New RV company starting up in Wakarusa

By Ed Ernstes (ernstes@wsbt.com)

Tools

Lifetime RV

Chris Hermon (pictured) and Jeff Rank are starting a new company called Lifetime RV in the former Travel Supreme RV production complex in Wakarusa. (WSBT photo)

By Beth Boehne

ELKHART — There is more good news for Elkhart County. Plans are under way for a new RV company in Wakarusa. It could send another 200 people back to work.

“Lifetime RV is going to be a great employer, we're going to treat our people right,” Chris Hermon told WSBT News.

Hermon and Jeff Rank are starting a new company called Lifetime RV. Its new home will be the former Travel Supreme RV production complex in Wakarusa.

“Our plan is to be a full line RV manufacturer of all towable brands, from entry level stick and tin, all the way to high-end fifth wheels,” Hermon explained. “Our plan is to be in full production in mid- to late-October.”

The company will be bringing in a whole new production setup.

“The infrastructure is here. Our plan is to start from the ground floor,” Hermon said. “The most important thing that we have going for us is dealers are excited about what we’re going to bring to the market.”

He says based on the unique product line they'll be offering, the experience of the company founders and the available workforce, now is a great time to bring this company online.

“In our mind the timing was exceptionally right with the workforce that's available out here in Wakarusa and Nappanee,” Hermon added. “That’s really one of the things we're excited about, is the talent pool that this area possesses.”

With the new Navistar-Monaco operation, plans for the Electric Motors Corporation and now a new RV company, many of the unemployed in the Wakarusa area have more to smile about.

“We're just more than pleased. It’s our road to recovery, and we're thinking we're on the way. We have lots of folks who are still unemployed," said Wakarusa Town Manager Tom Roeder. "This is just great news. We think we're coming back.”

More Good Stuff

Advertisement

WSBT Weather

icon
Current Temp 59.0
°
More Weather
More On Demand

Stock Quotes

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Question of The Day

What do you do to prepare for severe weather?

E-mail your comments. We'll pick some to read during WSBT News at 5.