Schulte Corporation to bring more than 200 new jobs to the Bloomington area

The City of Bloomington will likely approve $828,000 in tax abatements for Bloomington's Schulte Corporation based the overwhelming support from the City Council members. \nThe abatements are part of a $5 million incentive by the city and state. Schulte is a family-owned business which has been manufacturing home storage and organizational products in Bloomington since 1986. The corporation has been growing rapidly and plans to add 223 new jobs during the next five years. Schulte's growth will help bring an influx of jobs to Bloomington, which has faced considerable downsizing of manufacturers including General Electric Corporation.\nMany jobs are being shipped overseas, Councilman Dave Rollo said referring to the outsourcing of jobs Bloomington has seen. \nOriginally located in Cincinnati, Ohio, Schulte chose to re-locate to Bloomington because of the people, company President John Kokenge said.\n"Please feel welcome, we'll role out the red carpet for you," said Councilman Jason Banach.\nSchulte currently operates on Liberty Drive, but hopes to move to building four of the Indiana Enterprise Center. Moving into the 630,000 square foot warehouse will require some renovation including a landscaped parking lot, a formal business entrance, two floors of manufacturing and inventory space, a training center and cafeteria. These improvement will total approximately $6.18 million. Shulte plans to hire local contractors and architects for the project. \n"This is a win, win, win," said Councilman Chris Sturbaum, referring to the number of jobs Schulte will bring to the city.\nForty-eight percent of the corporations employees are residents of Monroe county. Shulte's five-year plan will include moving its current employees to the new facility along with the projected 223 new employees. In order to install additional manufacturing equipment, $7.65 million will also be needed. \n"The core value of the company is to think long term," Kokenge said. With this in mind he hopes by 2009 the business will triple in size.\nRon Walker, director of Economic Development, provided the tax consequences for these abatements. The property owner would pay about $607,513 and would forego about $595,483 in taxes in real-estate improvements during the 10-year abatement. Also, $126,263 would be paid in taxes on equipment and would forego about $228,408 in taxes on the five-year abatement.\nThe resolution received positive recommendations from both the Economic Development Commission and the Redevelopment Commission.\nAlong with the tax abatements the city plans to install a new road and sewer lines near the new building. \nAlso on the Council agenda were three resolutions to annex areas of Monroe County into the city of Bloomington. These areas include Hoadley Quaries, Rhorer Road/West Gordon Pike and St. James Woods/East Wingfild/Rolling Hills areas. A vote on the annexes is expected for Dec. 15.\n-- Contact staff writer Jill Brooks at jimbrook@indiana.edu.