The expansion would be a “substantial investment” in the company and the community that could add five new jobs that pay between $10 to $20 or more per hour, said Mike Harper, operations manager for Horner Industrial Services.
“We’re optimistic we can purchase the land for future expansion and job creation. That’s our goal … But its taken longer than we anticipated,” Harper said.
Harper asked commissioners about purchasing property in December, but the project was delayed after a septic system on the land failed. County officials must appraise the property.
Horner Industrial Services, which is headquartered in Indiana, opened its facility at 5330 Prosperity Drive in the KTK Industrial Park in January 1985 and expanded to its current size in 1989.
The company provides electrical motor repair, parts rebuilding and other services for equipment. Officials want to expand to take on larger and heavier equipment, Harper said.
“We’re going to create new opportunities for larger equipment that currently we can’t handle,” Harper said.
The manufacturing industry expanded in September, according to the Manufacturing Institute for Supply Management Report on Business survey released on Monday. The growth was driven by a sharp jump in orders after the industry had shown small contraction from June to August, the report said.
Clark County commissioners John Detrick, Rick Lohnes and David Hartley said they are all in favor of the project.
“It’s job creation in a county that needs it, and it’s increasing our tax base for the Northeastern school district … Nobody is getting hurt by this, but the county will greatly benefit from the job creation and the tax base,” Detrick said.
Lohnes and Hartley said selling the property to the company will benefit the community and would be a smart way to use the land.
Horton Hobbs, vice president of economic development for the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce’s Community Improvement Corporation, called Horner’s expansion another sign that the economy is improving.
Hobbs said the addition of five new jobs reflects a commitment by the chamber to create an environment where businesses can expand and grow jobs.
“Whenever we’re adding job, it has an impact because it has a ripple effect. It reinforces that companies are making an investment in the Springfield job market,” Hobbs said.
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