Indianapolis – Torchlite, a digital marketing service provider, announced plans today to expand its operations here, creating up to 140 new jobs by 2019.
“Here in the state’s capital city, the technology sector is growing at a rate more than triple the national average and creating a growing number of high-skill, high-wage Hoosier jobs,” said Governor Mike Pence. “Indiana’s innovative workforce and continued focus on cutting costs and taxes has been a driving force behind attracting jobs and top talent to the state, further solidifying Indianapolis’s footprint as a leading national tech hub.”

The woman-owned company will invest $514,086 to triple its Indianapolis office space, moving into a 5,500-square-foot space on the second floor of 342 Massachusetts Ave. Torchlite is currently on the fourth floor of the building and expects to complete the move this summer. The expansion includes the creation of collaborative break-out areas in addition to investment in information technology hardware infrastructure. The company, which was established in 2015, secured $1 million in recurring annual revenue within its first 40 days and has doubled its revenue every month since then.

Torchlite, which currently employs 16 Hoosiers, is currently hiring for sales and development (JavaScript and Postgres) positions. These new jobs are expected to pay average salaries more than 2.5 times higher than the state’s average wage. Interested applicants may apply by emailing jobs@torchlite.com or by visiting www.torchlite.com/careers.

“Torchlite is in a high-growth mode as we’re getting ready to finalize another round of funding,” said Susan Marshall, chief executive officer and co-founder of Torchlite. “The tech community in Indianapolis has been unbelievably supportive of our venture and has played an integral role in our success as a company.”

Torchlite, which was nominated for TechPoint’s Start-up of the Year award, was founded just last year by Susan Marshall, a former Apple employee and executive at ExactTarget and Salesforce. The firm helps marketers and other businesses keep up with online marketing activities through its customized and collaborative platform, which combines technology and talent to enable businesses to plan, execute and analyze digital marketing campaigns from a simple, unified dashboard. Torchlite’s largest clients are headquartered in Delaware, Florida and Georgia.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) offered Torchlite Technologies Inc. up to $2,825,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $100,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. These incentives are performance based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. Torchlite is seeking additional funding from the Indiana Seed Fund, which accelerates the deployment of investment capital and is managed by Elevate Ventures in partnership with the IEDC. The city of Indianapolis supports the project in partnership with Develop Indy, a business unit of the Indy Chamber.

“This announcement further solidifies Indianapolis’ place as a hub for the tech industry,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “From our historic neighborhoods to our flourishing downtown, companies continue to grow in Indianapolis because of the amenities our city affords as well as the growing pool of new talent. Indianapolis is proud to welcome these 140 new tech jobs to our great city.”

According to TechPoint, Indiana’s technology initiative, computer and IT jobs in Central Indiana grew by 17 percent – at a rate more than double the growth rate of all occupations – from 2009-2014, creating more than 5,000 jobs and exceeding the national growth rate of tech jobs of 5.7 percent. The Indianapolis area ranks No. 2 in the nation for tech grads (DataFox), No. 5 in the nation for women in tech (Fast Company) and No. 6 in the nation for tech jobs (Fast Company).

Valparaiso – AMKUS Rescue Systems, a manufacturer of fire and rescue equipment, announced today that it has relocated its operations from Downers Grove, Illinois, to Valparaiso, Indiana. Valparaiso-based Task Force Tips acquired the company earlier this year, and with this relocation, now plans to create up to 20 new Indiana jobs.

“With a short move from Illinois, AMKUS Rescue Systems will quickly understand the full benefits of growing a business in Indiana,” said Governor Mike Pence. “Here in the home of lower taxes, less regulation and the nation’s strongest manufacturing workforce, Indiana helps companies like AMKUS Rescue Systems save money, which they can then reinvest into their operations to put more Hoosiers to work. With the help of Task Force Tips – a homegrown company helping save lives around the world – today AMKUS Rescue Systems is joining a long line of Illinois companies making the smart decision to relocate to Indiana.”

Task Force Tips invested $2.6 million to renovate a 50,000-square-foot facility at 4201 Montdale Park Drive in the Montdale Business Park in Valparaiso, which will serve as the new home for its direct subsidiary AMKUS Rescue Tools. Located less than one mile from Task Force Tips’ 168,000-square-foot facility, both companies will improve their research and development activities by operating in close proximity and will provide higher-quality products to emergency responders worldwide.

AMKUS Rescue Tools completed its relocation just last month and now bases all of its operations in Indiana. While AMKUS Rescue Systems will maintain its own unique identity, distribution network, field managers and marketing message, it will share Task Force Tips’ extensive research, development and new product innovation resources. With their growth, both companies share a commitment to providing world-class service and support to emergency service professionals around the globe.

“Indiana is a great place to do business and the state has been a strong partner for Task Force Tips as we have grown,” said Martin Sonnenberg, president and chief operating officer of Task Force Tips. “Northwest Indiana specifically has a wealth of talented people that make us successful. We believe that AMKUS will benefit greatly from being located in Indiana going forward.”

Task Force Tips currently employs 225 Indiana employees, which now includes 10 team members previously based at AMKUS Rescue Tools’ facility in Illinois. To reach its goal of creating 20 new Indiana-based jobs, AMKUS will add an additional 10 jobs and is currently hiring for production, assembly and shipping positions. These positions are expected on average to pay 25 percent more than the state average wage. Interested applicants may search for open opportunities atwww.tft.com.

Founded in 1971, Task Force Tips got its start when Clyde McMillan, a local fire chief in Gary, Indiana, sketched a design for a new automatic fire nozzle on a paper napkin. From there, Task Force Tips grew from the family’s basement into a worldwide leader in manufacturing equipment for the firefighting industry. The company has since diversified to also produce ice control nozzles for the airline industry, allowing for quicker deicing of aircraft in difficult weather conditions. With its acquisition of AMKUS Rescue Tools, Task Force Tips is adding the production of extrication tools into its product offerings for the firefighting industry.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Task Force Tips Inc. up to $200,000 in conditional tax credits based on the company’s job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The city of Valparaiso will consider additional incentives.

Companies like Task Force Tips and AMKUS Rescue Tools continue to choose Indiana for their manufacturing growth, creating more jobs in a state that is home to the largest concentration of manufacturing jobs in the nation. Indiana has added 92,000 manufacturing jobs since July 2009 and is growing manufacturing employment at a rate of 21.5 percent, which is the second highest growth rate for manufacturing jobs in the nation.

“Task Force Tips has been part of the Valparaiso community since the early 1970s and a leader in civic engagement and philanthropy,” said Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas. “Their success is a product of good management and a strong commitment to innovation. We are very happy that AMKUS and its employees will be joining Task Force Tips and calling Valparaiso home.”

As home to the Midwest’s top business climate, AMKUS Rescue Tools joins a long line of Illinois companies relocating their operations to Indiana. Since 2013, more than 20 Illinois companies have announced that they plan to create 2,800 new jobs in the Hoosier state. This includes Hoist Liftruck, formerly based in Bedford Park, Illinois, which welcomed Governor Pence in March to help cut the ribbon on its new manufacturing facility in East Chicago, where it plans to create up to 500 new jobs by 2022.