Toyota announces plans to expand workforce

Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A. (TMHU), a full-line material handling solutions provider of forklifts and related equipment, has announced plans to grow its workforce in Columbus, creating up to 71 new high-wage jobs by 2019.

“Indiana’s economy is built for growing companies like TMHU,” said Governor Mike Pence. “TMHU chose to bring its headquarters here as our state was developing one of the nation’s top climates for job creation, putting Hoosiers at the helm of one of the top businesses in the heavy equipment industry. Today, as TMHU announces that it is adding even more high-wage jobs for Hoosiers, Indiana stands as one of the top-ranked economies in the nation.”

TMHU relocated its headquarters from Irvine, Calif., to Columbus in 2012 after investing $4.6 million to expand its office there. The company has added 79 new positions in Indiana since relocating and is now investing in employee-focused initiatives to further strengthen its workforce. TMHU recently constructed a new restaurant-style dining hall, which opened in July, and is now building a new wellness center, the Toyota Recreational Complex, to provide more health and wellness opportunities to its employees through a basketball court, track, fitness equipment and group exercise classes.

TMHU, which currently employs 182 full-time associates, plans to primarily hire for salaried professionals working in a corporate environment. New positions are expected to pay an average salary of more than double the state average wage. Interested applicants may apply online at toyotaforklift9-px.rtrk.com/careers.

“Relocating TMHU’s headquarters to Columbus was a great move for us,” said Tracy Stachniak, director of human resources and training and development at TMHU. “Indiana offers a robust economy, Midwest hospitality and an attractive overall lifestyle. It’s a great place to work and live.”

TMHU is physically connected to Toyota Industrial Equipment Mfg. Inc., a zero-landfill manufacturing facility where the majority of Toyota forklifts sold in North America are built. Both operations as well as two additional Toyota sister companies make up Toyota’s 126-acre campus in Columbus, which employs a network of more than 1,400 Hoosiers.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered TMHU up to $100,000 in performance-based training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. In August, the city of Columbus approved a tax abatement in support of a separate $3 million investment by TIEM.