R.L. Schrieber working on expansion

Greg Ransdell, CEO of R.L. Schreiber, visited the Marion County Industrial Foundation Board on Oct. 2 and provided an update on the company's plans.

"The company is going through an enormous change," Ransdell said.

R.L. Schreiber opened its Lebanon plant in May of 2011 with plans to hire 83 employees. To date, Ransdell said the Lebanon plant employs more than 60 people, and he anticipates it will have more than 83 employees after a new high-efficiency, production line is installed.

The company makes spices, spice blends and soup bases for thousands of customers nationwide, including restaurants and retail stores.

Because of the companies large customer base and delivery requirements, it cannot yet close down its Florida operation. Instead, Ransdell said the company will need to get the Kentucky line up and running because it cannot have any time when it is not supplying products in order to meet customer needs.

He added that installation of a soup base line will mean the Lebanon plant will also be under USDA regulations. The new line will also be more efficient than the line currently operating in Florida.

Ransdell also said the company has been happy with the labor force in Lebanon. He said he tells people who live in urban settings that the work ethic in rural communities is strong.

"You don't understand work ethic until you work in a place where people work and go home and do more work," Ransdell said.

In other business:

- Marion County Economic Development Director Tom Lund reported that a Community Development Block Grant audit was conducted recently at Wilbert Plastics. The audit found no issues, he said.

- Lund added that the economic development office continues to talk with prospective companies about relocating to Lebanon. Three Japanese companies have scheduled visits and a prospect from Detroit is looking at the spec building.