Motionwear, LLC, a designer, manufacturer and distributor of girls' dance, gymnastics, team and cheer apparel in Indianapolis, IN, announced plans to expand its operations, creating up to 28 new jobs by 2016.
The homegrown-Hoosier company will invest $229,600 to equip its existing facility located at 1315 Sunday Drive in Indianapolis. The expansion, which will be fully operational by January, will allow the company to purchase enterprise resource planning and product lifecycle management systems, new servers and related equipment.
“Through Motionwear, Hoosier-made products are supporting physical fitness for athletes across Indiana and around the world,” said Eric Doden, president of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. “From the early phases of product design to the last performance on stage, Indiana innovation is improving the way active wear is designed and manufactured, all supported by low tax environment in a state that works for business.”
Motionwear, which currently employs more than 180 full-time Indiana associates, has already begun hiring new manufacturing, administrative, customer service, sales and warehouse associates. Interested applicants may apply in person at Motionwear or by sending a resume to work@motionwear.com.
“We are committed to maintaining and growing our operations in Indiana and we are so pleased to be in a state that supports our efforts,” said Theresa Mason, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Motionwear. “We have a diverse workforce with employees from five continents who have found Indiana to be a great place to live and work. Indiana also provides excellent markets for our product: Motionwear provides apparel to Hoosiers who embrace the art of dance and the sports of gymnastics and cheerleading. Indianapolis is centrally located for both suppliers and North American customers. We have local resources available at reasonable costs to help fuel the growth of our business.”
Emily Wilson founded Motionwear in 1987 when, noticing that most dancewear available lacked a good fit, comfort, fashion and value, she decided to design leotards for her daughter. Today the company supplies active wear to retailers, studios, gyms and internet customers. Its products, most of which are produced in Indiana, are sold throughout the United States and around the world.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Motionwear, LLC up to $85,000 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. The city of Indianapolis supports the project at the request of Develop Indy, a business unit of the Indy Chamber.
“Motionwear's success in this industry is a testament to its 25 year history of providing quality American-made products to athletes around the world,” said Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard. “We are very proud of our many successful homegrown-Hoosier companies and we congratulate Motionwear on this most recent expansion and success.”
Just this year, 20 companies have announced plans to expand in Marion County, with more than $82 million in capital investment and upwards of 3,000 jobs planned for the coming years. Last month software solutions firm Bloomerang announced plans to expand its Lawrence operations, creating up to 70 new jobs by 2023.
