MacAllister Expansion

WASHINGTON, IND. (WTHI) -      An Indiana based company announces plans for a major expansion of its operations in a Wabash Valley community.

     MacAllister Machinery will invest almost $9-million in facilities and machinery into its operation in Washington.

     The project is also going to add some good paying jobs to the area.

     One of the first things motorists approaching Washington on US 50 notice is the MacAllister Machinery building on the city's southside.

     Soon they will be seeing a much bigger operation.

     The company that services and sells heavy equipment for the agriculture, mining and construction industry will be spending almost $9-million to expand its operation.

     "They've been a very good corporate citizen over the last several years and we're tickled to death to have the expansion," said Ron Arnold with the Daviess County Economic Development Corporation.

     "Real excited they decided to choose Washington as the place for their expansion," added Washington Mayor Joe Wellman.

     There's more to be excited about than just the physical expansion of the facilities.

  Officials say by 2016 MacAllister have 60 more people working in Washington with an overage pay of $30 an hour.

     "These will be good paying jobs," said Wellman, "and we're excited they're going to be here."

     The project took 2 years of working and planning.

     MacAllister will receive tax credits, job training assistance, tax abatements and utilities upgrades.

     "I can't say enough about how the city and county governments get together, not only the current ones but the one in the past," said Arnold.  "When it comes to economic development they are all on the same page."

     There may be some more reasons for the project landing in Washington.

     "We think our workforce was part of the reason they decided to come here as well as our location," said Wellman.

     In the end all of those factors should mean some good things happening for the local economy because of the growing business on the edge of town.

     The project is expected to begin in the spring and be completed before the end of next year.