Daily Archives: July 6, 2009

News & Notes: Little Help for Construction in New Budget

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The new state budget will do little to help the struggling construction industry in Northwest Indiana.

The town of Winfield in Lake County wants to annex about 250 acres and 90 homes, a move that would add more than $100,000 to the fast-growing town’s tax base.

Five northern Indiana and Michigan support and networking groups for the unemployed have joined forces at www.mymcna.com.

An Associated Press analysis says that economic stress is taking its toll on Indiana, naming Noble, IN, and Elkhart and Howard counties among those areas with the highest economic stress levels nationwide.

Economic activity in the service sector of the economy contracted in June, but a few industries bucked the trend: Real Estate, Rental & Leasing; Arts, Entertainment & Recreation; Accommodation & Food Services; Finance & Insurance; Construction; and Information.

Auto Parts Manufacturer UGN to Expand in Valparaiso

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UGN Inc. says it will invest more than $3 million to expand operations in Valparaiso, IN, creating up to 100 additional jobs by 2014.

The company – which manufacturers acoustic, interior trim and thermal management products for Japanese automakers in North America – is in the process of launching a new product and expanding floor space at its 180,000-square-foot facility on the city’s southeast side.

UGN employs 170 at the Valparaiso facility and has added more than 40 new manufacturing workers to support new product since March.
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Leep Joins Centier Bank Board

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Michael R. Leep, Sr., President of Gurley-Leep Automotive Family of Mishawaka, IN, has joined Centier Bank’s Board of Directors.

Leep has managed the Gurley Leep Automotive Family since 1973, when he and his business partner, Van Gurley, founded a Dodge dealership in Highland, Indiana. Over the past 36 years, Gurley-Leep Automotive Family has grown from one dealership to 25, representing 29 different franchises. In addition to franchise locations in Michiana and Northwest Indiana, Gurley-Leep Automotive Family has locations in Lansing, Michigan, Davenport, Iowa, and Port Richey, Florida, employing over 1,200 persons.

“We are very fortunate to have Mike Leep join the Centier organization,” stated Michael E. Schrage, President and CEO of Centier Bank. “Our board consists of business individuals who exhibit the same values as our organization and whose interests are in the communities we serve. Mike possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience for our future business development and retail expansion.”
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