In a major announcement, Penguin Random House, a leading book publisher based in New York, has revealed plans to invest up to $50 million to expand its distribution and fulfillment center in Crawfordsville. The expansion will add 650,000 square feet of space, doubling the facility’s annual shipments of physical print books. With this addition, the total footprint of the facility will be approximately 1.5 million square feet.
The company currently employs around 900 people in Crawfordsville, but no new jobs are currently planned with the expansion. However, Mayor Todd Barton expressed his appreciation for Penguin Random House’s investment in the community and stated that the company’s growth in Crawfordsville has been a positive partnership.
The city council is considering approving $5.6 million in tax incentives for the project, with a vote expected at the May 13 meeting. Construction on the expansion is scheduled to begin in late summer with completion targeted for the end of 2026.
Penguin Random House acquired the Crawfordsville facility in 2001 and has previously made a $33.4 million investment in 2014, leading to the creation of 310 new jobs. The facility in Crawfordsville is one of four U.S. supply-chain book hubs for the company, along with locations in Maryland and Nevada. Overall, Penguin Random House employs around 10,000 people worldwide in its various locations.
