Panduit is building a 475,000-square-foot distribution center in Merrillville, now with the help of a tax abatement from the town.

The total project investment is estimated at $76.5 million.

“This is a huge boom in the economic development arena that Merrillville has never seen, similar to the Amazon project,” said Town Councilman Shawn Pettit during a Feb. 25 council meeting.

The Merrillville Town Council approved a tax abatement Feb. 25 for the property at 9945 Mississippi St. For the first three years, the abatement will be 100%, reducing incrementally to 12.5% in the 10th year.

Gerald Lange, treasurer of Panterra Development, the builder, asked for the personal property tax abatement in a letter to Angie Chilcott, director of economic development.

“With the support of the town of Merrillville, we will continue to expand our business and contribute to the local economy,” Lange wrote.

The company's electrical infrastructure department said it is “expanding facilities worldwide for faster fulfillment achieved through in-house manufacturing of power connectors, terminals and grounding solutions.”

Panduit, which has headquarters in Tinley Park, Illinois, manufactures electrical infrastructure and data center deployment.

“From data centers and office facilities to plant floors and processing lines, we design, build, install, and service innovative solutions that turn connectivity into a competitive advantage,” according to its website.

Shaw Local News Network reported in May 2024 that the company planned to close its DeKalb, Illinois, warehouse and move it to Indiana.

A Facebook post showed work progressing on the warehouse that started construction in 2023.