Trailer Manufacturer Adding Second Indiana Facility, 115 Jobs

Stealth Trailers will open a new facility in Marion, IN with help from state tax credits and training grants based on the company’s job creation plans.

Stealth Trailers, a manufacturer of open and enclosed cargo trailers, will establish a second manufacturing location in Indiana, opening a new facility in Marion. As part of its growth, the company plans to create up to 115 new jobs by 2020.

Marion IN
(Photo: Stealth Trailers)

“After careful consideration of several locations, we have found the city of Marion, Grant County and the state of Indiana as the best possible solution for our expansion plans,” said Don Emahiser, president and chief operating officer of Stealth Trailers. “The support we have received and expect to receive in the future has been nothing short of tremendous.”

The Bristol, IN-based company will lease and equip a 48,000-square-foot facility. Supplementing operations at its Bristol headquarters, the new facility will house complete trailer manufacturing operations, including trailer welding, assembly and final finishing. With the expanded production, the company will work to improve production lead time in support of its role as the market share leader of cargo trailers in the Midwest. With equipment installation currently underway, the company plans to launch operations at the facility by October 1.

“We are pleased that Stealth Trailers has chosen Marion to expand their operation,” said Marion Mayor Jess Alumbaugh. “This partnership will not only assist Stealth Trailers in increasing their productivity and growth, but it provides employment opportunities for those here in Marion and Grant County looking for a new career in manufacturing. We look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with Stealth Trailers.”

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) offered Stealth Enterprises LLC up to $600,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $70,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. These incentives are performance based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The city of Marion supports the project, and Northeast Indiana Works will provide additional hiring and training assistance.

“With the benefit of Indiana’s strong environment for manufacturing, Stealth Trailers has grown from a Hoosier startup into a major player in the trailer industry in less than 10 years,” said Elaine Bedel, president of the IEDC. “Indiana’s growing manufacturers like Stealth Trailer are supporting an industry that employs one in every five Hoosiers. As Stealth Trailers chooses to open its second manufacturing center in Indiana, we look forward to seeing what’s next for this Indiana company.”

As part of Governor Eric J. Holcomb’s plan to make Indiana a magnet for job creation, the Next Level Jobs initiative includes two new grant programs designed to put Hoosiers to work in high-demand, high-wage industries, including manufacturing. The Workforce Ready Grant will skill-up adults to fill jobs in high-demand industries, while the Employer Training Grant will help offset employer costs for on-the-job training.

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