Made in LaGrange – Lake Area Designs
Made in LaGrange - Lake Area Designs A Local Success Story in Hardwood Manufacturing LaGrange, IN – Eleven years ago, a group of partners saw the potential in a small molding company in Sturgis, Michigan. With just seven employees, a handful of machines, and a few sales accounts, the business had room to grow. Recognizing an opportunity, partners Brian Miller, Danny Wingard, Steve Christner, and Bryan Copsey purchased the company, relocated it to LaGrange,. LaGrange offered the right conditions for expansion—tax incentives, available space, and a strong workforce. Following the move to LaGrange, the business [...]
Made in LaGrange – Exo-s
Exo-s Provides Opportunity to Community, Automotive Industry, and Team Members With a legacy spanning more than five decades, Exo-s has solidified its position as a leading designer and manufacturer of plastic functional systems, utilizing advanced injection and molding processes. Founded in 1968 in Bombardier, Quebec, the company initially specialized in producing skis and tracks for snowmobiles. Since then, Exo-s has expanded its footprint internationally, now operating manufacturing facilities in Canada, the United States, and Mexico, and employing over 1,000 professionals worldwide. The company’s journey is marked by strategic acquisitions, including Camoplast Thermoplastic Group in 1982 and [...]
Alpha Building Center Opens New Truss Production Facility
Alpha Building Center welcomed community in the ribbon cutting of their new truss production facility! Community members from The Chamber of Commerce of LaGrange County, Farmers State Bank, Ligtel, LaGwana, Crossroads United Way, the LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation, Alpha Building Center, and DJ Construction came together to celebrate the opening of Alpha Building Center’s new truss manufacturing facility. This brand-new facility is located on the west side of State Road 5, just south of Yoder’s Popcorn, at the corner of the US 20 and SR 5 intersection. Alpha Building Center is a local business [...]
Made in LaGrange – PalletOne
PalletOne, a member of UFP Industries, has its roots in Shipshewana, Indiana, where it originally operated as Shipshewana Hardwoods. Established in the early 1970s by Josey Bontrager, the company began as a small-scale pallet manufacturer and has since evolved into one of the largest new pallet manufacturers in the United States. As a vital part of logistics, new pallets serve as the backbone for shipping goods across various sectors. From the beginning, PalletOne has experienced significant growth. Starting with just a handful of employees—Josey’s wife, Judy, and Josey’s dad—the company now employs over 70 full-time workers. The first pallets [...]
A view of Sunrise Metal Shop
It’s no secret that LaGrange County is home to some of the finest and most distinguished craftsmen in our country, but we’re betting most of our residents have no idea about the varying skillsets of creators in our area or the impact they have on our local economy. When people think about the phrase ‘Made in LaGrange County’ or the economy here, it’s safe to say our collective, immediate thought is the RV industry. We aren’t diminishing the importance of the RV industry to our county and the economy here; however, we want to bring light to some of [...]
Made in LaGrange: S&H Metal
It’s no secret that LaGrange County is home to some of the finest and most distinguished craftsman in our country, but we’re betting most of our residents have no idea about the varying skillsets of creators in our area or the impact they have on our local economy. When people think about the phrase “Made in La-Grange County” or the economy here, it’s safe to say our collective, immediate thought is the RV industry. We aren’t diminishing the importance of the RV industry to our county and the economy here; how-ever, we want to bring light to some of [...]
Chair Business has Solid History
It’s no secret that LaGrange County is home to some of the finest and most distinguished craftsman in our country, but we’re betting most of our residents have no idea about the varying skillsets of creators in our area or the impact they have on our local economy. When people think about the phrase “Made in La-Grange County” or the economy here, it’s safe to say our collective, immediate thought is the RV industry. We aren’t diminishing the importance of the RV industry to our county and the economy here; how-ever, we want to bring light to some of [...]
Chamber Creates New Young Professionals Network
A new young professional network has been created by the LaGrange County Chamber. It was designed to help professionals aged 18 through 40 network and develop professionally and personally. The Young Professionals Network leadership committee includes young professionals from around LaGrange County. Read the rest of the article at The News Sun.
Lake Area Designs Benefits from IEDC MRG
LaGrange business Lake Area Designs, 1260 N. Detroit St., LaGrange was recently awarded approximately $100,000 from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s (IEDC) Manufacturing Readiness Grant program, which was created to stimulate private sector investments to modernize Indiana’s manufacturing industry. Lake Area Designs is the first business in LaGrange County to be awarded one of these grants. Read the rest of the article at The LaGrange Standard.
LaGrange Town Council Approves Two Tax Abatements
The LaGrange Town Council granted tax abatements to two LaGrange County businesses on Monday. ATJ Real Estate Holding received a five-year abatement for a $275,000 for a building addition. Lake Area Designs was given a five-year personal property abatement for $498,294 for equipment. Steve Christner of Lake Area Designs, which does custom woodworking and design, said he planned to purchase an optimizing cut-off saw and optimizing rig saw to ease operations in the shop and allow the company to grow. Through the process, it plans to add five new employees. A tax abatement provides a property tax break to a [...]
