WESTFIELD — Taranis, an Israel-based agtech intelligence company, announced Thursday it will spend $10.5 million to relocate its global headquarters from Tel-Aviv to Westfield, where it will create up to 60 high-wage jobs within three years.
The company, which was founded in 2015 and uses drones to survey farmland and detect threats to crops, will move into a new 6,000-square foot facility at 725 East Main Street in 2023.
“Locating our global headquarters in the heart of the America’s largest commodity crop production region enables us to interact more directly with our customers to better address the agronomic challenges of their growers,” Mike DiPaola, general manager of North America and vice president of global sales at Taranis, said in a news release.
Taranis currently employs more than 80 people across the United States, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Australia and the Middle East. Its location in Tel-Aviv will continue to operate as its innovation center.
The company plans to consolidate its sales, marketing and administrative functions in Westfield and expand its workforce during its first year at the facility. Taranis plans to fill positions in drone and aviation operations, customer success and marketing and sales. It has already hired seven new employees.
People interested in working for Taranis can apply online.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Taranis up to $1.25 million in conditional tax credits based on the company's job creation plans, the IEDC said in a news release. The tax credits are performance-based and the company will be eligible to claim them once positions are filled.
“The addition of Taranis to our community further enhances our influence in the region as an attractive location for businesses and job seekers,” Westfield Mayor Andy Cook said in a news release. “Its emergence as a leader in precision scouting coupled with our commitment to advancing agricultural innovation in our region makes this ideal and exciting partnership.”
