NEWS RELEASES
New Lippert Plant In Goshen Canceled
Editor's Note: This news item was retrieved and first published through Goshen News' website.
GOSHEN, Ind. — The Goshen News and other local news outlets report that members of the city council were surprised at a recent meeting by the news that Lippert has canceled its plans to build a $20 million facility in Goshen on a 154-acre property on C.R. 36 southeast of the Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds. A “For Sale” sign posted at the property was spotted by a council member. The council had voted in March, 2018 to approve annexation of the property and to establish a new tax increment financing (TIF) area to reimburse the company for expenses related to extending city sewer, water and utilities. The new plant, focused on light manufacturing, research and development, was intended to replace its Lippert’s nearby Plant 45. The company builds components for the recreational vehicle industry.
The News discovered that Goshen Mayor Jeremy Stutsman and Goshen Community Development Director Mark Brinson were informed of the potential sale of the C.R. 36 property by Lippert several weeks ago. Although Lippert has yet to make a statement, Stutsman confirmed that Lippert does not plan to build the plant in another location, and has scrapped the project altogether. Stutsman said that all previously-agreed upon conditions, including the TIF, related to the annexation agreement will stay with the property, and thus be the responsibility of whoever buys it. “The obligations we created with Lippert are actually with the property, so if they sell that to another company, they still are tied to the same obligations of extending city sewer and water, and utilities,” Stutsman told the News. “Then the TIF agreement would then kick in for whoever that is for the repayment.”
Read the full story in the Goshen News.