Monthly Archives: May 2010

Indiana Added More Than 22,000 Jobs in April

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Indiana added 22,700 jobs in April, the largest over-the-month increase in employment since February 1999. However, Hoosiers returning to the Labor Force nudged Indiana’s preliminary seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for April 2010 up 0.1 percent to 10.0 percent. The monthly increase in the unemployment rate is not considered statistically significant.

“Indiana has added 41,800 jobs over the last four months, essentially recouping the jobs lost over the past year,” said Teresa Voors, Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. “Indiana has two percent of the country’s population and seven percent of the job growth.”

Unemployment rates by county are available here and here. (.pdfs)

Seasonally-adjusted total non-farm employment in Indiana increased by 22,700 in April. Sectors reporting significant employment increases include: Leisure and Hospitality (8,100), Professional and Business Services (6,500), Manufacturing (5,000), and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (3,500). Sectors reporting significant employment declines include: Private Education and Health Services (-1,800), Construction (-700), and Financial Activities (-500).

Indiana is the only state among its neighbors to report an over-the-year decline in its unemployment rate. The national employment rate increased 1.0% compared to April 2009.

Army Corps of Engineers Issues New Permit Guidance

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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District announces a new guidance module to assist with completing permit application forms in Indiana.

The Corps requires permits for building or developing in, on, or over wetlands and waters, and this interactive module will give you the guidelines and checklist for filling out and sending in a permit application form.

The Detroit District Regulatory Office, with the responsibility of administering the Corps’ permit program, has released a new electronic module to assist applicants with filling out the ENG Form 4345 permit application. The ENG 4345 form is for use in the State of Indiana to apply for a permit from the Corps. English and Spanish versions of the module are available at the following link: http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/functions/rf/avatar/index.html.
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IEDC Boosts Presence in China

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The Indiana Economic Development Corporation has opened an office in Zhejiang Province, Indiana’s Chinese sister-state.

The Zhejiang office, Indiana’s seventh international location, was established to actively sell the benefits of the Hoosier state to Chinese companies. Indiana has an existing office in Beijing which opened in 1987.

“Since my initial jobs trip last fall, evidence continues to show the opportunity for strengthened business ties is ripe, so effective immediately we are doubling Hoosier representation in China,” said Governor Mitch Daniels. “Though the relationship is young, the dialogue with Chinese business prospects over the past eight months has been continuous and I am very enthusiastic about advancing the economic discussions.”

Indiana counts China as its largest Asian trading partner and sixth-largest export country in the world. Export growth to China has accelerated dramatically from $294 million in 2004 to $930 million in 2008 according to a 2009 report prepared by the Indiana Business Research Center.

This announcement comes on the heels of recent visits from the Chinese Consul General, a Chinese delegation from Ningde City and executives from Shanghai Top Motor, a China-based manufacturing firm the governor visited on his trade mission in 2009. In March, the governor joined the company and its recently formed U.S. affiliate, Techtop Motor LHP, for a grand opening of the company’s 60,000 square-foot logistics center in Columbus.

Notes: Arcadia to Add More Than 900 Jobs

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Indianapolis-based health care company Arcadia Resources is expected to announce big expansion plans today.

Arcadia, which relocated from Michigan to Indianapolis in 2007, through its pharmacy unit sells a pill-dispensing system called DailyMed.

The product is designed for patients taking multiple medications for serious health conditions. With DailyMed, Arcadia’s pharmacy packages a month’s worth of medication into a box with individually wrapped doses labeled with the time and day they need to be taken.

Kentland-based bottled water company Ice River Springs is adding a second shift and five to 10 new jobs, prompting local officials to look at building a second water tower for the town.

Kokomo is nearly finished with nearly $1 million worth of infrastructure to spruce up the downtown business district.

After more than two years, unused rail cars that have blighted the landscape in New Castle have been pulled out, opening the tracks for use by a new scrap metal business.

Indianapolis officials want to pour another $2.7 million into renovations on the downtown City Market just two years after an initial $2.7 million investment failed to boost business.

A group of investors had purchased the struggling Pine Valley Country Club in Fort Wayne, saving more than 80 jobs.

The ongoing controversy over the trash-to-ethanol plant in Schneider ongoes some more.

Notes: INDOT Closes MLK Drive Bridge in Gary

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More bridge woes for Northwest Indiana.

INDOT officials said they believe cracks found on the concrete beams have compromised the load-bearing capacity of the bridge, a statement issued Wednesday said. The agency plans to replace the bridge beams and concrete “as soon as possible,” the statement read.

The state hopes to select an engineering firm to begin construction this fall and reopen the bridge to traffic by June 2011. The project is expected to cost around $2.5 million.

The bridge was built in 2004 to span the widened Borman Expressway.

The region has already been rocked by the recent closure of the Cline Avenue bridge, which will not be rebuilt, to the dismay of some local leaders. The Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority will take the lead on the future of the land involved once the bridge is demolished.

Indiana is looking to snag more wind energy jobs.

The Tipton County Council last night approved a $13 million bond they hope will attract 850 jobs to the area.

Uber-investor Warren Buffett has bailed on WellPoint.

Flights are growing in number at the South Bend Regional Airport.

Georgetown has begun construction on its wastewater treatment plant.

The Indiana Natural Resources Commission is delaying its decision to sell the Ernie Pyle museum in Dana.

Report: Regional Cooperation Needed

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Information collected from 10 Northeastern Indiana counties suggests strong regional collaboration will be necessary to increase the per capita income of Northeast Indiana, which has declined from 95 percent of the national average in the mid-1990s to 80.5 percent in 2007.

The preliminary reports can be found in full detail at www.northeastindianavision.com/reports. The reports contain input received through community outreach meetings conducted in Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells and Whitley counties in Northeast Indiana. Specific findings are reported for each of the Vision 2020 focus area “pillars,” including 21st century talent, competitive business climate, entrepreneurship, infrastructure and quality of life.
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Notes: Tipton Officials to Vote on $13 Million Tax Break

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The Tipton County Council will vote tonight on a $13 million tax incentive that they hope will lure a solar panel manufacturer to town.

The Tipton County Council will vote tonight on a $13 million incentive that officials say will help sell the abandoned 90,000-square-foot factory on U.S. 31 to a solar panel manufacturer.

The money would create a bond the county would give to the trust of contractors that owns the empty Getrag plant on the northeast corner of U.S. 31 and Ind. 28. The bond would help the trust lower the cost of the plant without losing any money.

The plant has stood empty since 2008.

Getrag and Chrysler, which partnered on the would-be transmission plant, both filed for bankruptcy that year. The plant was about 85 percent complete and the companies had invested $530 million into it.

Zimmer, Inc. in Fort Wayne is eliminating 50 position as part of an internal restructuring.

The proposed trash-to-ethanol plant in Northwest Indiana continues to draw scrutiny.

Research awards and grants to Notre Dame have exceeded $100 million in one year for the first time ever.

Saint Joseph College Lands Largest-Ever Gift

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Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer will receive the largest gift in the institution’s 121-year history, 7,634 acres of farm real estate in neighboring White County valued at over $40 million.

Located on the land are 19 operational windmills, with an additional 13 to be constructed, for a total of 32 windmills that will operate within the White County-based Meadow Lake Wind Farm. Collectively, the 32 windmills, once operational, will make Saint Joseph’s College the largest private landowner with the most windmills east of the Mississippi River

The land will be given through the Juanita K. Waugh Revocable Living Trust. The deed of transfer contains a restriction that prohibits the sale of the farm real estate by the College and requires the establishment of a conservation easement that will be held and annually monitored by Wood-Land-Lakes (WLL) Resource Conservation and Development, Inc.
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Notes: Navistar Debuts New Electric Truck

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Navistar yesterday unveiled the new electric truck it plans to manufacture in Wakarusa.

The eStar runs solely on electric power and can go 100 miles on one charge. It has no tailpipe and can reach 50 mph. Batteries can be replaced in about 20 minutes but take six to eight hours to recharge.

A total of 40 employees will be involved in the initial production in Wakarusa. The plant is expected to produce 400 vehicles this year and several thousand per year in coming years.

The vehicles, which cost about $150,000 each, have no emissions, near zero noise pollution, a 36-foot turning radius and a payload of up to two tons.

FedEx is the first company to purchase the trucks and has let drivers test drive them at stops along Route 66, en route to Los Angeles.

Duke Energy will use $204 million in federal stimulus cash to modernize its systems, creating or retaining about 1,000 jobs in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and the Carolinas.

Porter County officials have approved construction of the new Porter Hospital.

The Indianapolis International Airport has launched a new campaign to lure travelers away from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

Both the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority and the Gary/Chicago International Airport Authority are working to move forward with plans to extend Gary’s runways which were announced last week at the Build Indiana Summit, but a dispute over the value of the land needed for the work remains a sticking point.

Terre Haute is looking to sell its Wabash Ave. parking garage.

Rees Opens Indianapolis Office

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The architectural, planning and interior design firm Rees Associates, Inc. is opening an office in Indianapolis.

Enhancing REES’s Midwestern presence, the office will be a partnership between REES and established local firm Prince/Alexander. The relationship, cemented April 1, will be called REES Alexander and could lead to a future formal acquisition.

The Indianapolis office will be led by Stephen Alexander, who founded Prince/Alexander more than 25 years ago. Alexander’s proven experience in serving Midwestern clients will allow REES Alexander to provide unparalleled service to the region.
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