Ninth Avenue Foods (Columbus, IN)
Food processing facility in Columbus, Indiana
At Force Construction, we are honored to have been selected to bring Ninth Avenue Foods' vision to life with their first dairy processing facility in the Midwest, located in Columbus, Indiana. This design-build project encompasses a sprawling 260,000 square foot facility that stands as a testament to our capability to execute large-scale, complex projects with precision and innovation.
The Ninth Avenue Foods facility is meticulously designed to support a wide range of operations essential to modern dairy processing. It includes dedicated areas for processing and packaging, alongside specialized storage spaces for dry and cold goods, ensuring the integrity and quality of products from production to delivery. The project also incorporates significant infrastructure and support spaces, designed to streamline operations and enhance efficiency across all stages of the dairy processing chain.
A notable feature of this facility is the inclusion of a two-story office space, reflecting Ninth Avenue Foods' commitment to creating a productive and engaging work environment for their team. This space is crafted to foster collaboration and innovation, housing the administrative and operational teams that drive the company's success.
This project marks a significant milestone for Ninth Avenue Foods as they expand their operations to the Midwest, and we at Force Construction are proud to play a pivotal role in this expansion. Our design-build agreement with Ninth Avenue Foods allowed us to work closely with their team from the initial concept through to completion, ensuring that every aspect of the facility was tailored to meet their specific needs and standards.
The Ninth Avenue Foods dairy processing facility in Columbus, Indiana, is more than just a building; it's a cornerstone of the company's growth and a symbol of Force Construction's dedication to delivering exceptional quality and value to our clients. We are proud to contribute to the economic development of Columbus and to support Ninth Avenue Foods in their mission to provide high-quality dairy products to the Midwest and beyond.
THE LATEST NEWS AND JOB OPENINGS

Company name: Force Construction Company, Inc. Job Title: Project Estimator - Civil Division Location: Columbus, IN Overview The Project Estimator, Civil Division, is responsible for the timely response to requests for bids on civil projects, including heavy-highway, DOT or Department of Public Works projects. Must be able to review plan quantities, independently complete quantity take-offs, source suppliers and subcontractors, meet DBE/MBE/WBE requirements, build preliminary schedules, strategize on construction means and methods, suggest equipment selection in the pursuit of both plans and specification and design-build project pursuits. Essential Job Skills & Qualifications Previous managerial and supervisory experience in the construction industry. Demonstrate good computer skills. Advanced knowledge of, and experience with, construction or project management software is preferred. Professional demeanor and appearance Advanced knowledge of heavy-highway construction methods and materials, costing, scheduling, and estimating. Working, practiced knowledge of heavy-highway construction management, construction sequencing and field conditions. Develop, maintain, and foster a positive Company image with customers, potential customers, subcontractors, and suppliers, while maintaining ethical standards. Strong, self-motivated team player with excellent attention to detail and a strong sense of personal ethics Knowledge of Microsoft Word/Microsoft Excel/Microsoft PowerPoint Ability to work well with many positions/co-workers Maintain confidentiality with all customer and company information Job Responsibilities Review proposal specifications and drawings to determine scope of work, required contents, and time constraints of the project to be estimated. If necessary, investigate the site before bid, identifying items necessary for the bid, including waste area, borrow pits, dump sites, etc. Maintain a multiple-accessed, current database of diverse range of suppliers and subcontractors for various construction-related processes. Oversee, request, and review the entire process of receiving bids from subcontractors and suppliers. Carefully review terms and conditions of subcontractor and supplier quotes. Use estimating software program to prepare accurate, timely, and professional estimates by calculating complete takeoff of scope of work. Work with Company management personnel to develop risk assessment and pricing/profit strategies for bids. Maintain files of back-up documentation for estimated projects, including current/accurate pricing from suppliers and subcontractors. Assist Marketing and participate in Pre-Bid and Bid Review meetings with owners or owner’s representatives, as required. Assist in conforming to safety, EEO, insurance, and labor relations requirements. Partner with Health, Safety and Environmental personnel to ensure projects follow safe working conditions and practices. Support the achievement of EEO goals. Other duties, as required. Educational Requirements 4-year Engineering or Construction Management degree Working Conditions Physical Demands: Some lifting (up to 50 lbs.), keyboarding, writing, and reading. Environmental Conditions: Primarily indoor, controlled environment. Employment Type: Full-time, Exempt Compensation: $75,000 - $95,000 How to Apply Please send your detailed CV to humanresources@forceco.com

Company name: Force Construction Company, Inc. Job Title: Project Manager - Civil Division Location: Columbus, IN Overview The Project Manager, Civil Division, is responsible for Planning, organizing, and controlling all resources (people and materials) for the successful execution of a project. This position will lead project teams in the construction of projects, ensuring project quality, schedule, cost control, safety and customer satisfaction objectives are met and is the primary contact for owners. Essential Job Skills & Qualifications Previous managerial and supervisory experience in the construction industry. Advanced knowledge of, and experience with, construction or project management software. Professional demeanor and appearance Working, practiced knowledge of heavy-highway construction means and methods, DOT specifications and field conditions. Develop, maintain, and foster a positive Company image with customers, potential customers, subcontractors, and suppliers, while maintaining ethical standards. Strong, self-motivated team player with excellent attention to detail and a strong sense of personal ethics Knowledge of Microsoft Word/Microsoft Excel/Microsoft PowerPoint Ability to work well with many positions/co-workers Maintain confidentiality with all customer and company information Job Responsibilities Review project specifications and drawings to determine scope of work, required contents, and time constraints of projects during bidding phase. Create/maintain/monitor project schedule and performance. Assign duties, monitor, and evaluate performance of Assistant Project Manager. Review and act on contractor pay requests and approve invoices. Work with Accounting for continuous cost analysis for each project. Work with General/Project Superintendents to schedule material deliveries. Establish and maintain a positive relationship with owners, customer personnel, subcontractors, vendors, etc. Upon being awarded the contract, develop the initial project schedule, budget, manpower requirements and sequence of work. Oversee all pre-construction services such as purchase orders, subcontracts, job cost set-up and project pre-planning. Secure permits as required. Direct and ensure timely completion of project close-out activities, including punch list, final billings, etc. Verify substantial completion and 100% completion of project. Ensure accurate project drawings are turned over to customer at completion of project. Assist in conforming to safety, EEO, insurance, and labor relations requirements. Partner with Health, Safety and Environmental personnel to ensure projects follow safe working conditions and practices. Support the achievement of EEO goals. Other duties, as required. Educational Requirements 4-year Engineering or Construction Management degree Working Conditions Physical Demands: Some lifting (up to 50 lbs.), keyboarding, writing, and reading. Environmental Conditions: Primarily indoor, controlled environment. Employment Type: Full-time, Exempt Compensation: $75,000 - $95,000 How to Apply Please send your detailed CV to humanresources@forceco.com

We are thrilled to announce that Mike Shanks, Director of Health, Safety & Environmental at Force Construction, has been honored with the Indiana Constructors, Inc. (ICI) Paragon of Safety Award. This prestigious recognition celebrates a safety professional who exemplifies excellence and serves as a model for others—a true "paragon" in the industry. With an incredible 38-year career at Force Construction, Mike has been a leader, innovator, and tireless advocate for safety. For over 20 years, he has been an integral part of the Indiana Constructors, Inc. (ICI) safety program, contributing his expertise and vision to advance safety standards across the industry. Since the inception of the safety partnership between the Indiana Department of Labor, Indiana OSHA, Indiana Constructors, and the AGC of Indiana, Mike and Force Construction have been inaugural participants, driving collaboration and innovation to create safer worksites statewide. Mike’s peers, who nominated him for this award, recognize the profound influence he has had not only on our company but on the construction safety community at large. His leadership and dedication have set a high standard, inspiring others and shaping the collective efforts of safety professionals across Indiana. We are deeply grateful for Mike’s exceptional contributions, which have made a lasting impact on our industry and our team. This well-deserved award highlights his passion, expertise, and unwavering commitment to protecting workers and elevating safety in construction. Thank you, Mike, for being the embodiment of excellence in safety and for inspiring us all to aim higher every day. Congratulations on this outstanding achievement!


