Local Chiyoda plant breaks ground on latest expansion

Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Taking part in the Chiyoda groundbreaking Monday in Greencastle are (from left) Toshihiro Obata, executive vice president, Chiyoda USA; Ron Muncie, production vice president, Chiyoda USA; Bill Dory, executive director, Greencastle-Putnam County Development Center; Sue Murray, mayor of Greencastle; Michihiro Oe, president and CEO, Chiyoda Manufacturing Corp., parent company of Chiyoda USA; Haruo Yamazaki, president and COO, Chiyoda USA Corp., and Yoichi Shindo, president and CEO, Takenaka USA Corp. (Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGAN)

It was as if the Chiyoda-Greencastle mutual admiration society had convened Monday afternoon as officials gathered at the automotive plant on the city's East Side to ceremonially break ground on Chiyoda's latest local expansion.

Chiyoda USA Chief Executive Officer Michihiro Oe graciously thanked Greencastle and Putnam County.

Likewise, Greencastle/Putnam County Development Center Executive Director Bill Dory praised Chiyoda.

Already wearing her construction hard hat for the occasion, Greencastle Mayor Sue Murray is handed a ceremonial shovel by Toshihiro Obata, executive vice president of Chiyoda USA, in preparation for the Chiyoda groundbreaking ceremony Monday. (Banner Graphic/ERIC BERNSEE)

And Greencastle Mayor Sue Murray lauded the company's loyal workforce.

Oe reminded the group that Chiyoda came to Greencastle in August 2005, opening its American headquarters in the old Happico facility at Indianapolis Road and Capital Drive, to begin production of a variety of injection-molded auto parts.

"Almost 10 years has passed since then," he said. "Who would have dreamed of one day we would expand (with an) additional building?"

With that expansion will come another 200 fulltime Chiyoda jobs and $15 million in new investment.

Support from the local community, Chiyoda's "strong sales and God's shadow" have brought the Japanese-based company this far, Oe said.

"We are very glad to be able to give back to our community by providing these jobs," he added.

"It's been fun to watch Chiyoda grow since 2005," Dory said, noting how the company has grown significantly from its original facility and workforce, along the way paying more than $1.4 million in property taxes to support local government taxing units.

A special thanks, he said, should go to the customers of Chiyoda, "who are making this all possible."

"We're proud and honored to support your efforts," Dory added. "We wish you a long and prosperous future here in Greencastle. Congratulations."

Meanwhile, Mayor Murray pointed to the Chiyoda workforce, some 170 strong (with another 185 temporary associates), assembled in blue work shirts and standing behind the dignitaries on hand to witness the groundbreaking ceremony.

"If it weren't for you," the mayor said, gesturing toward that employee group, "we wouldn't be celebrating a new building today.

"We hope the next 10, next 15, next 25 years bring nothing but great success for Chiyoda," Mayor Murray added. "Thank you for choosing Greencastle and our workforce."

Mayor Murray noted that since coming to Greencastle in 2005, this marks Chiyoda's seventh investment in the last 10 years.

Addressing the Chiyoda groundbreaking celebration crowd Monday, Chief Executive Officer Michihiro Oe of Chiyoda said the company's "strong sales and God's shadow" have gotten Chiyoda to this point where it is expanding by 200 fulltime jobs and 90,000 square feet of additional space that will house a paint line and added injection-molding machines. (Banner Graphic/ERIC BERNSEE)

"We are so very pleased to have Chiyoda USA Corp., an international company headquartered in Greencastle, growing, investing and adding jobs in our community," she added. "The city administration, the Council and the community are very pleased to be able to support their efforts. This is another example of how the great business climate in Greencastle is helping the community grow and prosper."

The mayor was also intrigued by Chairman Oe's comment that the 90,000-square-foot addition to the plant will be completed by next March.

That seems to be quite an optimistic timeline, the mayor suggested.

"Then I learned," she smiled, "that (the Japanese construction firm) Takenaka has been doing this kind of thing for 400 years."

The new facility, which will house a new paint line, will be adjacent to the company's current building at 2200 E. State Road 240 East on 11 acres purchased from the Greencastle/Putnam County Development Center.

The investment will also be used to purchase additional equipment at the company's current facility to increase manufacturing capacity for one of its primary customers, Subaru of Indiana Automotive.

Chiyoda USA expects to begin hiring for production through supervisor positions within the next six months.

The company produces a variety of automotive parts, including air-conditioning ducts, gusset covers, roof rail covers, rear spoilers and fender molding, trunks and trunk covers, hood grills, side protectors, bumper covers, harnesses and camera covers.

Chiyoda USA is owned by Japan-based Chiyoda Manufacturing Corp., which is headquartered in Ota City, Gunma, Japan.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Chiyoda USA up to $1,225,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $75,000 in training grants based on the company's job creation plans.

The tax credits are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives.

The City of Greencastle will be asked to consider additional incentives at the request of the Greencastle/Putnam County Development Center.

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