IN: Sporting Goods Retailer to Invest $30M, Expand Distrib. Ctr., Hire 135 | Trade and Industry Development

IN: Sporting Goods Retailer to Invest $30M, Expand Distrib. Ctr., Hire 135

Feb 20, 2014

Dunham’s Athleisure Corporation d/b/a Dunham’s Sports, a retailer of sporting goods, announced plans to expand its distribution center here, creating up to 135 new jobs by 2018.

The Troy, Mich.-based company will invest $30.1 million to construct and equip a 735,000 square-foot distribution facility on approximately 50 acres in Marion. The facility, which is expected to break ground this March and be complete in December, will allow the company to house all distribution operations at one location. 

“This expansion is a home run for Dunham’s Sports and for Indiana,” said Governor Mike Pence. “In any head-to-head competition to win more Hoosier jobs, we score high marks for our central location and low-tax business environment. Our focus on job creation puts more eyes on the Hoosier State, letting everyone know that Indiana is a state that works.” 

Dunham’s Sports, which currently has more than 600 associates in Indiana, will begin hiring new warehouse associates in the fall of 2014. 

“Dunham’s Sports is pleased to be expanding our distribution center allowing us to meet the demand of our growing chain,” said Doug Billingsley, vice president of logistics at Dunham’s Sports. “We are excited to continue our long term relationship with the community, as Marion is a great logistical location for us.” 

Established in Detroit in 1937 and operating in Marion, Ind. since 1994, Dunham’s Sports is a sporting goods retailer chain, offering a full line of traditional sporting goods and athletic equipment, active and casual sports apparel, footwear, as well as fitness, golf and hunting gear. The company operates more than 200 retail stores across 17 states. 

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Dunham’s Athleisure Corporation up to $500,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $50,000 in training grants 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. In addition, the IEDC will provide the community with up to $150,000 in infrastructure assistance from the state's Industrial Development Grant Fund. The city of Marion is considering additional tax abatement and incentives at the request of the Grant County Economic Growth Council.

"Dunham's has been part of our economic development success for many years and we cannot be happier that Dunham's chose Marion for their expansion,” said Marion Mayor Wayne Seybold. “We are excited that Dunham's decision will keep them in Marion for many years.

About Dunham’s Sports

Dunham’s, one of the nation’s largest retail sporting goods chains, was founded in 1937 in Detroit as Dunham’s Bait and Tackle and has grown to over 200 stores in 17 Midwestern and Southern states. You can join the sports conversation on Dunham’s Facebook at www.facebook.com/dunhamssportinggoods.

About IEDC

Created in 2005 to replace the former Department of Commerce, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation is governed by a 12-member board chaired by Governor Mike Pence. Victor Smith serves as the Indiana Secretary of Commerce and Eric Doden is the president of the IEDC. 

The IEDC oversees programs enacted by the General Assembly including tax credits, workforce training grants and public infrastructure assistance. All tax credits are performance-based. Therefore, companies must first invest in Indiana through job creation or capital investment before incentives are paid. A company who does not meet its full projections only receives a percentage of the incentives proportional to its actual investment. For more information about IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.

(Click to Expand)