WORK...

Today, there are approximately one thousand businesses in Jasper. From small businesses operating with only a few employees, to major national and international companies that employ hundreds or thousands, there is an abundance of opportunities in Jasper. During a normal work day, the population of Jasper is said to double. Employees travel from surrounding towns and eight counties to work in Jasper, the hub of Dubois County.

Jasper is known as a “business friendly” community boasting a skilled and motivated workforce with a long reputation for its outstanding work ethic, dedication and pride in craftsmanship. The city’s civic, government and business leaders have been applauded for their ability and willingness to work together. Jasper also features an excellent infrastructure to support a growing industrial base.

Jasper’s economy has always been more industrial than agricultural. Settled in the early 1800’s by German immigrants who were cabinetmakers and carpenters, they saw opportunity in the area’s abundant forests of oak and poplar. These woodworkers soon created a thriving wood furniture industry. The art of high quality wood furniture and cabinetry was handed down through generations and perfected over the years.

This proud tradition of craftsmanship remains strong. Today, Jasper is known as the “Wood Office Furniture Capital of the World”. Jasper companies manufacture office, home and lodging furniture, seating, kitchen cabinets, television cabinets, and stereo speakers.

Several local furniture manufacturers, including Kimball, JOFCO, JSI, Jasper Desk, Jasper Cabinet, Styline, Inwood, Masterbrand and Ditto Sales, ship their fine lines of furniture all over the world.

Jasper’s largest employer is Kimball International, employing approximately 4,000 locally out of a total of nearly 10,000 at its facilities worldwide. Begun in Jasper in 1950 with barely 30 employees, Kimball remains headquartered in its home town, though today its operations span 16 states, and eight countries on three continents.

Jasper companies are not limited to wood however. Other products manufactured in Jasper include electronic components for the automotive, computer and telecommunications industries, rubber products, high-performance and remanufactured engines and transmissions, industrial cutting tools, metal and glass furniture, and custom made plastic components.

In addition, Jasper businesses include a number of regionally and nationally recognized companies involved in wholesale distribution of groceries and beverages, products for the home and garden, industrial supplies and even the headquarters of one of the Midwest’s largest restaurant franchises.

Retail businesses thrive in Jasper, the primary shopping destination for the surrounding region, serving over 30,000 residents. Major national department stores along with a mix of other retail stores comprise five shopping areas: Germantown, Jasper Manor, Northridge and Southgate Shopping Centers, and Downtown Jasper. A strong entrepreneurial spirit fosters a growing number of unique specialty shops around town.

Local businesses and industry also benefit from a wide variety of specialty and consulting services available right in the community, such as, accounting and law firms, advertising and marketing communications agencies, real estate, architecture and construction specialists, and temporary staffing services. Ten miles south of Jasper is the Dubois County Airport, one of the finest general aviation airports in the state of Indiana.

Numerous banking and financial institutions serve Jasper area residents and businesses, including German American Bank, Old National Bank, Fifth Third Bank, Springs Valley Bank & Trust, and Freedom Bank. Total assets in 2001 was over $1,000,000,000.

Business and industry have been the bedrock of Jasper’s quality of life. Apart from the obvious economic benefits of the tax base, local businesses are well known and regarded for generously investing back into the community. Whether it’s raising funds for state-of-the-art equipment for the hospital, supporting the high school academic or sports teams, or funding appearances by theatrical or musical troupes, Jasper’s businesses recognize the value of being good corporate citizens. This kind of involvement allows Jasper to enjoy a number of benefits not usually found in a city of its size.