The Chicago Faucet Company is adding new product lines in its Michigan City facility, retaining jobs and creating value and new jobs.

Chicago Faucets has been the leading manufacturer of faucets and other plumbing fixtures since 1901. Chicago Faucets is one of only a few companies that still produce permanent mold, yellow brass castings right here in the US. In addition to standard castings, Chicago Faucets produces ECAST faucets, a line of durable, high-quality faucets and fittings that are designed and manufactured with 0.25% or less total lead content by weighted average. In July 2002, the Geberit Group acquired Chicago Faucets. The Geberit Group, a 125 year-old company headquartered in Jona, Switzerland, is a European market leader and global provider in the area of plumbing technology. The company employs a staff of over 6,000 people worldwide.

This project is expected to be completed this fall and Chicago Faucets will be adding four new jobs to its current workforce of 74 at its location at 1100 Boone Dr. Michigan City, Indiana.

The personal property tax abatement was approved unanimously by the Michigan City Common Council at a meeting Tuesday night and will save the company about $93,000.

“This is another great example of companies that continue to do well in in Michigan City and are committed to grow and expand in our community,” said Michigan City Mayor Ron Meer. “It is exciting for us to have such a top notch manufacturer that will continue to call Michigan City home.”

Economic Development Corporation Michigan City, Indiana (EDCMC) addresses the needs of local businesses with the Business Retention and Expansion Program (BR&E). Through the program, EDCMC and Chicago Faucets worked together to understand the local business climate, determine future expansion plans with local action, acquaint business executives with programs available through government agencies and provide effective solutions to specific concerns and problems along the way.

“Expanding our product line in Indiana was an easy decision for us,” said Eric Franklin, General Manager of The Chicago Faucets Company, Michigan City location. “We strive to manufacture quality products at the lowest possible cost to our company and our customers.”

EDCMC Executive Director, Clarence Hulse, said, “Michigan City, Indiana continues to prove itself to be a world-class business destination and will continue to attract businesses that are seeking a high quality of life, great workforce and a business friendly environment.”

The new machinery will allow the company to expand its scope of services and products even further in the form of two new electronic faucet lines, add more employees and eventually a modern, state of the art manufacturing facility.

Local companies looking to expand their business may call the EDCMC at (219) 873-1211 for more information. For more information on The Chicago Faucet Company, visit http://www.chicagofaucets.com/