Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Tuesday, January 2, 2018
(ORLEANS) - Jasper Group will be expanding its operations as they are the new owners of an Orleans facility, formerly the Paoli LLC building.
Orange County Economic Development Partnership announced Jasper Group plans to expand its operations at the Orleans facility early this year.
HNI, the second largest office furniture manufacture in the world and the parent company of Paoli LLC, generously donated the building to Orange County Economic Development Partnership in December. Orange County Economic Development Partnership was then able to quickly convert the donation into a real estate sale that brings in the Jasper Group as the new owners of the 1.2 million-square-foot facility.
Jasper Group's four brands manufacture furniture for business interiors, public spaces and the hospitality industry. The company has multiple facilities in close proximity in southern Indiana including five in Dubois County, one of which is its headquarters, and now three in Orange County, with operations in French Lick, Paoli and the newly added facility in Orleans.
When HNI announced in October 2016 that Paoli LLC would be closing in Orleans, the future of the building, and its employees, had been uncertain.
Currently, about 120 people still work at the plant as Paoli LLC employees. Jasper Group plans to retain the current production employees and possibly add more workers to the manufacturing floor when it begins operations in the first quarter of 2018.
The company also plans to use part of the facility for warehousing and shipping for its multiple product lines.
Paoli LLC will likely wind down operations by the end of February, and during that time Jasper Group will begin bringing in raw materials and finalizing equipment purchases that can be used immediately in its new operation.
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.