Illinois Manufacturer Expanding in Fort Wayne

Posted on January 27, 2012 by dave

Kinetek, a Deerfield, IL-based designer and manufacturer of motor, control and system solutions for commercial and industrial markets announced today that it has established an AC motor business unit.

Headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the new business unit – Kinetek Advanced AC Solutions – will design and develop AC and other brushless motor products for manufacturing at Kinetek facilities around the world.

Patrick Delaney, president of Kinetek Advanced AC Solutions, said formation of the new unit leverages Kinetek’s AC motor engineering talent. “We have built a strong team with considerable expertise and experience at Kinetek’s research & design center (KRDC) in Fort Wayne. We are aggressively expanding this team to execute design and application of single, multi, and variable speed NEMA 48 and 56 frame AC motor products.”
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Notes: Porter Hospital Opening Ahead of Schedule

Posted on January 27, 2012 by dave

The opening date for the new Porter Hospital has been moved up three months to August 25th.

Porter’s Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Nalli recently announced that the construction of the new 266-bed Porter hospital at the corner of Ind. 49 and US 6 is three months ahead of schedule and that the transfer of patient care activities will now occur on Saturday, Aug. 25, rather than the originally projected date in late November.

Additionally, Nalli stated that Porter will be modifying both the system and hospital name to more accurately fit its new presence in Northwest Indiana.

“We are very happy to announce that after much research and the input from a wide variety of constituents, it has been decided that the new system name will be officially changed from Porter, to Porter Health Care System. And, the name of the hospital will be modified from Porter, Valparaiso Hospital Campus to Porter Regional Hospital,” he said.

Indianapolis-based Republic Airways has hired a CEO for its Frontier Airlines unit in preparation for shedding the business.

Hoosier businesses are bullish on 2012.

More than a dozen people have reportedly been injured in a partial collapse at the construction site of Cincinnati’s new casino.

Progress Rail is holding a job fair in Muncie on February 4th.

A “destination” disc golf course is hosting its first tournament in Richmond.

Tourism in Northwest Indiana is projected to increase in 2012.

Charlotte Firm Gets $75 Million NIPSCO Contract

Posted on January 27, 2012 by dave

The Babcock & Wilcox Company announced today that its subsidiary Babcock & Wilcox Construction Co., Inc. (BWCC) has been awarded a contract worth more than $75 million to provide construction services for the installation of environmental equipment at Northern Indiana Public Service Company’s (NIPSCO) R.M. Schahfer Generating Station in Wheatfield, IN.

The Charlotte, NC-based company will erect and install two B&W-designed wet flue gas desulfurization (FGD) absorber vessels, and associated reagent slurry preparation and dewatering equipment for the plant’s 465 megawatt (MW) Unit 14 and 515 MW Unit 15 coal-fired utility boilers. BWCC also will procure and erect the absorber and dewatering island structural steel for the wet FGD systems.

B&W previously announced it would design and supply the wet FGD units and related components for the project.

“B&W’s environmental project capabilities – from equipment design and manufacturing, to project management and construction services – position us to provide our utility customers with solutions to meet all of their emissions control upgrade needs,” said BWCC President Pete Waanders. “We appreciate NIPSCO selecting B&W to execute this significant project.”

Start-up of Schahfer Unit 14 is scheduled for fall 2013 and Unit 15 for fall 2015.

Lotion Manufacturer to Move Facility from Arizona to Indianapolis

Posted on January 27, 2012 by dave

Sunshine Manufacturing, LLC, a subsidiary of New Sunshine, LLC, announced plans today to relocate a manufacturing facility from Tempe, Ariz. to Indianapolis, creating up to 180 new jobs through 2015.

The company, which produces tanning products and lotions, plans to occupy a 105,000-square-foot facility to serve as the company’s primary manufacturing facility in North America. The facility is expected to be operational this spring.

New Sunshine, which employs more than 220 full-time employees across three locations nationwide, plans to begin hiring new manufacturing and administrative associates in Indianapolis this spring.
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NEI Regional Partnership, OrthoWorx Announce Partnership

Posted on January 26, 2012 by dave

The Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership and OrthoWorx announced a formal collaboration today with the Partnership agreeing to join OrthoWorx and OrthoWorx joining the Partnership. This decision was reached after several months of dialogue between the two organizations focused on identifying issues of common interest.

OrthoWorx is a Warsaw-based organization established to work collaboratively with industry and community stakeholders to build on the region’s strengths to assure that the area continues to be the Orthopedic Capital of the World.

The Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership is a public-private partnership focused on generating business leads and building regional capacity through product development and effective regional collaboration.
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Notes: Clean Air Rules to Increase Electric Rates

Posted on January 26, 2012 by dave

New clean air rules could increase Indiana’s electricity costs by 14% by 2020.

The analysis is from the State Utility Forecasting Group, a state-funded panel of researchers based at Purdue University.

Director Douglas Gotham says Indiana is expected to experience larger price increases than projected on a regional or national level. About 85 percent of the electricity used in Indiana is generated by coal-fired power plants, compared with about 45 percent nationwide.

Gotham predicts Indiana rates could rise by 34 percent overall by 2020 when other factors are included such as costs associated with ongoing new plant construction.

Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne ended 2011 in the black despite a tough economy.

Former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano is the new head coach of the Indianapolis Colts.

Jeffersonville’s Redevelopment Committee is considering a forgivable loan program aimed at restaurants.

Valparaiso, INDOT Partner in $20 Million Deal

Posted on January 26, 2012 by dave

The City of Valparaiso and the Indiana Department of Transportation have reached an agreement under which Valparaiso will take over the management of Lincolnway, the city’s main street, in return for $18 million in improvements to State Route 30. The arrangement was announced last night by Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas in his State of the City address (.pdf).

“It makes the most sense for the city to take over responsibility of Lincolnway as it runs though the heart of our city and is our signature street,” Costas said. “We gain greater freedom to maintain and manage this key road consistent with our overall road program and downtown agenda.”

The $18 million will be used to fund an “extensive improvement plan for Route 30″ that was developed last year and which will be implemented over the next three to four years, Costas said. The city will also pursue further grant opportunities to supplement this funding, he added.

“While the exact projects will be determined in partnership with INDOT, they will focus on improving traffic flow and safety, strengthening existing infrastructure, landscape upgrades and environmental enhancements,” he said.

Planning for the projects will begin this year, with actual construction scheduled to begin in 2013.

In addition to the $18 million, Valparaiso will also receive $2 million from INDOT for the maintenance and daily operation of Lincolnway.

Evansville Group Details Successes

Posted on January 25, 2012 by dave

The Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville (GAGE) assisted 10 companies with their decision to locate or expand in the City of Evansville or Vanderburgh County in 2011, securing commitments for 973 jobs with a five-year economic impact of $967.4 million, according to GAGE’s 2011 Annual Report to the Community.

In addition to the economic and community development accomplishments outlined in the Annual Report, GAGE developed a Business Licensing and Permitting Guide and a variety of promotional materials used to attract and retain businesses and workers in Evansville and Vanderburgh County. New this year, the Growth Alliance implemented economic impact modeling to accurately evaluate projects. GAGE also conducted multiple entrepreneur workshops and obtained Shovel Ready Certification for another local property.

“We look forward to more success in 2012,” says GAGE President Debbie Dewey. “We will continue to drive a city branding effort, operate as the one stop resource for business in Greater Evansville, and participate in establishing a technology corridor vision for the region.”

A downloadable version of the 2011 GAGE Annual Report is available here (.pdf).

IBRC Report Examines ACA Impact, Right to Work

Posted on January 25, 2012 by dave

According to a new report (.pdf) by researchers at the Indiana Business Research Center, the Hoosier state is a prime example of how the Affordable Care Act could place thousands of jobs created by small businesses at risk.

The same report also found that Indiana is heavily dependent upon out-of-state investment for creating new jobs, an important consideration as the state legislature is embroiled in the contentious right-to-work issue.
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Alcoa to Expand in Tippecanoe County

Posted on January 25, 2012 by dave

Alcoa, Inc., a fully integrated producer of aluminum used in beverage cans, aircraft and window frames, announced plans today to expand its operations in Lafayette, creating up to 75 new jobs by 2013.

The company will invest more than $90 million to expand its aluminum lithium capacity and capabilities and construct an approximately 115,000 square-foot facility adjacent to the company’s Lafayette plant to meet growing demand in the aerospace market for its newest alloys. Initial facility construction has already begun with plant production expected to begin by the end of 2014. When completed, the facility will produce more than 20,000 metric tons of aluminum lithium and be capable of casting round and rectangular ingot for rolled, extruded and forged aerospace applications.
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