Marshall County celebrates record $219 million cconomic investment in 2025

Friday, March 20, 2026 at 2:00 AM

By Kathy Bottorff

Marshall County experienced a banner year for economic growth in 2025, boasting the highest capital investment the area has seen in several years.

Greg Hildebrand, Executive Director of the Marshall County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC), delivered the positive news while presenting the 2025 Annual Report to the Plymouth Redevelopment Commission on Tuesday evening.

"Last year, Marshall County had a pretty good year as far as economic development, with a $219 million capital investment," Hildebrand told the commission. This massive influx of capital resulted in the creation of 400 new jobs across the county.

Hildebrand attributed the spike in investment to several major industrial projects. Key drivers included a significant expansion at Southwire in Bremen and a massive project at Sequel in Argos, which doubled the facility's size. Additionally, several automation projects implemented by businesses throughout the county helped boost the overall capital expenditure (CapEx) total.

Despite the strong showing in 2025, Hildebrand cautioned that 2026 is off to a slower start, noting he does not expect to see the same record-breaking level of investment this year.

The annual report also highlighted the county's highly competitive labor market. Marshall County ended 2025 with a low unemployment rate of just 2.5%, outperforming both the Indiana state average of 2.7% and the national average of 4.1%.

However, local wages still trail behind broader averages. The average hourly pay in Marshall County last year was $25.08, compared to $30.44 statewide and $36.47 nationally.

Development in 2025 wasn't limited to the industrial sector; construction saw healthy numbers as well. Throughout the year, Marshall County and Plymouth issued 20 commercial building permits with a combined project value of $49 million. Residential growth was also strong, with 99 permits issued for projects valued at a total of $71.7 million.

Reflecting this steady economic and residential development, the report noted that Marshall County's population has increased by 267 residents over the past five years, bringing the total population to 46,464.