John Deere has recently broken ground on a $125 million distribution center in Lake County in northwestern Indiana.
Hoosier Ag Today first reported on this project in July 2024, with John Deere purchasing the property for the site at the time for $7 million.
The 1.2 million-square-foot distribution center is being built on 234 acres off of I-65, near the cities of Lowell and Hebron. The facility is planned at 2105 W. 181st Avenue—just southwest of the interchange of I-65 and State Road 2.
According to a release from Gov. Mike Braun’s office Tuesday evening, the new facility is expected to create 150 jobs, each expected to pay above the county’s current average wage.
“Our state’s location as the Crossroads of America makes it the ideal destination for companies of all sizes to serve customers across the U.S. and around the world,” said Gov. Braun in a statement. “John Deere’s expansion to Indiana is a testament to our business-first environment, our robust manufacturing sector, and our strong pipeline of skilled talent.”
John Deere says their new facility is strategically located to enhance their supply chain capabilities nationwide, and will be designed to streamline operations and ensure timely delivery of equipment and parts.
The company says it will continue to maintain its primary North American Parts Distribution Center in Milan, Illinois, which has been in operation since 1973 and employs about 1,200 people.
John Deere adds that its expansion to Indiana is part of their commitment to invest $20 billion in U.S. manufacturing over the next 10 years.
The Indiana Economic Development Corp. (IDEC) has committed $2.5 million in incentive-based credits to the project, according to the Governor’s Office. The company will be eligible to claim those state benefits once its planned investments are made and employees are hired.
President Trump mentioned John Deere’s plans during an appearance in Clive, Iowa, on Tuesday. The Indiana facility is one of two that has been announced by the company. John Deere says it also plans to build a $70 million manufacturing facility in Kernersville, North Carolina, that will produce excavators previously produced in Japan.
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