E.K. Blessing, a musical instrument maker, announced today it will expand its manufacturing facility in Elkhart, Indiana, creating up to 22 new jobs by 2012. The brass instrument maker, which was acquired by the Verne Q. Powell Flutes company in October, will invest more than $2.6 million to relocate its brass instrument production from Germany and Taiwan to Elkhart. E.K. Blessing plans to complete its move to a larger facility, which previously housed Damon Motor Coach, in May. "With a world of options available, E.K. Blessing chose Indiana as its centralized production location and that speaks volumes for the global attention our state's business climate continues to receive," said Mitch Roob, Secretary of Commerce and chief executive officer of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.

E.K. Blessing began musical instrument production in Elkhart in 1906 and currently makes trumpets, cornets, flugelhorns, trombones and certain marching brass instruments. The company plans to eventually expand its marching and background brass line to include manufacturing euphoniums, baritones, tubas and French horns. Hiring of additional manufacturing associates will coincide with the new production introduction and implementation plans. "We are committed to Made in USA and Blessing is now the only musical instrument maker that is producing all its instruments in Elkhart," said Steven Wasser, president of Verne Q. Powell Flutes. "Our management team is comprised of highly successful industry veterans, and our first executive decision was to discontinue all Blessing products which were being imported from Asia. We value the many skilled musical instrument makers in Elkhart and the wonderful support which has been demonstrated by local officials. Elkhart is a community and we want to be a contributing part of this community."

Boston-based Verne Q. Powell Flutes was established in 1927 and specializes in handmade, custom professional flutes, primarily made from silver and gold. The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered E.K. Blessing up to $40,000 in performance-based tax credits and up to $6,000 in training grants based on the company's job creation plans. The Elkhart City Council has preliminarily approved a property tax phase-in and the Elkhart County Commissioners will provide Recovery Zone Facility bonds at the request of the Economic Development Corporation of Elkhart County. "We are delighted that E. K. Blessing has decided to stay and grow in the city of Elkhart," said Mayor Dick Moore. "Blessing has been a wonderful corporate citizen for over a century. We are proud that Blessing will continue to manufacture musical instruments in the city that was once hailed as the Band Instrument Capital of the World. This is proof positive that the citizens of Elkhart, Indiana can compete with any community in the world."

E.K. Blessing's announced expansion in Elkhart comes less than a week after heat treating service provider, Specialty Heat Treating, Inc. announced it would also expand its operations here, creating up to 26 new jobs by 2012. E.K. Blessing E.K. Blessing, founded in 1906, has a long history of making high quality brass instruments in Elkhart, Indiana. One of two remaining musical instrument makers in what was formerly the musical instrument manufacturing capital of the world - Blessing is now the only one to make 100% of its instruments within the city. With a passionate commitment to "Made in USA" instruments of the highest quality, Blessing is poised to make a major impact on the brass world. About IEDC Created by Governor Mitch Daniels in 2005 to replace the former Department of Commerce, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation is governed by a 12-member board chaired by Governor Daniels. Mitch Roob serves as the chief executive officer of the IEDC.

For more information, please visit http://www.iedc.in.gov.

Source: Blair West, IEDC