Company moving production to Wakarusa, will create new jobs

UPDATE: RV

400 new jobs expected by 2012

August 02, 2011|By Colleen Ferreira (cferreira@wsbt.com), Click here to follow Colleen on Twitter | By Colleen Ferreira (cferreira@wsbt.com), Click here to follow Colleen on Twitter

Wakarusa is back on the RV map. Monaco RV said it plans to relocate all of its motor coach manufacturing from Oregon to Elkhart County by next year, and that means 400 new jobs are on the way.

In 2008, Monaco announced 1,400 layoffs. Then, a year later, it filed for bankruptcy.

Navistar bought it, and now 400 jobs are on the horizon. Monaco is ready to invest a million dollars to make it happen.

"Today it means jobs for Wakarusa,” said Lauren McFarland from Navistar, the parent company that owns and operates Monaco. "Wakarusa just seemed like a natural fit."

McFarland said relocating RV operations is a home run for everyone.

"Good for our suppliers, good for our customers, and really good for this community," McFarland said.

And residents couldn't agree more.

“Sounds wonderful,” said Jackie Mundy from Wakarusa. “There have been a lot of people out of work so to get a lot more jobs would be a great thing for our economy."

"Back in the hay day, we saw many jobs in the area, and it's nice to have that many jobs coming back to the area,” said Jason Jill, also from Wakarusa.

The company is closing its operation in Oregon. So why expand in Wakarusa?

“Lots of people say it's a great little town," Mundy said.

"80 percent of the RV market is here in Elkhart," McFarland said.

Navistar said Wakarusa is close to its Chicago headquarters. It sees a bright future for the industry.

"We see the RV market picking up," said McFarland.

McFarland believes there will be an increase in sales and rentals. She also said RVs are regaining popularity. Some are now transformed into food trucks and retail outlets.

Monaco hopes to exploit what an RV can provide.

"There are so many opportunities and we hope to bring that to our area," McFarland said.

It is a hopeful boom for the RV industry, and a win for those looking for a job.

"I have lots of friends who are under employed. and it will be nice to see them back to work, providing for their families," Hill said.

Many of the new jobs will be assembly, production and manufacturing jobs paying an average of $15 an hour.

The relocation to Wakarusa comes with some incentives. The state gave Monaco RV Nearly $2.8 million in performance-based tax credits and the Economic Development Corporation of Elkhart County also offered some incentives to attract the company's relocation.

Navistar says the 400 hires will most likely be a blend of both new employees and some from the Oregon plant, but the hiring plan is not ironed out yet.

Index by Date

Index by Keyword