Monthly Archives: April 2010

Notes: Hendricks County CVB Targets Tourism

Posted on by
Reply

The Hendricks County CVB is shifting gears from trying to attract a hotel and conference center to marketing the county as a tourist destination.

Executive Director Emory Lencke said the CVB effort will focus on persuading travelers to spend an extra night in the county. Instead of leaving town after a day watching drag races at O’Reilly Raceway Park or visiting relatives—two of the top reasons people visit Hendricks County—perhaps travelers will check out Chateau Thomas Winery, Beasley Orchard, or a small-town fish fry.

After a devastating year, hotel managers “just want travelers,” Lencke said. “They want people who are willing to book a night. That’s industry-wide.”

The CVB is in the process of developing a $749,500 marketing plan, more than the agency has spent in the last two years. It’s also hired a new agency, Indianapolis-based MZD, to help with strategy and ad placement.

Chrysler is seeking tax abatements from the city of Kokomo for a $43 million investment in its transmission plant.

The Indianapolis Colts bolstered their defense with the selection of Texas Christian University defensive end Jerry Hughes in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft last night. The second and third rounds continue tonight.

Goshen Health Systems and the South Bend Clinic will invest $14 million to create Cancer Care Partners, a joint cancer treatment center in Mishawaka.

Cable television ads touting Michigan City as a tourist destination are being aired in select Chicago suburbs. The ads are part of a month-long campaign funded by the city, the Blue Chip Casino, the La Porte County Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Michigan City Area Chamber of Commerce.

Home sales rose sharply in Northwest Indiana in March.

The state will put up $1 million to rehab the Linden Meadows neighborhood in New Albany.

Leon’s Triathlon Returns to Northwest Indiana

Posted on by
Reply

South Shore Sports Promotions, the sports sales department for the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority, is bringing back Leon’s Triathlon to Northwest Indiana in 2010 after a 15-year hiatus. Leon’s was formerly one of the largest triathlons in the Chicago area and brought professionals from around the nation.

June 6 will bring what is being touted as one of the world’s fastest triathlons to the region with an extensive course that includes a .9 mile swim, a 24.8 mile bike ride and a 6.2 mile run, each of which will start and finish at Hammond’s Wolf lake Park. In addition to the waters of Wolf Lake the event will utilize parts of Sheffield Avenue, Calumet Avenue and a portion of Cline Avenue from Calumet east to Riley Road.
Continue reading →

Indiana Gets $10 Million in Federal Energy Efficiency Funds

Posted on by
Reply

Indianapolis and Lafayette will share in $10 million in federal stimulus money aimed at “ramping up” energy efficiency building retrofits.

Overall, 25 communities nationwide will receive up to $452 million in Recovery Act funding. Indiana has been selected to receive $10 million under the Department of Energy’s Retrofit Ramp-Up initiative. These projects will bring together communities, governments, private sector companies and non-profit organizations to implement pioneering and innovative programs for concentrated and broad-based retrofits of neighborhoods and towns – and eventually entire states. These partnerships will support large-scale retrofits and make energy efficiency accessible to hundreds of thousands of homeowners and businesses. The models created through this program are expected to save households and businesses about a $100 million annually in utility bills, while leveraging private sector resources to create what funding recipients estimate at about 30,000 jobs across the country during the next three years.
Continue reading →

Midwest Smoke Out Sold Out

Posted on by
Reply

Tomorrow’s Midwest Smoke Out at The Venue at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond has sold out! The last available tickets for the event were snapped up early this morning.

The sell-out means that 1,500 cigar aficionados and super-stars in the cigar industry will visit Northwest Indiana for the first-ever Midwest Smoke Out on April 22. Attendees from all around the U.S. will enjoy free cigars, spirits, foods, cars, luxury items and gifts.

The event also attracted company executives for a first-class networking and client appreciation event. The VIP Corporate Suites sold out in less than 48 hours. Executives see a unique, high-end opportunity to treat their VIP clients and impress their potential ones.

Attendees will sample more than 18 premium cigars including cigars like Camacho, Room 101, Xikar, VegaFina, UpperCut, Perdomo, Gran Habanos, Fonseca, Los Blancos, CAO, Carlos Torano and Honduras Caribbean. There will also be more spirits, beers and wines than one can imagine, with brands like Maker’s Mark, Remy Martin, Patron, Three Floyds Brew Pub, New Holland Brewery, Blue Moon. Sample drink tastings include the CEO’s dirty martini and the Craft Beer Revolution.

Attendees will enjoy many local favorites as well. Restaurateurs including Ciao Bella, the Titled Kilt, Shoreline Brewery, Bar Louie, Boston’s Gourmet Pizza, Great Lakes Catering and Hooters will be offering gourmet food samples. An evening of the good life should be expected including luxury automobiles, jewelry and recreation. James & Sons Jewelers, Calumet Harley Davidson, Schepel Cadillac, B&E Marine and Fox Valley Lamborghini will have luxury items on display.

Notes: RDA Wants Cline Avenue Meeting with INDOT

Posted on by
Reply

The Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority has joined other area organizations and officials speaking out against the Indiana Department of Transportation’s plans to demolish and not replace the Cline Avenue bridge.

The development agency passed a motion by a 5-0 vote that expresses concern over the plan and especially its lack of direct access to Gary/Chicago International Airport from Chicago. The motion also called for a meeting with INDOT to discuss those concerns.

“The airport’s potential cannot be reached unless we improve highway access to the airport,” RDA Chairman Leigh Morris said. “I would defy you to find any successful airport where you have to go through the tortuous route that you do to get to Gary/Chicago airport,” Morris said.

RDA Chairman Morris is also a deputy commissioner of INDOT and until now had removed himself from involvement in the discussions over Cline Avenue. On Tuesday, he said he was speaking out as chairman of the RDA and not as an INDOT official.

Tipton County officials have approved tax breaks they hope will bring an unnamed company and its 850 jobs to the area.

Fairfield Manufacturing in Lafayette has opened an on-site health clinic.

The location for the domed practice field for the 2012 Super Bowl in Indianapolis has been changed, saving $2 million which will be spent on “fan-friendly enhancement” in downtown Indianapolis.

The Port Authority has received a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to help with construction of a new $6 million public boat launch in Michigan City.

Indiana Economic Index Bounces Back in March

Posted on by
Reply

Indiana University’s Leading Index for Indiana (LII) sprung back to life in March.

After a late-winter slump, the latest report shows that the LII reclaimed the territory that it lost in January and February and gained a little bit more.

Timothy Slaper, director of economic analysis at the Indiana Business Research Center at IU’s Kelley School of Business. said the index’s movement reflects the generally good economic news recently. The direction and strength of the LII’s movement in March is consistent with the slow recovery that is expected over the next few months.
Continue reading →

Indiana Community Opens Trade Office in China

Posted on by
Reply

The Columbus Economic Development Board has announced the opening of a Trade Office in China. The Board voted unanimously to enter into a contract for a representative trade office in Shanghai.

“Establishing this office and presence in China is an aggressive strategic move for Columbus,” stated Columbus EDB Executive Director Corey Carr. “It will definitely assist us in attracting Foreign Direct Investment and in expanding our network of friends and partners in China.”
Continue reading →

Notes: Indiana Adds Jobs in March

Posted on by
Reply

10% of all jobs added in the U.S. in March were in Indiana.

The statewide preliminary seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 9.9 percent in March, up from 9.8 percent in February, while the number of Hoosier jobs increased by 16,000, the “largest over-the-month employment increase since September 2005,” the Indiana Department of Workforce Development said. “The monthly increase in the unemployment rate is not considered statistically significant.”

Indiana is the only state among its neighbors to report an unemployment rate below 10 percent in March and a year-to-year decline in the rate. The national employment rate increased by 1.1 percent compared to March 2009.

Russiaville officials are meeting to consider spending $1.9 million on road, water and sewer work to attract an unnamed food company to town. If successful, the company would bring 100 to 200 jobs to the area.

USA Football is expected to relocate its headquarters to Indianapolis.

Carmel Company Expands

Posted on by
1

Health information technology company GEMMS, Inc., awill expand its operations in Carmel, creating up to 69 new jobs by 2015.

The developer of electronic medical record systems for cardiology practices plans to invest up to $2.1 million to grow its headquarters and software development operations in Carmel.

“Indiana has been a life science hub for more than a century and continues to build on that reputation as companies like GEMMS expand and develop the newest health IT technologies here in our state,” said Governor Mitch Daniels.
Continue reading →

Notes: Indianapolis Hospital Expansion Plans Announced

Posted on by
Reply

Clarian Health has announced plans to build a 175- to 250-bed tower at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

The tower would have 175 to 250 beds and allow Methodist to make all its rooms private. Right now, half of Methodist’s 760 beds are in pairs in semi-private rooms.

Clarian projects it could spend $375 million to $500 million on the project, which would not be complete until mid-2015.

The battle against the gypsy moth in northern Indiana is starting early this year.

Eli Lilly’s profit slipped 5% due to accounting charges related to federal health care legislation.

Porter County will appeal a ruling that it can’t withdraw from the Regional Development Authority.

Indiana is facing a growing shortage of psychiatrists.

A new professional networking organization is being formed in southern Indiana.