MOORESVILLE, Ind. (Oct. 2, 2019) – Creative Works, a designer and manufacturer of themes,
props and attractions for the entertainment industry, announced plans today to
expand its operations in Morgan County, creating up to 70 new jobs by the end
of 2022.
“Small businesses like Creative Works drive
our state’s economy forward and create quality career opportunities for
Hoosiers,” said Elaine Bedel, president of the Indiana Economic
Development Corporation (IEDC). “This expansion will ensure Creative
Works’ long-term success in Morgan County, allowing the company to grow and
increase its client base around the world. We’re grateful for Creative Works’
commitment to central Indiana, and as a state, we’ll do our part to ensure
Indiana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem continues to foster innovation and support
21st century growth among small businesses.”
The homegrown Hoosier company will invest $1.1
million to continue growing, equipping and renovating its headquarters at 350
Bridge St. in Mooresville. The company’s construction plans, which are
still being finalized, will complement its four-building, 33,000-square-foot
campus. Creative Works will also purchase and install new creative design and
3D modeling equipment and custom fabrication machines at its existing facility,
and plans to make upgrades to its research and development lab over the next
few years. The company’s new space is expected to be operational by the
end of 2021.
This expansion will allow the company to meet
growing demand for its products and services from customers in the
entertainment industry, which include theme parks, museums, family
entertainment centers, restaurants and other tourist attractions. In fact,
Creative Works was recently named one of Inc.’s 5000 fastest growing companies in the U.S. for the
second straight year, with revenue growth of 159% over the past three years.
The company, which has 67 full-time employees in Indiana, plans to hire for
sales and marketing associates, project managers, 3D modeling and graphic
designers, fabricators and attraction installers as it continues to grow.
Interested applicants may apply online.
“As born-and-bred Hoosiers, Creative Works’
owners believe it’s important to support and give back to the state and
community that has helped the company succeed,” said Danny Gruening,
vice president of marketing at Creative Works. “Working to build our
business in Mooresville and Morgan County makes perfect sense to us as we
continue to grow and add to our team.”
Founded by Jeff Schilling in 1997, and currently
led by Armando Lanuti, Creative Works designs, manufactures and installs props
and attractions like laser tag arenas, escape rooms, miniature golf courses,
arcade-style attractions, virtual reality and e-sports games. The company
custom creates approximately 300 projects annually, delivering a “Wow Effect”
to customers around the world.
“The town of Mooresville enjoys a diverse economic environment, with companies
across a wide variety of industries choosing to locate and grow in our
community,” said Mooresville Town Council President Tom Warthen. “It’s extremely
exciting to see homegrown companies like Creative Works invest in their
operations and workforce. With its strong core values, Creative Works will
continue to be a tremendous partner for Mooresville, Morgan County and the
entire state for many years to come. Thank you to Creative Works, as well as
Integrity Investment, for your commitment and confidence in our community.”
The IEDC offered Creative Works up to $575,000
in conditional tax credits based on the company’s job creation plans and up to
$100,000 in conditional tax credits from the Hoosier Business Investment (HBI)
tax credit program based on the company’s planned capital investment in
Indiana. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are
hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The Mooresville Town
Council and Redevelopment Commission will consider additional incentives at the
request of the Morgan County Economic Development Corporation.
About Creative Works
Creative Works is a
full-service theme creator, prop builder and attractions provider to theme
parks, museums, family entertainment centers, restaurants, tourist attractions
and other venues. For more than 20 years, the company has brought ideas to life
with a team of designers, sculptors, craftsmen and artisans. Creative Works is
proud to have delivered the “Wow Effect” to a wide variety of destinations
across the globe. Today the company’s 33,000-square-foot production facility,
combined with its talented team enable them to handle any size project. Every
opportunity is a new challenge for Creative Works to create something unique,
engaging and captivating. From inception to completion, the company works
closely with its clients to develop attractions and design, create and
transform themed elements.
About IEDC
The Indiana Economic
Development Corporation (IEDC) leads the state of Indiana’s economic
development efforts, helping businesses launch, grow and locate in the state.
Governed by a 15-member board chaired by Governor Eric J. Holcomb, the IEDC
manages many initiatives, including performance-based tax credits, workforce
training grants, innovation and entrepreneurship resources, public
infrastructure assistance, and talent attraction and retention efforts. For
more information about the IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.
