State announces 650 new job commitments at 17 companies

The Indiana Economic Development Corp. said Thursday morning that it has reached incentive deals with 17 companies across the state, including 14 businesses in central Indiana, that could lead to as many as 650 new jobs over the next decade.

The jobs are expected to pay average annual salaries of $82,900 and span the agricultural, media, IT, pharmaceutical, software, technology and construction fields, according to the IEDC.

The largest financial investments included a $6.2 million venture to add 55 jobs from Indianapolis-based Emmis Communications Corp. to support the expansion of subsidiaries NextRadio and Digonex, and a $6.1 million plan from corn seed company AgReliant Genetics LLC in Westfield to add 24 jobs.

Emmis said it would add the 55 jobs at NextRadio and Digonex before the end of 2024. The two subsidiaries now employ 11 workers in an 18,500-square-foot space in the company's downtown headquarters.

The IEDC offered Emmis up to $1.04 million in conditional tax credits and up to $60,000 in training grants based on the job-creation plans.

AgReliant, the nation's third largest corn company, said it planned to double capacity by expanding its Westfield headquarters. The company made a deal to receive local incentives earlier this year. The IEDC offered AgReliant up to $260,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $150,000 in training grants. The company currently has 140 workers statewide.

For the year, the IEDC said it received record commitments from 323 companies to add 26,555 positions, totaling an investment of more than $4.79 billion. Those jobs are expected to pay an average hourly wage of $24.87, which is above the current state average wage of $21.55.

The incentive agreements reached by all of the companies are performance-based, meaning the businesses won't receive tax breaks unless they create jobs, the IEDC said.

The other companies making job committments on Wednesday:

— STLogics, a technology holding company, said it would invest $390,000 to expand its headquarters in Indianapolis. It plans to create up to 102 jobs by 2024 across its network of subsidiaries: RadCube, SkillDemand, NLogix, STBigData and STProfessionals. The company could receive up to $1.82 million in tax credits and up to $50,000 in training grants.

— Sells Group, a local digital marketing firm founded in 2012, plans to create up to 65 jobs by 2019 after consolidating two offices into a 4,000-square-foot space downtown. The IEDC offered the 16-employee firm $875,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $125,000 in training grants.

— DK Pierce, a biopharmaceuticals and medical technologies consulting firm, said it would spend $3.9 million to expand its operations in Zionsville. The company plans to add 23 positions by 2019. The company stands to receive $275,000 in tax credits and up to $50,000 in training grants.

— Performance Assessment Network, a human resources consulting company, is investing $2.27 million in Carmel to equip its 17,000-square-foot office space on North Meridian Street. It plans 20 new jobs by 2019. The company was offered up to $275,000 in tax credits and up to $45,000 in training grants.

— Pondurance, an information security consulting company, is investing $596,000 and plans to add 65 jobs by 2023. The 17-employee company could receive up to $700,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $50,000 in training grants.

— Balance Digital Marketing in downtown Indianapolis said it would create up to 36 jobs by 2024. Its plans include expanding its office space by 1,600 square feet. The firm could get up to $480,000 in tax credits and up to $30,000 in training grants.

— Creative Solutions Consulting, an IT and financial consulting firm with 49 employees in Indiana, plan to invest $307,400 to expand its Indianapolis headquarters and create up to 57 jobs by 2020. The company was offered up to $1.435 million in tax credits and up to $65,000 in training grants.

— Level Up Development, a custom software application development company, plans to spend $307,500 to expand its office space in downtown Indianapolis and launch new data platforms. The company intends to hire 24 people by 2018.

— LifeShare Technologies, which provides communication services for senior-living communities, said it will invest more than $330,000 to expand in Shelbyville. It plans to create up to 24 jobs by 2021 in client services, sales and technology.

— One View, an Indianapolis-based tech firm with 16 employees serving the automotive dealer and computer software industries, plans to add 34 jobs by 2020.

— Thieneman Construction said it would invest $4.17 million to build its new headquarters facility in Westfield, with construction currently underway. It plans to create up to 26 jobs by 2020.

— Vertical Edge Consulting Group, a management and technology consulting firm, will invest $652,810 to expand its Indianapolis operations. It will add up to 25 jobs by 2020.

Outside of central Indiana:

— Mediaura is a web and software design company and will invest $944,000 to relocate its operations from Louisville to Jeffersonville. The company plans to up to 30 new jobs by 2018.

— Microbide, an Ireland-based chemical company, plans to invest $1.87 million to establish its North American headquarters in Evansville to work more closely with the University of Southern Indiana. Microbide plans 18 new jobs by 2018.

— MorphoTrust USA, a Massachusetts-based provider of secure credentialing, expects to invest $6 million to expand its operations in Fort Wayne, adding 20 workers.

This story will be updated.