Breaking New Ground: Qualitex will be first small business to call Park 30 home
(Talk of the Town photo by Jennifer Zartman Romano) Under the shaded canopy of a tent, Jim Argerbright discusses the development of the new small business area of Park 30. Behind him, construction crews are already at work building the industrial park's newest business, Qualitex.
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
The future of Whitley County industry is sprouting in the Park 30 industrial park – in big ways and small ways too. 
Though the park has been known in the past for large ventures like Five Star Distributing, Undersea Sensor Systems and Precimed, moving forward it will also become the home for a number of small business ventures as well.
Two-thirds of new jobs will be created by small businesses in the state of Indiana, according to Jim Argerbright of the Whitley County Economic Development Corporation, so it makes sense for Whitley County to begin looking at ways to cater to small business needs. Argerbright and a number of other governmental and business leaders were on hand Tuesday for the groundbreaking of the first of several small companies who will make their headquarters in Park 30, including Qualitex.
Qualitex is a new business venture launched by successful, 40-something entrepreneur Rick Williams. Qualitex is planning an expandable 10,000 square foot facility on 2.3 acres and is investing nearly $1 million in new CNC machining and turning, grinding, and wire EDM equipment to provide design, engineering, and prototyping for customers in aerospace, agricultural, automotive and orthopedic markets.
“We look forward to prosperity at Park 30,” said Whitley County councilman Tom Western.
“We’re certainly glad you picked Whitley County for the site of your new business,” said Argerbright, addressing Williams.
Argerbright said that the Park 30 site, which was already shovel ready for businesses to build and locate in Whitley County, has recently had its third sewer upgrade to accommodate further business development at the site.
“We’re looking for additional expansion at this time,” Argerbright said, adding that small business growth is likely to have a significant impact on the face of business locally and statewide. “Small businesses are very important to our economy,” he said.
15 acres have been isolated to accommodate the new small business area of the park, thanks to a partnership with the Consumer Choice Corporation.
Argerbright said that because of factors involving Qualitex, it was necessary to move quickly to secure the land and initiate the building process.
“When we need to dig in our heels and move quickly, we can,” said Argerbright.
John Sampson of the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership was also on hand for the ceremony and shared a regional perspective on the importance of the new development for small businesses at the Park 30 site.
“This all got done because this organization was ready – you all were ready and prepared to do business,” Sampson said, commending the Whitley County Economic Development Corporation, Northeastern REMC and others.
“This is not a matter of chance,” Sampson continued. “You have a pro-business environment here. You made a special provision to tailor to their needs.”
Sampson shared his own experience in helping to market the economic development interests of Northeast Indiana, saying that recently he’d accompanied a business owner on tours of the best business development sites in the region.
The business owner later told him, “I’ve see six of your best sites and there’s only one I would represent to my clients.” Sampson said that one standout site was Park 30.
“Whitley County and Alan Tio are being leaders in this region and we need to follow that lead,” Sampson said. Tio is the president of the Whitley County Economic Development Corporation.
Tio commended local government officials for the expedited response on meeting goals for the Park 30 small business development site.
“We are doing all we can to make sure we create the right garden, the right field for our companies to cultivate success,” Tio said.
Williams also spoke at the groundbreaking, saying that his project went into high gear in February and March and that many individuals made the process move quickly. As Williams spoke, crews were already at work behind him building the foundation for his new business.
“Obviously this is a groundbreaking, but I don’t wait,” he said, grinning about the progress already being made behind him.
“It really worked out great,” Williams said of the community’s ability to work quickly on his behalf. Williams thanked Tower Bank and Zumbrun Construction for their roles in the project.
“I’m happy for the expansion,” said State Representative Dan Leonard. “Whitley County is doing it right.”
Declared a “Shovel Ready” site by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, Park 30 along US 30 in eastern Whitley County is in the states largest tax increment finance district. Additionally, the site offers a variety of features that make it attractive to businesses looking to build in Whitley County including updated utilities along the high-tech growth corridor.