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A Muncie rental home services company says it will officially keep its corporate headquarters in Muncie and invest in a new building, bringing the potential for more than 300 jobs. It's the state’s first major jobs announcement since passing a state law that some say threatened the state’s economic development abilities.
The 15-year-old ASONS in Muncie now provides construction, cleaning, and property management services to investors in rental homes nationwide. ASONS CEO Steve Helser says the company will invest $2.3 million in the headquarters, which now is located in a former Moose lodge in Delaware County. Helser says the investment will also create 316 new jobs.
“They’re going to be a multitude of both skilled and unskilled," Helser said. " Call center employees, property coordinators, project managers, management level, accounting.”
This is the state’s first major jobs announcement since passing the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Because of the new law, large national companies said it would be difficult to attract businesses to Indiana.
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence says despite a tough two weeks with a lot of national negative attention, Indiana’s economy is still flourishing.
“We’re looking ahead now," Pence said. "It’s time for Indiana to get back to business, back to work, and I look at days like today and I’m very very optimistic about the future of this state.”
This is also the Governor’s first visit to Muncie since the city council passed an ordinance that officially opposes the passage of RFRA. Mayor Dennis Tyler says that move hasn’t soured relations with the state’s top official.
“He asked me how my family was, I asked him how his family was, he said ‘This is a great day for Muncie. You’re a star.’ And I told him thank you and we appreciated all their support," Tyler said. "That’s one issue and this is another issue.”
The company is receiving state-funded tax credits and training grants for creating the 316 new jobs, some of which have already been filled.
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