INDIANAPOLIS – Mayor Greg Ballard today announced the completion of a city-backed expansion of Harlan Bakeries that will create 43 new jobs and result in more than $14 million in new investment. The bakery, located at 7575 Georgetown Road, will add 135,000 square feet of production space and $4 million in new equipment.
"Harlan Bakeries' expansion is a huge win for Pike Township and a great way to kick off economic development in the new year," said Mayor Ballard.
The expansion project is being financed through Recovery Zone Facility Bonds. The City will issue bonds for the expansion at no cost to taxpayers. The bonds are backed by a local bank, so no tax dollars are at risk, even in the event of default.
Harlan Bakeries is a family owned business with facilities in Avon and Indianapolis, as well as in Arkansas, Illinois, Colorado and Nova Scotia, Canada. The company's bagels and pies can be found in eateries and grocery stores across the country including Walmart, Sam's Club and Costco. The expansion will help the company grow in the production of nutritional cookie and energy bar products.
Harlan currently employs 343 people at its Pike Township facility. Of those positions, 302 are filled by minorities. The company expects 38 of the 43 new jobs also to be filled by minority applicants.
The Harlan Bakeries expansion comes on the heels of a record year of job creation in the City of Indianapolis. Indianapolis secured commitments for 8,737 new jobs and $934 million in capital investment in 2010, setting new record highs for both. The greatest number of new job commitments came from the life sciences industry with 3,761, followed by information technology with 1,466 and logistics with 1,323. The number of new jobs is 90 percent over the previous record year of 4,471 new jobs in 2006. Dow AgroSciences, Arcadia Health Care, AIT Laboratories, Hat World, Inc., Ascension Health, Beckman Coulter, Dallara, Clarian Health, USA Football, Exact Target, and Fusion Alliance were among the list of new and growing companies in Indianapolis in 2010.
About Develop Indy
Develop Indy is Marion County's local economic development organization. Develop Indy is dedicated to attracting new businesses, retaining and expanding existing businesses and serving as a catalyst for capital investment and quality job growth in Indianapolis/Marion County. Formed in 2007, Develop Indy is led by CEO Scott Miller and a nine-member board of directors appointed by Mayor Greg Ballard.
Source: Develop Indy
