United Surgical Associates, a California-based manufacturer and distributor of orthopedic soft goods, is establishing a 9,500 square foot sales, administration and distribution center in the Fort Wayne Urban Enterprise Zone. The $600,000 facility is expected to be fully operational in 1Q-2Q 2007.

United Surgical is establishing the facility in Fort Wayne as part of a large-scale strategy to increase market share starting in 2007. Employment is planned to start at seven new full-time jobs and reach 19 total positions by 2009. Orthopedic soft goods include all products used on the outside of the body to support bones, muscles and joints. Soft goods include arm slings, knee braces, post-operative shoes and other common braces.

“United Surgical Associates is very pleased with the level of cooperation we received from the City of Fort Wayne and the State of Indiana to locate our sales, administration and distribution unit here,” said Andy Opliger, director of operations for United Surgical Associates. “The new Fort Wayne operation is an integral part of our plan to have a centrally located distribution center able to quickly deliver our products anywhere in the country.”

The State of Indiana, through the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), and the City of Fort Wayne, through the Fort Wayne-Allen County Economic Development Alliance, worked together to provide a performance-based incentive package totaling $108,955 to assist United Surgical establish its operation here.

State incentives include a grant of up to $11,500 from the Skills Enhancement Fund to train Indiana resident employees and up to $42,500 from the Hoosier Business Investment Tax Credit program for qualified investments in the project. Local incentives include tax abatements worth a projected $82,318 over ten years on qualified real and personal property under the Urban Enterprise Zone Investment Deduction.

Other assistance includes additional personal property tax abatement valued at $2,538 under the Property Tax Investment Deduction program, a performance-based grant from the City of Fort Wayne totaling $14,099 over three years and in-kind assistance with employee hiring.

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