SEYMOUR — A local manufacturing facility is set to expand its footprint and workforce following a major investment announcement this week.
O&K American Corp. is planning a nearly $9 million expansion at its Seymour facility that will create five new full-time positions, according to a statement from the Jackson County Industrial Development Corp. (JCIDC).
The expansion focuses on enhancing the plant’s processing capabilities, shifting production operations closer to home. Darrell Clodfelder, general manager for operations at O&K American Corp., noted in the JCIDC release that new machinery will allow the facility to process wire rods directly in Seymour, eliminating the need to have the wire manufactured at the company’s plant in Japan and shipped to the U.S.
Jim Plump, executive director of the JCIDC, reported that the company currently employs 74 workers with an annual payroll of $5.3 million. The five additional positions are expected to contribute approximately $250,000 in new annual salaries to the local economy.
Company representatives and economic development officials appeared before the Seymour City Council this week to request a 10-year tax abatement on the planned investment. The total project cost includes roughly $8.4 million allocated for personal property—primarily machinery and equipment—and $637,000 for real property improvements.
The Seymour City Council voted to approve the tax abatement, which allows property taxes on the newly added investment to be phased in gradually over the 10-year period.
The upcoming project marks the latest chapter in the company’s significant growth in Jackson County. Since selecting Seymour for its expansion site in 2010, O&K has invested nearly $54 million into local equipment and real estate improvements. The facility, located on Bateman Drive in the Eastside Industrial Park, is the company’s second U.S. location—following its initial American facility established in Chicago in 1980. O&K was originally founded in Japan in 1925.
Work on the expansion is scheduled to begin this month, with completion expected next year.
