Kris Turner

kris.turner@indystar.com

Indiana’s elected leaders are expressing deep disappointment that Carrier and United Technologies Electronic Controls are closing two facilities and sending 2,100 jobs to Mexico.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly thinks Carrier is chasing lower labor costs in deciding to shut down a 1,400-worker factory in Indianapolis and move production to Mexico, and Republican Gov. Mike Pence said the state was caught off guard by the surprise announcements.

“As governor, I was profoundly disappointed to learn that Carrier Corporation and United Technologies would relocate jobs and operations to Mexico, costing hard-working Hoosiers more than 2,100 jobs," Pence said in a statement. "My heart goes out to all the families and communities that are affected by this news.”

Carrier, a heating, ventilating and air-conditioning manufacturer based on the west side of Indianapolis, announced Wednesday it is eliminating 1,400 jobs and moving its facility.

United Technologies Electronic Controls, a Huntington-based maker of microprocessor controls for HVAC equipment, also announced last week it was moving its operation and eliminating 700 jobs by 2018.

Both companies are branches of Hartford, Conn.-based United Technologies Corp.

Pence instructed the Indiana Economic Development Corp., which has awarded $520,815 in state incentives to the companies, to review all contracts and see if there's an opportunity to recoup the money.

In a statement, Chris Nelson, Carrier’s president of HVAC systems and services for North America, pointed to "ongoing cost and pricing pressures driven, in part, by new regulatory requirements” as the reason for the decision to relocate the Carrier facility. Pence also pointed to federal corporate tax rates as a factor in why businesses relocate to foreign soil.

Donnelly, however, said Carrier executives were unable to specify the federal regulations prompting last week’s announcement. Donnelly added that Carrier is trying to sell its products to Americans but is unwilling to pay Indiana workers.

A Carrier spokeswoman didn’t immediately return a message Monday seeking comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Call IndyStar reporter Kris Turner at (317) 444-6047. Follow him on Twitter: @krisnturner.

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