JSI started business in 1929. They now operate four manufacturing plants in Orange and Dubois counties, with over two million square feet of total manufacturing and warehouse space along with their corporate headquarters in Jasper.
Best Home Furnishings (Best) has chosen to expand operations in Orange County at their Paoli location. Best currently employs 44 employees in Paoli with primary function of cutting and sewing fabrics to be shipped to their other facilities for furniture production. They have had a presence in Paoli for 20 years.
Extending A Hand To Our Local Businesses
OCEDP teamed up with the county and Region 15 to apply for the Office of Community and Rural Affairs COVID-19 Response Grant.
Current Executive Director Zachary Brown will be stepping down from OCEDP as he has accepted a new position. A hiring process to replace Brown has taken place by the Board of Directors and Kristal Painter was selected to succeed Brown moving forward.
ElectriCom celebrated its expanded headquarters and growing workforce with a ribbon cutting today at its office facility located on Hospital Road in Paoli. The project was supported by a Radius Indiana Regional Impact Fund grant of $88,739 and state IEDC incentives totaling $350,000.
Reynolds is an employee-owned, customer-focused, service company providing sustainable solutions for water and wastewater infrastructure. We believe WATER is our most precious natural resource; our PEOPLE are our greatest asset; and our solutions must improve the quality of life in the COMMUNITIES we work in.
This survey is brought to you by OCEDP, Orange County Chambers of Commerce and Visit French Lick West Baden. It is our goal to collect data from you to not only find ways that we can help businesses in Orange County as they begin to re-open, but to also collect data that will help us share information amongst each other so that we can all work together to re-open Orange County. Answers will be anonymous. If you would be so kind as to take the survey, maybe the anonymous info that you share could help another business who may be struggling.
Please follow the link below to fill out the survey!
Woman-Owned Small Business Relocating HQ from Boston, Massachusetts to French Lick, Indiana
Boston International (BI), a woman-owned, design-driven home décor company originally founded in 1986, is relocating its business from Boston, Massachusetts to French Lick, Indiana. The company’s Owner and President, Pam Metz started a search for a new location in 2018 in an effort to find a better place to do business. A CEO ranking of best states to do business in, took her to Texas, Florida, North Carolina, and Indiana.
In early 2019, her efforts led her to southern Indiana. The search included locations, properties, and buildings across southern Indiana. What is most recently known as Jasper Group in French Lick has had plans to consolidate into their 1.2 million square foot building in Orleans, Indiana. When Boston International came to Orange County in search of a new location it was found that the Jasper Group owned property in French Lick was a good fit. That’s when conversations were started between the two companies. One year later, Boston International will begin moving into the community.
It’s very exciting knowing BI will contribute to the economic growth of such a wonderful community as French Lick.
Pam Metz, President, and Owner of Boston International
Pam Metz, President, and Owner of Boston International said, “I’m originally from southern Indiana and always hoped that one day I would have the opportunity to return. The fact that I’m able to bring my company with me is a dream come true. It’s very exciting knowing BI will contribute to the economic growth of such a wonderful community as French Lick. Zachary Brown, Executive Director of the Orange County Economic Development Partnership, along with all the Indiana governmental agency representatives, have been invaluable during this process making the decision to relocate to southern Indiana an easy decision.”
BI brings a new type of industry to Orange County as they specialize in manufacturing and distribution of gifts, home décor, tabletop accessories, and stationery. They act as the exclusive distributor for large companies like Ideal Home Range (IHR) of Germany, Santoro Graphics of London and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City as well as the development and manufacturing of their own branded collections. In addition to their wholesale business, BI will open a retail outlet store on the property allowing the local community and tourists alike to take advantage of huge savings on high-quality items. They will create about 50 new jobs, all while Jasper Group still continues to retain its employees in Orange County as well. BI’s purchase of the French Lick facility gave Jasper Group the opportunity to consolidate into their larger building and repurpose a building that may have otherwise become vacant.
Boston International is an example of the right company and we hope to enjoy a business relationship with them for many years to come!
Zachary Brown, Executive Director
Zachary Brown, Exec. Director of (OCEDP) said “BI has been a wonderful company to work with as we have spent a lot of time together in an effort to attract their business to Orange County. My goal in business attraction is to not just attract any and all businesses to come to Orange County but to ensure that the businesses we are attracting are the right fit for us. Boston International is an example of the right company and we hope to enjoy a business relationship with them for many years to come! Congratulations to Boston International and Jasper Group on closing this deal in what I believe has been and will be good for all parties involved.”
Partners in this project include the Indiana Economic Development Corp. (IEDC), Radius Indiana, Orange County Economic Development Partnership (OCEDP), Town of French Lick and French Lick Redevelopment Commission.
For more information about both companies and career opportunities for both Boston International and Jasper Group please refer to their websites at www.bostoninternational.com and www.jaspergroup.us.com.
