Tuesday, September 25, 2007 Steve Bermes announced the expansion of Novae Corporation, Markle by the addition of a 12,000 square foot building to be located on the west side of Novae Parkway (CR500E).  The new facility will house warehouse facilities and sales rooms.  Novae, manufactures SureTrac Trailers, ProSlide lawnmower attachments, and the Gridiron line of custom tool storage.

Mr. Bermes announced that they plan to hire up to an additional 100 employees from their current 60 member workforce by 2010.  The new positions will be in the areas of welding, assembly, and clerical staff.  Novae manufactures aluminum utility trailers, lawn mower implements and does industrial coating.  They will invest more than $1 million dollars to build and equip a 12,000 square foot warehouse, sales area and showroom.

Governor Mitch Daniels announced at the ground breaking that the State would support the project in three areas: Training grants, tax credits and infra structure.  Up to $50,000 in training rants will be provided to Novae to help train new employees to manufacture the various products. $250,000 in tax credits will be available when Novae hits their targeted job creation point throughout the new project. And, In conjunction with the Town of Markle, the State has assisted with improvements to the off-site water and sewer lines that serve Novae as well as making improvements to the intersection of Novae Parkway with US 224.

Novae originally started in the barn of Paul Bermes just south of Fort Wayne in 1995 with the brothers, Mike and Steve making trailers. They moved to Grabill in 2000 and doubled their employment to 4.  2005, Novae broke ground for their current 61,000 square foot facility in Markle.  They currently have about 60 employees.