Notes: Richmond Approves Dairy Abatement

Posted on February 22, 2012 by dave

Richmond has granted its first tax abatement under a new structure that provides for up to 100% abatements for companies creating jobs.

The Richmond Common Council on Tuesday night approved the first tax abatement under the new structure that would allow up to a 100 percent abatement for businesses planning expansions that result in job creation.

Council members unanimously approved a 10-year abatement for 90 percent of property taxes on real estate and equipment for Wayne Dairy Products, Inc., 1590 N.W. 11th St., for a $12 million expansion that is expected to create 11 new jobs and retain 102 jobs.

The NFL Combine begins today in Indianapolis.

The Leading Index for Indiana from the IBRC hit its highest level since 2007 in Janaury.

Are robot firefighters part of Lafayette’s manufacturing future?.

John Regetz, executive director of Michigan City’s economic development corporation, is taking an economic development job in Idaho.

Notes: Recycling Company Begins Work on New Plant

Posted on February 3, 2012 by dave

Perpetual Recycling will begin work on its promised Richmond facility next month.

Two of the owners of the Chicago-based plastics recycling company met with about 35 community leaders Thursday to offer a “before” glimpse at their plant at 1561 N.W. 11th St.

The company plans to renovate the former Amcast building, a 100,000-square-foot vacant manufacturing facility on the city’s largely industrial northwest side, and have the company up and running by the end of this year.

Perpetual Recycling is an environmentally friendly company that promises to bring 55 new jobs to the area.

Elkhart is seeking a final $5 million for a $25 million railroad overpass project.

A long-planned trash-to-ethanol plant in Northwest Indiana doesn’t appear to be happening.

Tourism contributed $1.6 billion to Lake County in 2010.

The Fort Wayne Air National Guard base may know if it’s on the chopping block as soon as today. UPDATE: The Department of Defense confirms it is scheduling the A-10 wing based in Fort Wayne for elimination.

Engine maker Cummins had a record year in 2011.

Green County Hospital has announced a $6.5 million expansion.

Notes: Porter Hospital Opening Ahead of Schedule

Posted on January 27, 2012 by dave

The opening date for the new Porter Hospital has been moved up three months to August 25th.

Porter’s Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Nalli recently announced that the construction of the new 266-bed Porter hospital at the corner of Ind. 49 and US 6 is three months ahead of schedule and that the transfer of patient care activities will now occur on Saturday, Aug. 25, rather than the originally projected date in late November.

Additionally, Nalli stated that Porter will be modifying both the system and hospital name to more accurately fit its new presence in Northwest Indiana.

“We are very happy to announce that after much research and the input from a wide variety of constituents, it has been decided that the new system name will be officially changed from Porter, to Porter Health Care System. And, the name of the hospital will be modified from Porter, Valparaiso Hospital Campus to Porter Regional Hospital,” he said.

Indianapolis-based Republic Airways has hired a CEO for its Frontier Airlines unit in preparation for shedding the business.

Hoosier businesses are bullish on 2012.

More than a dozen people have reportedly been injured in a partial collapse at the construction site of Cincinnati’s new casino.

Progress Rail is holding a job fair in Muncie on February 4th.

A “destination” disc golf course is hosting its first tournament in Richmond.

Tourism in Northwest Indiana is projected to increase in 2012.

Notes: Indiana Company Plans $50 Million Fiber Network in Central Indiana

Posted on March 22, 2011 by dave

Cinergy MetroNet is planning an extensive fiber optic network in the Lafayette area.

Additional choices for Internet access, television programming and telephone services — all via fiber optic cable — may soon be coming to 40,000 Lafayette area homes and businesses as soon as next year.

During a Tippecanoe County commissioners meeting Monday, Evansville-based Cinergy MetroNet detailed tentative plans to build a $40 million to $50 million “fiber-to-the-premises” network stretching across both cities and into some parts of the county.

The infrastructure would allow more individuals and companies direct access to premiere data speeds. It also would create between 30 to 50 jobs, because the company plans to open at least one local office, said Cinergy consultant Steve Biggerstaff.

The Richmond Common Council has voted to apply for grants to purchase CSX railroad land in the heart of town.

Home improvement retailer Menards is considering a new store in Schererville.

$4 a gallon gasoline is imminent in California as gas prices continue to climb nationwide.

Wayne County Companies Grow

Posted on March 9, 2011 by dave

Two Wayne County companies, Primex Plastics and Silgan White Cap, are planning expansions.

With a capital investment of $3.8 million, Primex Plastics Corporation will expand their accounting department, purchase new equipment and upgrade existing machinery in their Richmond facility, which is also the company headquarters. The Economic Development Corporation (EDC) of Wayne County is providing $60,000 in an Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT) Grant for the project that will create 10 new jobs.
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Notes: State Senator Proposes Corporate Income Tax Cut

Posted on January 17, 2011 by dave

Indiana State Senator Brandt Hershman wants to lower Indiana’s corporate income tax rate to 5%.

An Indiana senator wants to lower the state’s corporate income tax from 8.5 percent to 5 percent.

Republican Sen. Brandt Hershman of Lafayette, who chairs the Senate Tax Committee, says Indiana already has a relatively low cost of doing business, but that the corporate income tax is seen as a hindrance to job creation because it is one of the highest in the Midwest. He says lowering the corporate income tax would make the state a more attractive place for companies.

AARP and the National Association of Home Builders have placed a cutting-edge green home in Burns Harbor among the winners of their fourth annual Livable Communities Award.

AM General is laying off 300 in Mishawaka.

The owners of the former Independent Order of Odd Fellows building in Richmond are inviting the public in to offer suggestions on how to repurpose the building, which includes office space, two ballrooms and a full kitchen.

Ambulance maker Medtec will close its Goshen plant as part of a plan to consolidate operations in Florida.

A shopping center in Shipshewana is expanding.

Valparaiso is close to being able to sell its treated sewage as fertilizer.

Notes: Party Time in South Whitley

Posted on January 4, 2011 by dave

Party supplier Shindigz is expanding in South Whitley.

An area party supplier’s $1.7 million investment and plans to hire are a reason to celebrate.

The 84-year-old company’s investment will include digital printing, information technology expansion and capacity increases. Shindigz won’t seek tax abatements or government grants, according to the company.

Shindigz has added more than 55 party hosts in a year and expects to employ more than 400 party hosts in the coming year.

Cable and wire manufacturer Belden Inc. has asked for a $1.9 million tax abatement from Richmond for new equipment that the company says will help retain nearly 700 jobs.

Hotel room nights booked in Indianapolis in 2010 decreased 5% versus prior year.

Demand is low for tickets to this weekend’s NFL playoff game between the Colts and Jets in Indianapolis.

Two Goshen companies, Deloro Stellite and Lippert Components, are requesting tax abatements for new facilities.

Crown Point has approved a tax abatement for a $16 million hospice and senior living facility project.

The Evansville CVB is is under fire for spending $3,000 on its Christmas party.

Notes: Richmond OKs Tax Break for Hotel Project

Posted on December 21, 2010 by dave

Richmond has approved a tax abatement for a $6.8 million hotel and conference center project.

Council voted 8-1 in favor of a 10-year tax abatement on real estate for a new Holiday Inn, to be built by Rahee Investments, that will include a 100-room hotel and 7,000-square-foot conference center at 6000 National Road E.

Kirit Patel, owner of the Hampton Inn and Best Western hotels in Richmond, is principal owner of Rahee Investments. The project is estimated at $6.8 million and is expected to create 35 new jobs.

Shelbyville has come up with $100,000 to help a start-up aimed at helping older adults stay socially connected establish operations in the Intelliplex tech park.

Gov. Mitch Daniels has come out in support of a proposal to allow local governments to ask for a state takeover or declare bankruptcy.

Notes: Charities Share in Surprise Donations

Posted on December 20, 2010 by dave

The estate of a Richmond couple has provided more than $6 million in surprise donations to 13 churches, schools and charities.

Marlowe and Patricia Kluter lived quiet and unassuming lives in Richmond.

Marlowe, a loan officer at the former First Federal Savings and Loan, and Patricia, a teacher at Richmond Community Schools, were married for 51 years before his death in January 2007.

But the Kluters had long planned to share one surprising detail of their life in a very public way after Patricia’s death, which took place last month.

The couple has bequeathed 90 percent of their $7 million estate to 13 area charities, a gift that has put an exclamation mark on the meaning of philanthropy during the holiday season, said Bob Bever, the attorney for the Kluter estate.

If you build it, they will come.

A local group is seeking foreign investment for the former Colgate property in Clarksville.

Notes: Henry County Eyes Smoking Ban

Posted on November 8, 2010 by dave

Henry County Commissioners will consider enacting a smoking ban this week.

Kim Cronk, president of the commissioners, said the board on Wednesday will likely make its “final decision” on whether or not to pass a full or partial county smoking ban — a decision that would be both widely supported and disapproved of by a variety of citizens who say they’re affected one way or another by smoking.

“We’ve had probably a thousand people who signed a petition to not put (a ban) on the bars,” Cronk said. “We’re going to take everything into consideration, but we have several people in favor of it, too.”

John Klopfenstein Furniture & Floorcovering in Leo-Cedarville is building a new 10,000 square foot warehouse.

Richmond Power & Light is considering a net metering ordinance that would allow customers who generate their own power to sell it to the utility.

A central Indiana mass transit plan will rely on fewer trains and more busses than originally planned.

The Evansville CVB is asking for more money after two candidates turned down the job of executive director because the salary wasn’t high enough.

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