The Journal Gazette business staff tracked jobs announcements through the second three months of the year to develop its second economic scorecard of 2009. The following provides a snapshot of the area’s economy, although it isn’t a complete list of changes made by the region’s hundreds of employers.
APRIL
Company/location: BFGoodrich, Woodburn
Business: Makes tires
Announcement: Planning to lay off at least 60
Company/location: Fleetwood Enterprises Inc., Decatur
Business: Manufactures motor homes
Announcement: Notified the Indiana Department of Workforce Development that 443 of its 700 Decatur employees have worked less than half their normal hours in the past four months.
Company/location: Taylor Made Glass Systems, Payne, Ohio
Business: Makes glass for boats and construction equipment
Announcement: Continuing layoffs of 78 employees
Company/location: Steel Tank & Fabricating Corp., Columbia City
Business: Makes storage tanks
Announcement: Undertaking $1 million expansion, hiring four
Company/location: Dunkin’ Donuts, Fort Wayne and Columbia City
Business: Restaurant
Announcement: Opening two locations, hiring 75
Company/location: DeKalb Memorial Hospital, Auburn
Business: Hospital
Announcement: Reduced staff by the equivalent of 14 full-time positions since about November
Company/location: Kosciusko Community Hospital, Warsaw
Business: Hospital
Announcement: Cut 11 employees
Company/location: Dawn Food Products Inc., Ossian
Business: Makes bakery products
Announcement: Closing, eliminating 59 jobs
Company/location: Buchanan Hauling and Rigging Inc., Fort Wayne
Business: Hauling and logistics services
Announcement: Investing $520,000 and adding 60 employees over five years
Company/location: Karl Schmidt Unisia Inc., Fort Wayne
Business: Makes pistons and piston rings
Announcement: Closing, eliminating 38 jobs
Company/location: Good Hospitality Services Inc., Fort Wayne
Business: Extended-stay hotel
Announcement: Planning to build on the north side, creating 15 to 25 jobs
Company/location: Koehlinger Cycling & Fitness, Fort Wayne
Business: Fitness equipment retailer
Announcement: Closing, eliminating eight full-time and five part-time jobs
Company/location: Buckhorn Inc., Bluffton
Business: Structural foam molding
Announcement: Laying off 58
Company/location: The Orthopaedic Hospital at Parkview North, Fort Wayne
Business: Hospital
Announcement: Investing about $16 million, creating seven to 10 jobs
Company/location: Pioneer Wind Energy LLC, Topeka
Business: Wind-generated electricity
Announcement: Planning to build $40 million to $50 million worth of wind farms next year
Company/location: Marsh Supermarkets, Huntington
Business: Grocery
Announcement: Closing, eliminating an unspecified number of jobs
Company/location: Superior Essex Inc., Fort Wayne
Business: Magnet wire manufacturer
Announcement: Consolidating operations in Columbia City and Kentucky, creating a net gain of 15 jobs for the region
Company/location: Fort Wayne Community Schools, Fort Wayne
Business: School district
Announcement: Cutting 13 full-time-equivalent positions
Company/location: IMCO Inc., Huntington
Business: Auto parts maker
Announcement: Closing, eliminating 90 jobs
Company/location: BRC Rubber & Plastics Inc., Churubusco
Business: Auto parts maker
Announcement: Buying IMCO Inc.’s assets, allowing it to call back 60 to 70 laid-off workers
Company/location: Noble International Ltd., Butler
Business: Makes steel auto parts
Announcement: Planning to close in June if it doesn’t find a buyer, eliminating 153 jobs
MAY
Company/location: GM Fort Wayne Assembly, Allen County
Business: Assembles pickup trucks
Announcement: Beginning a 10-week shutdown May 4, idling 2,600
Company/location: Metal Technologies Auburn LLC, Auburn
Business: Manufactures auto parts
Announcement: Planning $1.5 million expansion and creating 52 jobs
Company/location: Guardian Industries Corp., Ligonier
Business: Manufactures auto parts
Announcement: Laying off 133
Company/location: Advanced Assembly LLC, Columbia City
Business: Makes seat systems for trucks
Announcement: Laying off 200
Company/location: OmniSource Corp., Fort Wayne
Business: Scrap-metal recycler
Announcement: Cutting 136 jobs
Company/location: Fort Wayne Metals Research Products Corp., Fort Wayne
Business: Manufactures medical wire
Announcement: Opening a $2.3 million plant in Waynedale and hiring 20
Company/location: Dana Holding Corp., Fort Wayne
Business: Makes axles for Jeeps
Announcement: Laying off 115
JUNE
Company/location: Component Parts Ltd. Inc., Auburn
Business: Manufactures parts for heating systems
Announcement: Planning $2.6 million expansion, creating 30 jobs
Company/location: Fort Wayne Foundry Corp., Fort Wayne and Columbia City
Business: Makes auto parts
Announcement: Closing, cutting 600
Company/location: Automated Control Systems, New Haven
Business: Builds automated equipment for manufacturers
Announcement: Closing, eliminating 14 jobs
Company/location: Contech LLC, Pierceton, Auburn
Business: Makes auto parts
Announcement: Laying off about 100
Company/location: Zimmer Holdings Inc., Warsaw
Business: Makes medical devices
Announcement: Cut 100 jobs
Company/location: Koester Metals Inc., Fremont
Business: Makes sheet-metal enclosures and other items
Announcement: Plans to start operations in vacant facility, creating up to 60 jobs
Company/location: The Cedars, Leo
Business: Nursing home
Announcement: Adding $2 million wing, creating 15 jobs
Company/location: Superior Essex Inc., Fort Wayne
Business: Makes magnet wire
Announcement: Cutting fewer than 10 from its headquarters operation
Company/location: Dana Holding Corp., Fort Wayne
Business: Makes axles for Jeeps
Announcement: Recalling 65 of 115 laid-off workers
