Merrillville preliminarily approves tax abatement for South Korean firm GI Tech at Ameriplex

The Merrillville Town Council on June 24 approved a preliminary resolution (25-25) declaring an area in the Ameriplex as an Economic Revitalization Area and preliminarily granting real and personal property tax abatement to GI Tech America, a South Korean precision manufacturing firm.

Councilman Michael Pettit presented the petition and moved approval; the motion carried by voice vote. The petition for phase 1 describes a 22,000-square-foot facility on about 3 acres (10098 Delaware/Hundredth Place in Ameriplex) with a $7,500,000 planned investment, temporary union construction jobs and an initial 15 full-time positions. The petitioner said the company anticipates longer-term expansion and a goal of up to 35 permanent high-skilled jobs across phases. The company also asked that the town encourage hiring of local residents; both the petitioner and council discussed a non-binding goal of 10% local-hire participation and participation in the town job fair.

Council members said the firm chose Merrillville following an extensive site selection process that included multiple states. Pettit and other councilors said the preliminary resolution received favorable committee review and the redevelopment commission recommended the matter to the council. The resolution is the preliminary step; a final declaratory resolution and an official abatement schedule will return to the council after required advertisement and statutory steps.

The petitioner and staff described phase 1 as a $7.5 million investment that would create multiple temporary construction jobs and 15 full-time positions with an estimated annual payroll of about $1,350,000. Councilors asked staff to continue coordination with the company on site improvements and local-hire outreach. The resolution passed; council staff noted further public notice steps and a final council action will be required before any abatement is finalized.