INDIANAPOLIS — Carrier became a political punching bag when it moved jobs to Mexico a few years ago. In 2016 the company was offered $7 million in tax breaks to keep its plant open in the Circle City.
Now, Carrier is seeking to hire 100 production workers to its west side facility.
Furnace production is booming and news of more jobs for people is seen as a vote of confidence for a workforce who saw several hundred jobs sent to Mexico after the plant was kept open in Indianapolis.
To stay in Indy, Carrier was offered $7 million in tax breaks, of that total the company has been rewarded with more than $3.3 million and $1.5 million, so far, for keeping at least 1,069 workers on the site.
Carrier not only promised to keep a majority of jobs on the west side but to also invest $16 million of its own money in the operation. For following through on that, it earned more than $947,000.
"We're always concerned to see automation because automation takes away jobs," Robert James, Union president, said. "We have to see how our workers will be impacted by this process."
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation also offered Carrier $1 million to spend on the training of at least 900 workers.
The state says it could not disclose how the company met the reporting requirements. But so far, Carrier has received more than $881,000 for complying.
Carrier workforce is preparing for labor talks with their union contract set to expire in April. As for the remaining tax breaks, Carrier will receive them through the year 2025 as long as they live up to the deal.
