking Company Grows in Elkhart County

NAPPANEE, IN – Quality Hardwood Sales, LLC, a manufacturer of dimensioned wood products, announced plans today to expand its operations here, creating up to 25 new jobs by 2016.

The homegrown-Hoosier company will expand and equip its facility at 493 Shawnee Dr. in Nappanee. Moving all production in house, the company plans to add 50,000 square feet to its current facility for domestic and foreign inventory, which will allow it to utilize a total of 128,000 square feet of operational space by April.

“To carve a niche in business, companies like Quality Hardwood Sales need an environment where expenses are limited and opportunities are boundless,” said Eric Doden, president of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. “With its selection of Indiana, it confirms that we are nailing our mission to be a state that works for business, from our low cost of doing business to a workforce that is second to none.”

Quality Hardwoods Sales, which currently employs approximately 85 full-time Indiana associates, plans to begin hiring machine operators, off bearing associates and forklift drivers in April. Interested applicants may apply by filling out an application at the company’s Nappanee office or emailing a resume to [email protected].

“Indiana provides the ideal central location to expand our business, keeping us close to our customers,” said Darin Hurn, co-owner of Quality Hardwood Sales. “Elkhart County, in particular, is known as the RV capital of the world, also with a significant concentration of kitchen cabinet manufacturers. This the best place to add new jobs.”

Founded in 2001, Quality Hardwood Sales manufactures wood interior products for the RV industry and constructs component parts for kitchen cabinets, furniture and other custom orders. Offering cut-to-size products, component parts and UV finished products, as part of its growth the company will expand its sales territory, accommodate just-in-time inventory requirements and install new precision equipment. Quality Hardwood Sales was honored in 2009 as an Indiana Company to Watch.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Quality Hardwood Sales, LLC up to $200,000 in conditional tax credits based on the company's job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The city of Nappanee approved additional incentives at the request of the Nappanee Area Chamber of Commerce.

“Quality Hardwood Sales is one of our leading newer businesses in Nappanee,” said Nappanee Mayor Larry Thompson. “From when they started here through several expansions, they have been great partners to the people of Nappanee. They are doing an excellent job and I’m very excited for them and their growth.”

Hoosiers are master builders, with manufacturing—from medical equipment to cabinets to motor vehicles and everything in between—representing a quarter of Indiana’s economy and 97 percent of the state’s exports. According to Conexus Indiana, manufacturing from companies like Quality Hardwood Sales contributes $64 billion to the Hoosier economy annually.

About Quality Hardwood Sales

Quality Hardwood Sales began operations in the spring of 2001 in a pole barn behind the home of Devon Hochstetler. He supplied hardwood drawer fronts and panels for local cabinet suppliers. From there, increased demand from the RV industry and steady kitchen cabinet manufacturing business fueled growth. Today, the new owners Darin Hurn and Freeman Miller continue to evolve as a company, looking to diversify product offerings and build lasting relationships. For more information, visit http://hstrial-qualityhardwo.homestead.com/index.html.

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: IEDC

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