Kem Krest, an automotive supply distributor based in Elkhart, has announced plans to keep its corporate headquarters in the city and nearly double its workforce.

The company plans to invest $3.3 million to move from its present site on Superior Street to an existing 150,000-square-foot facility on Toledo Road. In addition, Kem Krest expects to create more than 50 new jobs by 2012.

The 30-year-old company employs more than 50 workers. It intends to begin hiring additional warehouse, operations and administrative personnel during the next year.

The Indiana Economic Development Corp. offered Kem Krest up to $140,000 in performance-based tax credits and $50,000 in training grants based on the company's job-creation plans. The city of Elkhart has preliminarily approved an additional property tax phase-in with the support of the Economic Development Corp. of Elkhart County.

Kem Krest provides supply chain management, distribution and fulfillment services to manufacturers in the transportation industry. The company currently has contracts with General Motors, Saturn, Honda, Hyundai, and Ford, among other auto makers.