WESTFIELD, Ind. (June 4, 2020) – SEP, a software product design and development company, announced plans today to expand its operations, constructing a new corporate headquarters along U.S. Highway 31 in Westfield. The new facility will more than double the company’s central Indiana footprint and enable SEP to continue expanding its team, with plans to create up to 65 new, high-wage jobs by the end of 2025.
“Indiana is leading a tech transformation in the Midwest, as companies like SEP continue to grow and expand in our state,” said Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger. “With the construction of this new corporate headquarters, SEP is deepening its roots in Indiana and furthering its commitment to providing a positive company culture, supporting its community, and leveraging the talent pipeline of our Hoosier universities, helping more graduates launch careers here in the state.”
SEP will invest nearly $2.6 million to build its new 70,000-square-foot corporate headquarters on approximately 20 acres off U.S. 31 at 161st Street in Westfield. The expansion will allow the company to permanently own its facilities and continue growing its team. Construction is slated to begin in September, with a planned move-in date of December 2021. The new campus includes a wooded area and connectivity to two parks. The company plans to incorporate walking trails and firepits near a pond on the campus.
“We’ve been a Hoosier company from the start,” said SEP President and CEO Raman Ohri. “Indiana has some of the best engineering and design schools in the country and we want to keep those graduates here. The Midwest can get overlooked because of the allure of the coasts, but we know this is a great place to live and work, a great place to raise a family, and a welcoming community and therefore it’s a great place to have a business. Westfield exemplifies community-focus and care. It’s the perfect complement to our culture. We’re looking forward to being an engaged member of the community and partnering with them as we grow together.”
SEP, which is 100% employee-owned through its employee stock ownership plan, has been named a Best Place to Work in Indiana by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce for nine consecutive years and is in the Best Places to Work Hall of Fame. The company has also been recognized by IndyStar as a Top Workplace, previously ranking No. 1 for work-life balance. SEP currently employs 142 associates and plans to hire additional software developers and designers. Interested applicants may apply online.
“SEP is the kind of company that Westfield is trying to attract,” said Westfield Mayor Andy Cook. “It brings a workforce and wage that will help our community compete. I am equally as excited about the ‘intangibles.’ The innovation this team will bring to our community is unrivaled and the SEP Foundation contributes to the community-focused mindset we work hard to cultivate in Westfield.”
Founded in 1988, SEP is one of Indiana’s largest software development firms with clients ranging from Fortune 100 to high-growth scale-up companies. SEP builds software that keeps airplanes in the sky, helps farmers feed the world and supports first responders. Nearly 90% of the company’s employees are graduates of Indiana colleges, and 81% of the engineering staff hold degrees from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Purdue University, Taylor University, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis or Ball State University. Indiana University is well represented in the company’s operations and design groups.
Last year, the company created The SEP Foundation, managed by the Central Indiana Community Foundation, to give back to local organizations. The foundation’s mission is to provide marginalized individuals and families with new opportunities to help them achieve self-sufficiency. In 2019, The SEP Foundation awarded $75,000 to three organizations; HVAF of Indiana, Horizon House and The Last Mile. To take the initiative one step further, company executives each created a corporate partnership with a local nonprofit of their choice, partnering with Camptown, Student Impact, Gleaners and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) offered Software Engineering Professionals (SEP) up to $1,125,000 in conditional tax credits based on the company’s job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning the company is eligible to claim incentives once Hoosiers are hired. SEP plans to announce its intention to locate in Westfield to the Westfield City Council on Monday, June 8. The Council will consider additional incentives at a later date.
About SEP
SEP is a software product design and development firm specializing in high cost of failure engagements. They provide powerful teams of thoughtful, full-stack developers and designers to bring ideas to life. SEP makes software that matters more – software that keeps planes in the sky and helps first responders save lives. Founded in 1988, SEP is one of Indiana’s largest software development firms with 140+ employees. Clients span from high-growth scale-ups to Fortune 100 companies. The company is 100 percent employee-owned and is consistently recognized as a top workplace. For more information, visit www.sep.com.
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.
