Monthly Archives: September 2010

Notes: Elkhart-Goshen Leads National Unemployment Decline

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Unemployment fell in August in nearly two-thirds of the nation’s 372 largest metro areas, with the biggest drop occurring in Elkhart-Goshen.

Unemployment fell in nearly two-thirds of the nation’s 372 largest metro areas last month, the broadest improvement since May.

Elkhart-Goshen, Ind., reported the biggest drop in unemployment among all 372 metro areas in the past year. Its rate fell to 13.4 percent from 16.9 percent a year earlier. The region has seen a recovery among some of its recreational vehicle manufacturers and has gained jobs in electric-vehicle manufacturing.

The jobless rate dropped in 230 cities in August, the Labor Department said Wednesday. It rose in 95 cities and was flat in 47. That’s an improvement from the previous month, when rates fell in only 152 areas.

Ivy Tech President Thomas Snyder is headed to Washington D.C.

Kokomo has approved a $200,000 real estate loan for Westwind Wood Specialties to help fuel the company’s plans to build a 15,000-square-foot manufacturing facility and add 25 jobs.

Health care costs are expected to spike next year.

The first I-65 interchange in Lake County since the highway was built in the Sixties opens today.

Three hockey leagues or teams have shown interest in placing a team in Evansville.

State Commissions Alternative Fueling Network

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In what is slated to be the nation’s largest single-state propane AutoGas fueling network, Indiana’s Department of Transportation has awarded Alliance AutoGas (Asheville, NC) a $3.2 million contract for the implementation of 115 clean AutoGas fueling stations.

This network is the first of its kind, providing Indiana’s public and private fleet vehicles with easily accessible, statewide AutoGas fueling. The project will help Indiana eliminate the logistical challenges of transitioning to clean alternative fuels.

As part of $10.1 million funded by the U.S. Department of Energy ARRA funds, the unprecedented AutoGas fueling network will facilitate the use of this clean-burning vehicle fuel across the entire state of Indiana. Once the fueling network is complete, an AutoGas fueling station will be within 30 miles of virtually any locale in the state.
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Central Indiana Firm Nets Three Construction Awards

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C.F. Jones Group, a contracting, consulting and construction firm based in Lebanon, received three Awards of Excellence during last night’s Associated Builders and Contractors Construction Awards ceremony at the Indiana Roof Ballroom.

This is the first time since 2007 that one company has received three Awards of Excellence when they’ve submitted four nominations, according to ABC representatives.

Projects receiving ABC Awards include: two fraternity houses, one at Indiana University and one at Purdue University, and the Salin Bank headquarters on the north side of Indianapolis.
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Notes: Muncie Auto Supplier Revs Up

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Delaware County has approved tax abatements for auto supplier Magna Powertrain, paving the way for the company to expand and create 53 new jobs.

Delaware County Council members unanimously approved a series of abatements that will allow Magna Powertrain — which four years ago opened an auto parts manufacturing facility on Cowan Road — to expand and move into a shell building nearby.

The move will allow the creation of 53 new jobs paying an average of $15 an hour not including benefits, said Terry Murphy of the Delaware County Economic Development Alliance. The development will generate $1.6 million in annual payroll and will mean that $14 million in equipment — some of it from a Magna plant in Syracuse, N.Y. — will be moved into the building, which will be expanded from its present 80,000 square feet to 100,000 square feet.

The new Magna products will include gear boxes for electric vehicles and transfer case service and production. Automakers for whom Magna will produce parts include General Motors, Chrysler and Ford, Murphy said.

Lear Corp. in Hammond called nearly 90 union employees back to work Monday, and plans to bring in about 160 new employees starting next week.

“Agritourism” in Indiana is booming.

Kokomo has taken the first steps toward replacing a long-abandoned factory with a new housing complex.

A Richmond businessman has donated a $500,000 building to IU East.

Vanderburgh County in southern Indiana has has weathered the recession better than many other regions.

Hoosier Lotto sales are trending upward.

INDOT Awards More I-69 Contracts

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The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has awarded two more contracts for Interstate 69 (I-69) Corridor in southwest Indiana. Fred Weber, Inc. was the low bid for the $83.9 million contract for the final two segments of Section 3 in Daviess and Greene counties. Force Construction Company, Inc. was awarded the $14.9 million contract for construction of the bridges over the East Fork of the White River in Pike County.

Construction on both contracts will likely begin this fall. These awards ensure that construction will be underway by the end of 2010 on the first three Sections of I-69, including all 25 miles of Section 3. The White River Bridge contract represents the initial project for Section 2. Section 2 begins at State Road 64 in Oakland City and progresses north to U.S. 50 in Washington. The roadway contracts for Section 2 will be awarded beginning in October and continue through January 2011.
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La Porte Company Lands Southern Indiana Bridge Project

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Walsh Construction Co. of La Porte has won the job of replacing the Madison-Milton Bridge connecting Madison, Indiana with Milton, Kentucky.

The Northwest Indiana construction company submitted a low bid of $103 million, 20 percent lower than the originally estimated cost, and said it could do the job while closing the bridge for just 10 days rather than an anticipated year-long closure.

“I’ve encouraged INDOT to be creative and think differently, and here is a great example of innovation that makes a great outcome even better. Kentucky and Indiana both benefit from the competition created by using our design-build bidding method,” said Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels.
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Westfield Selects Site for 300-Acre “Family Sports Capital”

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Westfield has chosen a location for the future sports and community recreation campus destination known as the “Family Sports Capital of America,” a community youth and adult recreational sports campus designed to host youth and adult recreation, regional and national sports tournaments and community sporting events.

The destination selected is in the area bound by State Road 32 on the south, 196th Street to the north, Spring Mill Road on the west and US Highway 31 to the east. The community sports and recreation campus will occupy approximately 300 acres within that geographic area.

According to city officials, the next steps will be to work with the development team, the sports commission, community members, land owners and sports organizations to develop a workable development strategy to implement this plan. The City’s goal is to begin construction in 2011.
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Muncie Treatment Center Expanding

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Cedarbridge Treatment Centers, LLC is expanding its Muncie Reception and Detention Center, a move projected to add 41 new jobs at the Muncie Reception and Detention Center in Muncie. The facility provides juvenile treatment and detention services, including counseling and treatment, educational programs and wraparound services in a safe and constructive environment with a focus on reconnecting youth, families, and the community.

Cedarbridge purchased the facility from CMC Ownership, LLC in August, 2009. The center has been in operation in Muncie for more than thirteen years. The facility currently employs 50 full-time and 24 part-time people. The population of the center comes from Ohio, Michigan and parts of Indiana. Cedarbridge owns five facilities in Muncie, Anderson, Huntington, and Kokomo, Indiana.

The company received a $200,000 loan from the Muncie Industrial Revolving Loan Fund program to assist with the growth of the Muncie operation. President and CEO Ron Hunter said he will seek to raise an additional $4.4 million ($2.9 million in debt and $1.5 million in equity) in the coming months and will invest a considerable portion of those funds in the Muncie facility.
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Notes: Workers Reject Stamping Plant Deal

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Union worker in Indianapolis have rejected a pay cut, ending hopes of a sale that would keep the GM stamping plant there open.

United Auto Workers Local 23 voted 457 to 96 against a contract with Illinois-based JD Norman Industries, union observers said Monday.

The vote means General Motors won’t be able to sell its Indianapolis metal-stamping plant to Norman Industries, and the automaker may proceed with its plan to close the plant by September 2011.

“We are satisfied that the members of UAW Local 23 were allowed the opportunity to vote on JD Norman’s contract proposal,” said company CEO Justin D. Norman in a prepared statement released Monday evening. “Clearly, we are disappointed in the final outcome. While we are withdrawing from pursuing the plant any further, we continue to hold the employees at the facility in the highest regard and wish them the best in their respective futures.”

Indiana’s new law requiring a mandatory display of ID for any retail alcohol purchase may soon be rolled back by state legislators.

More for Run-Mitch-Run file: Gov. Daniels is off to the Big Apple for some fundraising events.

The Indiana BMV has won a top customer service award.

Porter County is in trouble with the IRS.

Innovation Center to Open in February

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A new regional center focused on helping businesses and organizations implement and execute innovation could trigger job creation across northern Indiana and southwestern Michigan. The Pfeil Innovation Center, the first of its kind in the country, will serve as an education and training center for small and medium-sized businesses and organizations that aim to develop innovation as a core competency in their workplaces throughout St. Joseph, Elkhart, Berrien, LaPorte, Cass and Marshall counties. The Center will be developed at 420 North Niles Ave. on the campus of Madison Center. It is expected to open in February, 2011.
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