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Jul 26, 2023

Tax abatements for Edcoat and MAKS Plastic expansions as jobs added

SOUTH BEND — The St. Joseph County Council unanimously approved confirming resolutions on Tuesday for tax abatements to two manufacturing firms that are growing. Edcoat, at 30350 Edison Road in New

SOUTH BEND — The St. Joseph County Council unanimously approved confirming resolutions on Tuesday for tax abatements to two manufacturing firms that are growing.

Edcoat, at 30350 Edison Road in New Carlisle, aims to keep its 87 employees and potentially add 40 more, averaging $28 per hour, as it spends $4.75 million to expand its current building space and spends $14 million to expands its machinery and tools.

General Manager Jeff Williams said Edcoat does behind-the-scenes work of painting aluminum and steel that ends up in housing products like garage doors and siding.

The start-up company MAKS Plastic, in the former United Conveyor facility at 13077 McKinley Highway in Mishawaka, plans to invest about $5 million in manufacturing equipment as it expects to hire 25 new employees by the end of this year and an additional 100 over the next few years.

CEO Kristian Stankiewicz, who founded the company last year with fellow former co-workers, said they make molded plastic products like holding tanks for recreational vehicles and seatbacks for boats. In the future, he said, they hope to make coolers and kayaks.

South Bend Tribune reporter Joseph Dits can be reached at 574-235-6158 or [email protected].