Solar energy company to create 500 new Ind. jobs by 2016

An Austria-based solar energy company is relocating its North American headquarters to Indiana in a move that will create more than 500 jobs in the renewable energy sector.

Fronius USA, the fourth largest solar inverter producer in the world, announced the move last week. The company announced plans to invest more than $26 million to lease and equip a 400,000 square foot facility to be located in Portage, Ind.

The move will be completed by 2016, the company stated in a press release.

Gov. Mitch Daniels joined company executives when making the announcement. “We’re excited to bring new jobs anywhere in Indiana, but we’re particularly excited Fronius has chosen northwest Indiana,” Daniels said in a press release.

Daniels called Fronius “exactly the kind of company we’ve rebuilt the Indiana business climate to attract.”

Fronius has already started hiring people for the move from Michigan, where the business is currently headquartered, to Indiana.

The Indiana Economic Development Commission offered Fronius $4.25 million in tax credits for its job creation plans.

The city of Portage is also considering offering property tax abatement to the company.

— Zach Ammerman