Officials for Guardian Bikes have announced plans to establish new operations in Seymour, with distribution already underway and manufacturing to follow later this year.        

Sam Markel, vice president of manufacturing and operations for the company, attended meetings of the Seymour Redevelopment Commission and Seymour City Council on Monday, May 9th with Jim Plump, executive director of Jackson County Industrial Development Corporation, to discuss the company’s plans.

The project is expected to total nearly $7 million in investment and employ 100 associates by 2026.

“We are extremely pleased that Guardian selected Seymour-Jackson County,” said Plump. “This has been an exciting project to work on, and we feel this is a company that will continue to grow.”

Guardian Bikes produces “the world’s safest children’s bikes that are equipped with SureStop, a revolutionary new braking system that allows bikes to stop not only faster but safer.” They offer seven different kids’ bikes, which take into consideration children’s heights and riding style.

Previously, Guardian Bikes have been manufactured in China, then shipped to the U.S. for inspection and distribution from facilities in Salt Lake City and Memphis. The company had been studying the possibility of moving the entire operation to the U.S.

On May 9 and on behalf of the company, JCIDC requested a local incentive package which included a loan from the ECLIPSE program (Economic Loan Incentive Program-Seymour) totaling $100,000 as well as tax abatement for Guardian’s initial $275,000 investment for equipment and machinery.

In addition, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation has offered up to $1.1 million in EDGE credits (Economic Development for a Growing Economy), and Markel thanked the efforts of Trevor Lane, director of the Southeast Regional for the IEDC.

The company is expected to begin operations at an existing building at 2230 D Avenue located at the Freeman Field Airport and Industrial Park while discussions are continuing on other possible locations in the Seymour area.

Brian Riley, CEO of the company, and Kyle Jansen, co-founder, appeared on Shark Tank and received $500,000 from Mark Cuban for a 15 percent share in the company.