New Jersey-based company invests $124M in Lake County location
Editor’s note: The Northwest Indiana Forum is partnering with Northwest Indiana Business Magazine to provide updates on READI grant recipients. This is the fourth in an occasional series.
With more than 40 facilities nationwide, United States Cold Storage provides safe transportation and storage of food products throughout the U.S. This service ensures that the food we eat when we go out to dinner or cook at home has been managed properly in a safe environment until we are ready to consume it.
New Jersey-based USCS recently announced a second location in Indiana with plans to invest over $124 million in Lake County. The investment will allow it to operate its fifth high-tech facility in the nation while adding over 60 jobs to the Lake County economy.
“This is an exciting day for Lake County and for Indiana as we celebrate the impact of the READI program and our commitment to economic and community development,” said Indiana Secretary of Commerce David Rosenberg during a ground breaking Sept. 6. “USCS’s decision to establish a second facility in Indiana reflects the company’s confidence in our skilled Hoosier workforce and in the Northwest Indiana community.”
Construction of the 13.58 million-cubic-foot public refrigerated warehouse is scheduled for completion in May 2025. Its other Indiana location is in Lebanon.
READI dollars played an integral role in securing this investment in Northwest Indiana. The $940,000 in funds were used to offset the cost of infrastructure improvements on the nearby access point.
READI was launched by Gov. Eric Holcomb and is administered by the Indiana Economic Development Corp. READI builds on the framework and successes of the Indiana Regional Cities Initiative and the 21st Century Talent initiative, encouraging regional collaboration and data-driven, long-term planning that, when implemented, will attract and retain talent in Indiana.
In 2021 the Northwest Indiana Forum was awarded a $50 million READI grant to fund a list of 34 priority projects — including the infrastructure improvement dollars used to solidify the deal with U.S. Cold Storage.
The READI grant’s overall spending, sparked by the $50 million investment, is expected to exceed $700 million with an economic impact in the billions. The Northwest Indiana Forum is the Region’s economic development organization, representing Lake, Porter, La Porte, Starke, Pulaski, Jasper and Newton counties. The grant funds are being managed by the NWI Forum Foundation Inc.
Caption: United States Cold Storage broke ground Sept. 6 on a new $124 million cold storage facility off I-65 in Hebron in Lake County. (Provided by NWI Forum)
