With city support, In Touch Pharmaceuticals establishes firm roots in city
An innovative pharmaceutical company headquartered in Valparaiso is good medicine for the city, adding more than 110 jobs and an annual payroll in excess of $3.2 million since it was established in 2004. In Touch Pharmaceuticals, Inc was founded by local entrepreneur and pharmacist Rick Rondinelli. With the help of tax abatements, the company has expanded several times, and recently merged with another firm, relocating more than 50 high-paying jobs from Indianapolis to Valparaiso.
“We’re so pleased to see companies like In-Touch Pharmaceuticals succeed and expand in our city. As a city, we’ve made it a priority to do all we can to foster this sort of growth, adding jobs and prosperity to our community,” said Mayor Jon Costas.
In Touch provides patient medication management through pre-measurement and individual dosage packaging of prescription drugs, serving large medical/human services institutions in providing quality patient care. The jobs created at In Touch include pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, administrative support staff and drivers. The company was recently named to the list of “Indiana Companies to Watch” by the Edward Lowe Foundation, chosen for its performance in the marketplace and its innovation.
“Valparaiso has been home to In Touch from our inception and Mayor Costas and the city welcomed us with open arms, when we didn’t have anything, not even one employee. Through their support and pro-business programs, we have been able to grow and thus create jobs. I’m very grateful for their support and the confidence they have shown In Touch over the years,” said Rondinelli. “Valparaiso is a great place to own and run a business. I can’t think of a better place,” he said.
In Touch has expanded several times since it was established in 2004. At that time the City Council granted the company a 5-year tax abatement on medical equipment and roughly $100,000 in real estate improvements with the goal of growing the business to about nine employees. Within six years, the company had grown to 60 employees and sought another tax abatement to expand operations. Just last year In Touch purchased another company, relocating more than 50 jobs from Indianapolis to Valparaiso. With this acquisition, the company’s sales are projected to reach $30 million. A holding company has been created to purchase new space at 1150 Eastport Centre Drive, leasing it to In Touch so that the entire operation can be housed under one roof. The City’s Common Council is currently considering an application for a new tax abatement to make this expansion possible for In Touch.
“In a time when jobs are so scarce, it’ truly exciting to partner with local businesses out there creating new opportunities,” said Costas. “We look for great things to happen for In Touch and other Valparaiso companies.”