Studebaker International relocating to Hope facility

The town of Hope has a new company based there. Studebaker International announced last night that it is bringing its parts distribution business to Hope and will eventually have 11 to 12 employees there.

The company will be relocating to an Aiken Street building once occupied by the Bartholomew County Historical Society as the Hawcreek Heritage Center. Jim Lime, the company’s co-owner, explains the decision to move:

LIme says the company was founded more than 25 years ago by Ed Reynolds, whose father had been a Studebaker engineer.

The company ships parts all over the world and has more than 25,000 people subscribed to its catalogs. Lime estimates that 85 percent of the parts it ships will come from Hope.

The company is relocating from Greenfield, but will continue to maintain a facility for larger parts in Shelbyville and a few employees in South Bend.

Company officials credited Hope Town Manager J.T. Doane for his help and enthusiasm making the move possible.