CONNERSVILLE, Ind. - Governor Mike Pence joined executives from Wayzata Home Products, LLC today to announce the company's plans to locate manufacturing and distribution operations in the former Ford-Visteon industrial site here, creating up to 309 new jobs by 2018.

Wayzata Home Products, parent company of the online kitchen cabinet resource CliqStudios.com, plans to invest $12.1 million to purchase and refurbish the 1.8 million square-foot plant on a 183-acre campus at 4747 Western Avenue in Connersville. The facility, which is expected to be operational early next year, will house cabinet fabrication, finishing, assembly and distribution operations.

"We've set the groundwork for a world-class business environment here in the Hoosier State," said Pence. "Companies based elsewhere continue to select Indiana because of our skilled manufacturing workforce, low taxes and fiscally sound practices. Welcome to Indiana, Wayzata Home Products; together, we're celebrating your plans to bring new jobs and investment to our state, while continuing to look forward at the promise of the future and new opportunities this rejuvenated spirit holds for the Connersville community."

The Minnetonka, Minn.-based company has begun hiring and will continue to hire individuals to fill a variety of positions. The company will host a job fair at its new Connersville facility located at 4747 Western Ave. on October 15 and 16 from 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. Interested applicants are encouraged to attend and can also learn more about employment opportunities by contacting their local WorkOne office.

"Our purchase of the Connersville facility is part of a long-term strategy to add capabilities and infrastructure to enable continued growth and allow exploration of new business opportunities," said Andy Juang, chief executive officer of Wayzata Home Products. "We are in this for the long-haul and remain committed to a strategy that will generate a positive impact and create economic value for the hardworking families of Connersville well into the future."

Founded in 2006, Wayzata Home Products produces high quality semi-custom kitchen cabinets for CliqStudios.com. CliqStudios.com is an online retailer for semi-custom kitchen cabinetry, offering free kitchen design and service at prices significantly lower than traditional retail outlets.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Wayzata Cabinetry, LLC up to $2,000,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $200,000 in training grants 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 Indiana Brownfields Program, an environmental program of the Indiana Finance Authority, provided Wayzata Connersville RE, LLC, the purchasing entity, and Wayzata Home Products, LLC, the operating entity, in addition to their prospective lender, a clarification letter to address concerns about cleanup liability related to environmental contamination associated with the historic manufacturing activities on the property. The city of Connersville also offered funds using revenues generated from the issuance of a tax increment financing (TIF) bond.

"The city of Connersville has been diligently working the past seven months with Wayzata Home Products. We are extremely happy and proud that Connersville will be the home of Wayzata Connersville," said Connersville Mayor Leonard E. Urban. "The new company will employ over 300 people in the next five years and will be investing approximately $12,500,000 in our community. The best news is the former Visteon facility will now be productive and back to manufacturing. This gives the citizens of Connersville and Fayette County a new and hopeful outlook for the future of our community."

Indiana provides a sustainable environment for manufacturers like Wayzata Home Products, where companies can make long-term plans with confidence. In addition to passing the largest tax cut in our history earlier this year, companies operating in Indiana enjoy business property taxes capped at 3 percent, a steadily lowering corporate income tax rate and a single factor sales tax of only 7 percent.

About Wayzata Home Products

Wayzata Home Products is an innovation leader in the home improvement industry. We combine product design, manufacturing and global sourcing expertise to create the highest quality goods at the best price for today's home improvement consumer. This allows us to achieve our mission, which is to help hardworking families realize their dreams by improving their homes. We are the parent company of CliqStudios.com, the leading online retailer of kitchen cabinets and free kitchen design. Our direct-to-consumer online model is revolutionizing the way consumers shop for and remodel their kitchens.

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.