Auto parts supplier expanding NE Ind. operations

LIGONIER, Ind. (AP) -- An auto parts manufacturer plans on spending $18.5 million to expand its northeastern Indiana operations after winning a contract to supply emission control parts to Chrysler.

Tenneco Inc. officials announced the expansion plans during Thursday night's Ligonier City Council meeting. The News Sun reports plant manager Doug Bonecutter says hiring for about 100 new workers at the factory will start in January.

The Lake Forest, Ill.-based company already has some 430 workers at a factory in the city about 40 miles northwest of Fort Wayne. Tenneco says it will lease and equip a 50,000-square-foot facility.

The city is working with Tenneco on a nearly $2.3 million bond issue to help finance the expansion.

Tenneco also has factories in the northern Indiana cities of Elkhart and Angola.

Information from: The News-Sun, http://www.kpcnews.com