LIGONIER - Officials at a Ligonier manufacturing firm which has become one of the city biggest employers gave City Council members some good news Monday night, and received some good news in return.

Creative Wood Designs Inc., makes furniture for the recreational vehicle industry at its plant in the Ligonier Industrial Park. Over the past six months, the company has added a substantial number of new jobs to the local economy, according to Randy Cooper, controller for the firm.

"Last October we had about 80 employees. We are now up to 175 employees," Cooper said Monday. Most of those jobs are in the $10 to $12 an hour range.

That steady growth in jobs is a sign the RV industry is starting to bounce back, he said. "I think the industry as a whole is going much better. Our major customers are experiencing growth."

Cooper and Vern Hochsteter, company president, came before the council to receive a tax abatement on a new machine that was delivered to the factory on Monday. It's a huge router that can customize wood pieces for various types of RVs. The machine has a price tag of approximately $250,000, and the city of Ligonier gave Creative Wood a 5-year abatement on the machine.

Cooper said the new machine will add just two more jobs, but will keep the company competitive and increase its ability to adapt to the needs of its customers. Creative Wood's major buyers are from Elkhart and LaGrange counties and include RV makers Dutchman, Keystone and Forest River.

Ligonier mayor Patty Fisel complimented Cooper and Hochsteter for their company's success. "We are very glad to hear your good news," she said. "It's great that you are able to be proactive and keep growing and providing good jobs. You are a great corporate citizen for our city."

Cooper said some of the company's growth in the last couple of years has come from sales on Internet.