MILFORD, IN – A groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction for a multi-phase renovation by CTB, Inc. at its Milford manufacturing and office headquarters was held in late September. Three years of planning followed by three months of demolition work has been completed to clear the way for construction of the new facility to start.

“This renovation project adds significant improvements to the CTB Milford campus for our employees and business operations. It includes a number of facility upgrades ranging from telecommunications and computer networking infrastructure improvements to large and small group employee meeting spaces,” said to Victor A. Mancinelli, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for CTB.

“Many of these facility and equipment upgrades have been designed around helping CTB to attract, train and retain the employee talent we need to achieve our goals as a company,” Mancinelli added. “As a manufacturer, we are privileged and uniquely positioned to carry out our mission to serve the agricultural community and assist farmers worldwide with the vital job of feeding a hungry world.”

The conference center serves CTB’s Chore-Time, Brock and PigTek divisions, and will enable the company to better host in-person and virtual large employee and corporate meetings, distributor network conferences and training events. CTB is investing approximately $20 million to renovate 38,000 square feet (3,500 square meters) of its existing Chore-Time facility on the east side of State Road 15, north of Milford.

Mancinelli also noted the revitalized facility is aimed at enhancing the overall employee experience and includes a new, comfortable Chore-Time break room and a commons area. The commons area features indoor and outdoor spaces created for employees to have meals, socialize and recharge.

Beth Cripe, CTB Project Manager, emphasized the new conference and training center will accommodate events for up to 400 people and uses the latest meeting and presentation technology. This space incorporates state-of-the-art corporate information technology (IT) training areas and workplaces along with new corporate advertising and communications offices. The facility will also house an up-to-date tool and die production area for Chore-Time’s manufacturing technical services team. The revitalized area replaces part of the Chore-Time office and manufacturing facility that dates to the early years of the nearly 70-year-old company. A facade renovation around the entire existing Chore-Time manufacturing facility will complete the project.

The new facility is expected to become operational in the second quarter of 2023. The original completion date of 2022 was revised in anticipation of ongoing supply chain challenges that include steel availability, delivery dates and cost. Labor availability across all trades also continues to impact the construction industry as a whole. The project is being financed in part through the aid of a 10-year tax phase-in with the maximum 100% deduction schedule. The phase-in was recommended by the Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation (KEDCO) and Milford Redevelopment Commission and granted by the Milford Town Council. The package will provide an estimated $2 million in tax savings.

“On behalf of our economic development partners, we applaud the entire CTB team for this investment in their headquarters campus. This investment is literally changing the face of the northern gateway into the Town of Milford and Kosciusko County,” said Alan Tio, Chief Executive Officer for the Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation (KEDCO). “We are thrilled the leaders of CTB are committed to moving forward with this project to revitalize the conference center and related spaces at the company’s Milford facility.”

Tio noted CTB is an active member in the KEDCO agribusiness initiative. This project helps demonstrate the diversity and vitality of the agribusiness sector in the Kosciusko County community.

“Viridian is excited to see the new conference center become a reality,” noted Terry Thornsbury, President of Viridian Architectural Design, Inc., the architect for the project. “Working with CTB on this project over the past couple of years has been a pleasure. Our combined teams have developed a one-of-a-kind facility to showcase CTB, its people and its manufacturing capabilities for many years to come.”

“The Hagerman Group is proud to be the construction manager for this project, and we’re grateful CTB selected us for that role,” said Brad Smith, President of Hagerman, Inc. “We’re excited to get started despite all the challenges facing the construction industry at this time. Having been around for 113 years, we’ve overcome challenges before on behalf of our valued clients. This is a significant endeavor for CTB, Inc., and it will pay dividends for the company, the Town of Milford, and the surrounding area.”