West-side IT firm plans to add 89 jobs by 2019

Data center firm Kinney Group Inc. said on Wednesday that it plans to expand its Indianapolis headquarters, creating up to 89 jobs by 2019.

The company, which designs and builds IT infrastructure for government and commercial clients, will invest $5.8 million to renovate 10,000 square feet at its 2425 W. Michigan St. offices. 

Kinney Group, which has 41 full-time employees in Indiana, plans to begin hiring for IT and software engineer positions.  Average wages for new positions are expected to be more than 80 percent higher than the state’s average wage, which is around $39,000.

“With leaders at both the city and state committed to our expansion efforts, Indiana has truly cultivated a compelling environment for information technology companies to grow and thrive,” Jim Kinney, owner and CEO of Kinney Group, said in a statement.

 “The IT markets where our firm plays are hyper-competitive, and we feel confident that the investments we make in our Indiana-based headquarters and people, along with access to bright talent from across the state, will provide us with competitive advantage for many years to come.”

 The Indiana Economic Development Corp. offered Kinney Group up to $1.15 million in tax credits and up to $150,000 in training grants, based on the company’s job-creation plans. The incentives are performance-based, meaning  Kinney is not eligible to claim them until workers are hired. 

Kinney is the latest in a string of tech companies to announce central Indiana expansions this year. Others include Emarsys, Appirio, Rook Security, Return Path and TCC Software Solutions. Together, the firms have committed to create nearly 4,000 jobs in the coming years with an average salary above $78,000 annually.