FORT WAYNE - Pink, red and blue paisley fabrics flowed through dozens of sewing machines as workers assembled Vera Bradley Designs Inc.'s signature quilted handbags. 

Community leaders had a chance Tuesday to tour the New Haven plant where the company is manufacturing thousands of quilted handbags and other items.

The Fort Wayne-based company has hired 310 employees to quilt, cut and sew material at the Adams Center Road plant, which opened in April.

Vera Bradley still is hiring sewers for the plant, but spokeswoman Melissa Schenkel said she was unsure how many.

The privately held company does not disclose wages.

The company had planned to invest about $2.2 million to equip and furnish the plant, the Fort Wayne-Allen County Economic Development Alliance said in a statement when the plant was announced last year. Landlord Hanning & Bean Enterprises Inc. agreed to invest $2 million to renovate the 125,356-square-foot plant to the tenant's specifications.