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California startup says it will create 1,200 local jobs

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A California startup company that hopes to manufacture trucks outfitted with giant video screens expects to hire 1,200 employees to staff a new 125,000-square-foot production facility near 86th Street and Georgetown Road.

Executives from the company, Litebox Inc., are scheduled to join Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard for a groundbreaking at 3:15 p.m. Wednesday.

The company has not yet built any of the mobile entertainment semitrailers, which will feature 47-foot-tall high-definition screens, said Bob Yanagihara, Litebox's founder and CEO. He's also the only contact listed on the company's bare-bones website; he said Tuesday that a new version of the website will go live after the announcement.

Yanagihara said state and city economic development officials have offered the company an incentive package including tax abatements and training grants that's worth more than $40 million over 10 years.

Yanagihara said he has self-funded the company so far but has lined up more than $200 million from private investors. He declined to name any of the investors.

He said the new factory will build eight of the mobile entertainment trucks per month. They will sell for about $3 million apiece and feature Panasonic LED screens and Bose sound equipment.

"There's demand for these all over the world," Yanagihara said.

Indiana Economic Development Corp. spokeswoman Katelyn Hancock declined to comment on the planned announcement. She also declined to characterize the vetting process that led to a deal with Litebox or confirm details of the deal.

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  1. Saw the Indy Men's Chorus "Music of Gilbert & Sullivan" at the Indiana Historical Society on Sunday evening.

  2. Temporary workers are not "tools" they are people and companies that keep large amounts of temp staff are cheating.

  3. I miss having them around. I hope one of their stores is in the general Meridian/86th Street area. I will make good use of it.

  4. The Fringe! Plus, the simple fact that there are so many local faves in such close proximity to each other.

  5. I remenber, watching the toll road, being built, through South Bend, when I was 10 years old. I believe, back then that it was estimated, that the toll road, would be paid for in 20 years and then it would be free. I am now 71, what happened? Since the power is in the people, by that, I mean that, we the people are in total control of everything. I, suggest that no one ever use the toll road again, let it go broke. We the people can control the price of everything, from groceries to gas, if we would just do it. If we don't pay the asking price, the sellers will lower the price and if we wait awhile, they will lower the price to what we accept as reasonable. I would like to know why a highway like interstate 94, is so well maintained, a much better highway, than the toll road, but has no tolls. I would also like to know why, a sitting governor, with a term limit, maximum of eight years, can lease, public property, for 75 years. Even though I have transponders in both of my trucks and will not be affected by the increase, I have been and will contine to avoid using the toll road. I make many trips from northern Indiana to Chicago, every year, and I prefer the better highway, I94!

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