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Canadian steel manufacturer Envoy to open U.S. operations in Bloomington, pledges 50–100 jobs
Summary
Envoy, represented at the Monroe County Council meeting by Monica Vink and introduced by the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation, said it will locate production in the redeveloped Phoenix Packaging/Otis facility and expects 50–100 jobs in coming years.
A Canadian steel manufacturer told the Monroe County Council on Tuesday that it has chosen Bloomington as the site of its U.S. expansion and expects to create between 50 and 100 jobs over the next few years.
Jen Pearl, president of the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation, introduced Monica Vink of Envoy, who described the company as a steel manufacturer in the telecom industry that makes mounts, structures and other components for communications networks.
"We're a Canada based company, who found the need to kinda land in The US as our customers are really pulling us here," Monica Vink said. She said Envoy chose Bloomington for its central Midwest location, nearby university engineering programs and Ivy Tech for trade skills.
Envoy said it will occupy underused space in the redeveloped Phoenix Packaging (former Otis Elevator) facility on Curry Pike and will operate a production facility that will perform steel welding and fabrication. "It is a production facility, so we will be welding steel and doing all kinds of really cool things," Vink said.
Council members welcomed the announcement and linked the investment to prior redevelopment decisions. "Some of your past decisions as council is actually bearing fruit here," Jen Pearl told the council, thanking the county for earlier support to Phoenix.
Councilors asked about current staffing and hiring plans. Vink said Envoy had just gained access to the building and had 10–15 applications in hand as it set up operations; machinery and equipment were still arriving. She repeated the projection of 50 to 100 jobs over the next couple of years, with a mix of trade manufacturing positions and a handful of engineering roles. Vink also said the company intends to include veteran hiring programs and to partner on reentry employment for previously incarcerated workers.
Council members said they look forward to follow-up and tours once Envoy's equipment is in place. The council did not take formal action; the presentation was a departmental/nonprofit update. The Bloomington Economic Development Corporation and Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce attended and framed the announcement as an example of local redevelopment producing new jobs.
