Toyota project serves needs for company, employees

COLUMBUS, Ind. (AP) – Toyota plans to spend $16 million for the renovation and expansion of a factory near Columbus where it builds three-and four-wheel forklifts and other equipment.

Toyota senior manager Steve Prides says the Industrial Equipment Manufacturing campus was about 250,000 square-feet in size 25 years ago. It will be just over a million square-feet with the upcoming expansion, to be completed in September 2016.

Miller tells The Republic the initial intent of the latest planned expansion in Columbus was to establish a facility for the division’s headquarters, but now also includes a new cafeteria and more locker room space.

Toyota has about 1,100 workers in the manufacturing facility, along with some 175 people working in sales, marketing and distribution.