Michigan City business invests $20M in new facility to serve steel industry

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. - Michigan City's D. Martin Enterprises (DME) announced it's expanding its offerings by investing over $20 million into a new manufacturing facility to serve the steel industry both locally and nationally.

DME's Vice President of Operations Cassie Martin Graham says the new building will include 112,350 square feet of manufacturing space and 4,000 square feet of office space.

“My grandfather opened the DME office in Michigan City over 40 years ago and it’s always felt like the right place to be - central to many of the mills we do business with and in a community that has grown exponentially in that time,” Martin Graham said. "“While Michigan City’s proximity to major freeways, Chicago and Midwest steel mills has been integral to our business' success, we also love that the growth we’ve seen around us has created a community that we enjoy being a part of whether it’s lunch at one of the local restaurants or a stop off at the lake on the way home to relax after work."

According to the company, it is expected to hire 30 new employees initially with the opportunity to hire more within the first two years of operation.

“DME has a strong foundation here in Michigan City and has been a central component of the steel industry since 1975, with decades here in our city,” said Michigan City Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch. “To have a multigenerational company continue to cultivate roots in Michigan City signifies how we continue to provide a strong base for our business community.”

DME states it's currently working on design plans and aims to break ground in October 2024.

They add the new facility is expected to be operational by early 2026.