Sweetwater Sound, Inc. Expanding Fort Wayne Headquarters

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - More high paying jobs are coming to Fort Wayne. Sweetwater Sound announced Friday it will add up to 315 full-time jobs to its Allen County facility by 2016.

The music company also plans to invest $23.5 million to add and equip 110,000 square feet to the current building. Ashley Steenman, VP Business Development of the Fort Wayne-Allen County Economic Alliance, and Chuck Surack, President of Sweetwater Sounds both believe this expansion is a sign the economy in Fort Wayne is improving.

"To see it grow should give people hope that the local economy here is doing well and is starting to rebound," said  Steenman. “The reality is they could have done this project probably anywhere in the country.  I believe the company did evaluate that and they chose to keep this here.”

Sweetwater Sound has been in Fort Wayne for 33 years and has grown to be one of the nation’s largest distributors, since it was born as a recording studio in Surack’s Fort Wayne home.

"Fort Wayne is my hometown and anything we can do to make the community a little bit better and add a little bit more back is always a great day," said Chuck Surack, President of Sweetwater Sounds.

Sweetwater averages a sales growth of 20% annually.  Surack said the new jobs will be in sales and the warehouse.

“We sell products all over the county and the world.  By having more people on the phones we can talk to more customers." said Surack, “People love to order from Sweetwater.”

Sweetwater said they plan to hire the best people for the job, whether they're local or the company relocates them to Fort Wayne. Sweetwater currently employs 413 people.

Sweetwateer's annual Gear Fest

Friday’s announcement comes 13 days before Sweetwater’s annual Gear Fest. Several artists from all over, including Thomas Dolby and Brandon Heath, will be in Fort Wayne for the two day event.

Apply for the new sales jobs at Sweetwater Sound at www.sweetwater.com/careers .