MERRILLVILLE | Town Councilman Shawn Pettit points to this week's shutdown of Lone Star Steakhouse as the perfect example of the town's need for White Lodging Services' type of investment.
White Lodging Services, which develops, owns and manages hotels in 14 states, announced Thursday it will invest more than $4 million in Merrillville to expand its national headquarters.
"It's the types of jobs they're bringing in as opposed to the service industry," Pettit said, adding the town needs to diversify beyond the up-and-down restaurant industry.
Bruce White, chairman and chief executive officer of White Lodging Services, said the company plans to renovate two existing buildings at 701 E. 83rd St. and 8315 Virginia St. and create 100 new jobs in the next five years.
He joined Gov. Mitch Daniels and state and local officials Thursday to announce the move.
"Today marks another huge commitment to our state and this corner of the state," Daniels said. "I'd like to say thank you for the business."
The company was lured to continue its presence in the region by Merrillville's offer of property tax abatement and the state's promise of up to $1.5 million in performance-based tax credits and $92,000 in training grants.
White said he wanted the company to have "a place to call home."
It currently rents offices in the Twin Towers.
Daniels said White Lodging Service's investment will help the state and region reduce their reliance on the fluctuating manufacturing industry.
"I view it as a premium opportunity because of the deeper roots they tend to put down," he said.
Daniels said White Lodging Service's announcement marks his 57th trip to Northwest Indiana in the last four years because of its growth and growth potential.
"It's a permanent home for a company that has been a very big company in Merrillville from the beginning," Town Manager Tim Brown said.
The company was founded in 1985 to manage what is now the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza in Merrillville and has expanded to a portfolio of hotels throughout the country.
