Five Northern Indiana Companies Make “Inc. 5000” List

Five companies in northern Indiana made Inc. Magazine’s third annual list of the top 5,000 fastest-growing companies. These include two each in St Joseph and Porter counties, and one in Lake County.

No. 931: Working Person’s Store. The Lakeville apparel retailer’s revenues have grown by almost 328% since 2005 to $14.4 million in 2008.

No. 2,005: ESW. Based in Crown Point, ESW saw revenues grow from $1.6 million in 2005 to $4.6 last year, a 159% increase. The company provides training in electrical and mechanical crafts, instrumentation, machine operation, software, quality assurance and safety, and mobile equipment operation.

No. 2,075: Alliance. A maker of magnetic manufacturing materials for a variety of industries, Alliance’s revenues increased $153.4% to $7.8 million from 2005 to 2008. Alliance is based in Valparaiso.

No. 2,782: Cornerstone Appraisal Services. Also based in Valparaiso, residential appraiser Cornerstone had revenues of $6.3 million in 2008, up 103.1% versus 2005.

No. 3,166: St. Clair Apparel. The South Bend-based custom apparel maker’s revenues rose 83.8% to $8.6 million between 2005 and 2008.

Overall, 62 Hoosier concerns made Inc.’s list.

News & Notes: Lake County to State: Take RTA Vote and Shove It

Regarding the referendum on a regional transit authority for northern Indiana mandated in the recently passed state budget, Lake County tells Indianapolis to drop dead.

Auto parts maker Mann+Hummel will close its plant in South Bend by the end of the year. About 57 people will lose their jobs, while another 47 will make the move to Michigan with the company.

A three-year-long road repair project in Valparaiso is finally reaching a conclusion.

A proposed wind farm stirs debate in LaPorte County.

Michigan City is airing proposals to revamp a two-mile stretch of Michigan Boulevard from U.S. 12 south to Carroll Avenue.