Rich Van Wyk/Eyewitness News
Plainfield, Oct. 19 - The Defense Department's new stealth fighter plane dropped 150 jobs on Plainfield. Rolls Royce, the aircraft's engine builder, doesn't have room in its Indianapolis facility.
Engineers and support staff are moving to the former Galyans corporate headquarters. Pressed for time, Rolls Royce wanted offices near the airport and ready in weeks.
Thomas Hartmann is the senior vice president of the fighter engine team. "The work we do isn't rocket science, but it is a step below rocket science."
Plainfield officials are delighted over new jobs with average salaries of $70,000.
Plainfield Council President Robin Branguard says, "If the business wins, the town wins. If the town wins, the business wins."
This win takes the sting from Plainfield's big loss earlier this year.
When Galyans sold out to Dick's Sporting Goods, Dicks cleaned out Galyan's headquarters. Plainfield lamented the loss of the big fish, hundreds of jobs swam away.
The loss of a corporate headquarters hurt Plainfield's image more than its economy. Developers are finishing the Metropolis Retail center and other new stores are creating thousands of jobs.
Warehouses and distribution centers cover square miles of former farm fields. Plainfield is keen on breaking into the lucrative office real estate market.
Harold Gutzwiller with the Hendricks County Economic Development Partnership believes, "We've got to convince brokers this is a viable market for offices. This is going to the be the beginning of many office opportunities here in town."
Workers move into the offices in less than three weeks.
