Uesco Industries broke ground July 9 on its new crane manufacturing facility in Hammond.

Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. said the company's move from Illinois to Indiana “is a big economic development win for the City of Hammond.”

Uesco Industries President Ryan Marks said the company has been looking for a reason to move to Indiana for awhile.

“For the better part of 10 years, our family has envisioned bringing Uesco Industries across the state line to Indiana” Marks said in a press release. “Today, that vision is finally a reality, and it wouldn’t have happened without the relentless dedication of our partners.”

He went on to thank Mayor McDermott and the City of Hammond, 219 Development and Fifth Third Bank for supporting the move.

“We aren’t just building a state-of-the-art crane manufacturing facility here; we are planting our flag,” Marks said. “Uesco looks forward to creating great jobs, investing in the local economy and being a model corporate citizen in Hammond for generations to come.”

McDermott said the facility will make good use of land that was underutilized for 20 years.

“A $25 million investment of this scale will bring a new company to our city with all the investment and the over 100 jobs that come with it,” the mayor said.

Uesco’s partnership with 219 Development Services included site planning, design, permitting and financing coordination.

“From the start, this project has been about more than constructing a building,” said Jack Ferrino, principal of 219 Development Services. “It has been about helping a fourth-generation company expand its operations, bring meaningful investment into Hammond, and create a long-term home for advanced manufacturing in Northwest Indiana.”

Fifth Third Bank supported the project at 5009 Calumet Ave. through its new markets tax credit program.

Uesco Cranes was founded in 1921 by Fred Marks on the south side of Chicago. Ryan Marks became president in 2020 to become the fourth generation of leadership.