GE manufacturing facility abandoned in 2016

Cook Group, through its subsidiary Cook Properties, has agreed to purchase the former GE site near Cook’s world headquarters in Bloomington, Ind.

Cook Group is expanding its medical device business into the vacant GE property on Curry Pike. This purchase allows Cook the flexibility to address some immediate space needs at Cook Medical’s global headquarters and to more quickly address future goals to modernize its manufacturing process for increased efficiency.

Pete Yonkman, president of Cook Group and Cook Medical, said that over the next 10 years, if market growth continues as planned, Cook Group expects to add 500 jobs in Bloomington at this new facility and its Daniels Way location.

“We need more space to accommodate our growth and to enable us to expedite modernization and transformation of our manufacturing process,” he said. “The flexibility that the GE space provides will allow us to purpose build for efficiency in our production lines. The GE site is one of the only existing buildings in Bloomington that can meet our needs, and its close proximity to our global headquarters allows us to expand our west side campus.”

The former GE site was built more than 50 years ago to manufacture refrigerators. The last refrigerator came off the line at that facility in August 2016 when GE Appliances closed the Bloomington plant. With a history of revitalizing once-vacant buildings, Cook Group plans to invest in the property so it will once again be a source of pride for the community.

The completion of the purchase is subject to certain conditions, including inspections of the property and finalization of agreements with the City of Bloomington and Monroe County, and is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of this calendar year. VTN