|
Boone EDC Weekly
Greetings from the Boone EDC,
Welcome to Boone EDC Weekly.
As an organization, the Boone EDC is constantly researching and benchmarking to learn what our competing communities are doing to attract and retain business. Boone EDC Weekly is a compilation of noteworthy National and Indiana news about economic development trends. We will also post information about upcoming conferences, events, and
webinars that you may find interesting.
Boone EDC Weekly is another tool that you can refer to as a community leader to help Boone County continue to move forward in a positive manner.
|
|
| Fort Wayne to Announce 'Future Leaders' Program
The goal of the Future Leaders program is to introduce graduating college seniors from Northeast Indiana colleges and universities to new opportunities available for leadership in the region.
The program is partially underwritten by a grant provided by AT&T and will include students from six area schools: Huntington University, Indiana Tech, IPFW, Manchester College, Trine University, and the University of Saint Francis.
|
| Frankfort Establishes Economic Development Plan
The Frankfort Redevelopment Commission approved the city's Economic Development Plan last month and are continuing to work with four local industries about establishing an economic development area along State Road 28 on the west side of town.
Creating a development area for the Industrial Park is part of Phase 1 of the overall plan, which is broken up into four phases. The commission's next step will be considering a Tax Increment Financing district for four industries Mayor Chris McBarnes chose to be in the "development area."
McBarnes supports the TIF proposal and said it's something many cities have taken advantage of.
Click here to learn more.
|
Tipton County Economic Development Group Gets Final Approval
The Tipton County council voted unanimously to approve an interlocal agreement for the formation of a Local Economic Development Organization. The agreement creates an alliance of three city and four county elected officials to oversee the operations of the LEDO, which will be operated by citizens.
|
High School Students Offered Special Training
Students in their last year of high school will have a chance to be certified in skills that could help them get jobs. The Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board and the Bluewater District School Board are teaming up again this year to put on a two-day conference at the Owen Sound campus of Georgian College.
Fifteen students from each of the district's 13 high schools will be able to sign up for more than a dozen workshops offering skills training and a certificate that could prove useful in getting a first job. The workshops range from a two-day session on how to operate a forklift to training in chainsaw safety, first aid and customer service.
Click here to learn more. |
Top Trends Impacting Economic Development and Commercial Real Estate
From the desk of Dean Whittaker, Whittaker Associates, Inc., a trusted market research and consulting firm, Dean discusses his observations from friends, colleagues, and clients engaged in economic development and commercial real estate.
1. Work - becomes more complex, requiring higher skill levels with far fewer workers needed to achieve the same level of output. Thirty percent of work will be done in home offices. Work moves to the people. The focus will become having meaningful work to do that can be done in a globally competitive way.
2. Talent - those with in-demand skills will determine where companies locate based on their choice of where to live (or in other words, living first, working second). The zero-sum talent pool becomes obvious to all as the demand for skilled workers goes through the roof. Education gets "called to the principal's office." Business demands education to be reinvented, not just reformed with more of the same.
3. Education/Training - knowledge vs. skills - college degrees decrease in value as the return on investment is questioned and importance of certification of skills grows. Training and Education move on-line, driven by demand, convenience, and lower cost. Those with degrees go back to school to learn skills to be employable.
|
How Local Economies Grow and Expand
This is a great publication from "Site Selection Magazine" that outlines the flow of money to a local economy. It goes into great depth regarding planning for growth, how growth impacts your local economy, and best practices for economic development.
|
IOWA EDA Approves Aid for $71 Million in Project Investments
The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) board has approved financial assistance for seven companies that will make $71 million in new capital investments in the state, leading to creation of 323 new jobs and retention of 214 existing jobs.
"Today's action by the board shows strong and steady movement towards our job creation goals," said IEDA director Debi Durham. "We continue to see companies choosing Iowa as the place to grow their business."
Click here to learn more.
|
CDFA Webcast Series
The Science Behind Getting a TIF Deal Done
Tax increment finance is both an art and a science, and every state does TIF differently. Despite this, the most successful TIF deals across the country have common traits and fact-backed analytics to support them. What are these common traits and analytics, and how can you apply them to your deals? During this installment of the CDFA-Stone & Youngberg Tax Increment Finance Webcast Series, hear experts from model TIF programs discuss their quantitative and analytics-based approaches for consistently closing quality, and sustainable, TIF deals in their communities.
When: Thursday, April 5th, 2012 @ 1:00 p.m. Eastern
Cost: Free
|
|
Boone County Cash Mob
A cash mob is a way to support a locally owned business with a little home-grown economic stimulus. Here's how it works. At a specific place and time, people are invited and encouraged to show up and spend $20 or more and also to invite their friends to do the same.
The next CASH mob will be on Saturday, March 31 from 1-3pm at Bob Brehmer's Pottery located at 414 Glendale Dr. Lebanon, IN 46052.
Support the Cash Mob on Facebook
Follow the Cash Mob on Twitter
|
|
|
Nominate a Company to Watch
 The 2012 Indiana Companies to Watch awards program honors Indiana headquartered second-stage companies that demonstrate high performance in the marketplace or exhibit innovative products or processes. This program seeks businesses from all industries and all regions of the state. For eligibility and other information, visit the link below. |
Meeting Dates:
Boone County Commissioners: - April 2 @ 9 a.m. Boone County Council: - April 10 @ 8:30 a.m. Boone County APC: - April 4 @ 7 p.m. Boone County RDC: - April 20 @ 2 p.m. Advance Town Council: - April 9 @ 7 p.m. Jamestown Town Council: - April 3 @ 7 p.m. Lebanon City Council: - April 9 @ 7 p.m. Thorntown Town Council: - April 16 @ 7 p.m. Whitestown Town Council: - April 10 @ 6:30 p.m. Zionsville Town Council: - April 2 @ 7 p.m. Boone EDC Board of Directors: - April 26 @ 4 p.m. Boone EDC Executive Committee:
- April 12 @ 7:30 a.m.
|
|
