Daily Archives: April 7, 2010

South Bend Stays Positive

Posted on by
Reply

Nearly 70 percent of South Bend residents expressed optimism about the city’s economic future, according to a recent random-sample survey conducted on behalf of the City of South Bend’s effort to promote economic development.

According to the survey, 69.5 percent of residents said they were optimistic or hopeful about South Bend’s economic future. In the survey, 26 percent said they were pessimistic or doubtful about the city’s economic future.

The hopeful viewpoint was reinforced in open-ended responses to the question, “What is your opinion about South Bend’s economic future?” Nearly 47 percent responded with clearly positive responses, compared with nearly 31 percent in 2009 at the height of the global economic crisis. Pessimistic responses in 2010 declined to nearly 35 percent, compared with more than 51 percent in 2009.
Continue reading →

Lakeshore Public Television Names New Director of Television Operations

Posted on by
Reply

Lakeshore Public Television (Merrillville) has promoted Matt Franklin to the position of director of television operations. Franklin previously served as the company’s director of production & creative services. He joined Lakeshore Public Television in 2005.

In his new role, Franklin will be responsible for overseeing the Television Production, Creative Services, Programming and Engineering Departments. He will continue to provide creative oversight of all the station’s original productions – including mobile broadcasts, underwriting spots, safety videos and the nationally-syndicated public television series Classical Stretch (seasons six and seven).

Prior to Lakeshore Public Television, Franklin was an independent film producer and worked for ABC Family in Los Angeles and Leo Burnett in Chicago.
Continue reading →

IU to Establish Office in China

Posted on by
Reply

The Indiana University Research Center for Chinese Politics and Business (RCCPB) will establish offices in the Chinese capital of Beijing later this year

The new office will be funded by a three-year, $250,000 grant from The Henry Luce Foundation, as well as additional support totaling about $450,000 from 15 academic and research centers at IU. RCCPB will be one of the first American university-based research centers operating in China.

The Luce Foundation grant primarily will support the center’s Initiative on China and Global Governance, a research project leading to better understanding of the extent of China’s involvement in worldwide issues such as trade, finance, technology, competition policy, energy, the environment and health. It also will be used to increase engagement with governments, international organizations and industries based in China or active there.
Continue reading →

Notes: Wabash National Scores Again

Posted on by
Reply

For the second time in two months, Wabash National has landed a big contract.

Tuesday, the Lafayette company confirmed a three-year purchase agreement with Prime Inc. for 4,000 ArcticLite refrigerated trailers over the next 34 months.

Prime Inc. is one of the largest refrigerated carriers in North America.

Production of 725 trailers, the first part of the order, will begin this month.

In early March, Wabash National announced a three-year purchase agreement with Swift Transportation Co. for 3,100 new DuraPlate HD trailers over the next 12 months.

Following that order placement, the company hired 200 temporary associates to handle the extra work.

Toronto, Ohio-0based Lamplight Communities will invest $4 million to convert the Fort Wayne Hotel and Conference Center into a 208-room assisted living facility.

Carbon Motors says it is about halfway through the process of securing a $310 million federal loan needed to fund planned operations in Indiana.

Indianapolis officials say the NCAA Final Four tournament injected $50 million into the local economy.

Park and recreation improvement projects in Hammond have created 150 construction jobs since January.

Marion mayor Wayne Sebold is traveling to China to finish a deal that would bring 30 jobs to the community.

Earthbound RV Named Green RV of the Year

Posted on by
Reply

Roaming Times, the world’s leading RV review and RV consumer report website for more than 10 years (www.roamingtimes.com), has selected Marion-based Earthbound RV as the 2010 Roaming Times Green RV of the Year.

The purpose of the Roaming Times’ Green RV of the Year selection is to recognize and highlight innovation in the RVing industry that supports environmental factors for the world in general, and the RVing, travel and leisure industries in particular.
Continue reading →

Red Gold Inks Pact with Cedar Fair Entertainment

Posted on by
Reply

Red Gold, one of the nation’s premier full-line tomato processing companies, will partner with world-renowned amusement park and waterpark operator Cedar Fair Entertainment Company. The Orestes, Ind.-based company will supply the “Official Ketchup” in addition to other quality tomato products throughout the Cedar Fair network of parks beginning with the 2010 season.

This new partnership includes Cedar Fair’s flagship park in Sandusky, Ohio – Cedar Point, along with Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, Michigan’s Adventure near Muskegon, Mich., Cedar Point’s Soak City waterpark in Sandusky, Ohio and Geauga Lake’s Wildwater Kingdom waterpark in Aurora, Ohio. Guests of those parks will begin enjoying the great taste of quality Red Gold ketchup and tomato products inside the park’s restaurants, picnic areas and mobile units beginning this summer. “Red Gold is quite excited to be partnering with the Cedar Fair Entertainment Company and to be providing their guests with premium quality Red Gold Brand tomato products,” said Greg Metzger, director of marketing for Red Gold.
Continue reading →

Lumber Company Coming to Franklin

Posted on by
Reply

The City of Franklin and Carter Lumber have reached a tentative agreement to re-open operations in Franklin, this time in space available in the former Davidson/Stock facility on US 31.

Carter Lumber will occupy the remaining 25 plus acres of the site, and will specialize in products designed to meet the needs of the residential and commercial builder. The new facility will have a showroom along with truss and custom millwork manufacturing capabilities. Products that will be sold include, lumber, custom millwork, windows, doors, kitchens, trusses, panels and engineered floors. The facility will open in June of this year, and the new operation is expected to create 80 to 100 jobs.
Continue reading →