The LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation announced the opening of the first Northern Indiana Woodcrafter’s Association wholesale furniture showroom in Shipshewana, Indiana. The new building is conveniently located at 960 S VanBuren St; just a quarter of a mile east of US 20, and only 15 minutes from the I-80/90 Indiana Toll Road.
The Northern Indiana Woodcrafter’s Association (NIWA) is a network of quality, custom woodcrafting businesses from throughout northern Indiana.
The NIWA requires members to maintain a standard of excellence in their production that ensures consumers get the best quality wood-craftsmanship that is second to none. The NIWA began with just a handful of member businesses in 2000, and has now grown to over 80 members, with the showroom displaying selected styles from a number of different businesses.
Due to the ever expanding local woodworking industry, and the quality craftsmanship that comes from NIWA members, the organization decided to open a new 10,000 square foot showroom to display their furniture year-round for their dealer networks. The demand for this showroom grew out of the increasing attendance at the NIWA’s annual Furniture Expo and from the collaborative marketing strategy developed between the NIWA, the LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation, and the Northeast Indiana Small Business Development Center. While the new showroom in Shipshewana will not be open to the general public, all of the furniture featured at the showroom is available at various retail furniture stores in the area and across the country.
“The new showroom is a great addition to our expanding woodworking industry” said Keith Gillenwater, Executive Director of the LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation (LCEDC). “Our local woodworking companies exemplify unparalleled, quality craftsmanship. The woodworking cluster is one of the large areas of concentration for the LCEDC, and the NIWA’s announcement will truly be a benefit to our local economy.”
About the LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation The LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation, established in 2009, is a 501(c)3 corporation designed to assist business development needs. The LCEDC partners with local, regional, state, and federal agencies to attract, retain, and develop new businesses and entrepreneurs in LaGrange County and its communities.
For more information about the LaGrange County EDC, please visit www.lagrangecountyedc.com.