Subaru of Indiana Automotive plans to expand its Lafayette plant again. The company announced Wednesday morning it will add production of the Subaru Impreza in 2016.
The expansion means an investment of more than $400 million and the creation of up to 900 new jobs.
SIA executive vice president Tom Easterday says this is an economic boon for the entire community.
"There was a study by the Center for Automotive Research out of Detroit in April of 2010, and that showed there's a multiplier effect of ten," he says. "For every one job created in an auto manufacturer, about ten jobs are created in the economy, so our 900 new jobs here at SIA could mean an addition 9,000 jobs in the economy as a whole."
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered the company up to $9.5 million in conditional tax credits and up to $500,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans.
Governor Mike Pence was on hand for the announcement. He says the expansion at SIA will have a positive effect throughout the state.
"The number of companies all over Indiana that do business with Subaru of Indiana, and the impact they have on the communities they're in, as well as our opportunity to leverage more companies that do business with this great company and with automotive companies in the Hoosier State to come into Indiana."
Adding the Impreza line will increase the SIA plant’s production by 100,000 vehicles a year. The facility already produces the Outback, Legacy and Tribeca models. An agreement with Toyota allows the plant to produce the Camry model as well.
Lafayette mayor Tony Roswarski says the announcement is important for all residents of Tippecanoe County.
"These are good paying jobs that give people the chance to have a high quality of life, opportunities for their children. That investment is going to expand well out into the community."
