Elkhart Mayor Dick Moore said after yesterday’s announcement of New York-based Drew Industries Inc. expanding to norther Indiana, it is clear the RV industry is continuing to rebound. However, he said the community must focus on green and high-tech jobs to fully recover from the recession.

A high-tech industrial park is in the city’s future, but he said “we’re not there yet.”

According to the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association, the industry produced more than 252,000 units nationally in 2011, an increase of more than 40 percent over the year before. The organization says more than 83 percent of all American-made RVs built during this time period were produced in Indiana.

Drew’s expansion is expected to bring 260 jobs and invest $3.65 million by the end of 2015.

Source: City of Elkhart, Indiana Economic Development Corp.