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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.
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Governor: 'We Need More Boone Counties'
Despite many obstacles, one thing is for sure - it's been a great four years, said Boone County Economic Development Corp. executive director Dax Norton at the organization's annual meeting Wednesday at Eagle Church in Whitestown.
Norton said the county's success was in part due to Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels who made Indiana a better state to live in and do business.
Click here to learn more.
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Businesses Showing Continued Skills Concerns
Business professionals continue to be concerned about the job readiness of college graduates throughout the state. A new survey from the Indiana Business Council shows only 21 percent of respondents believe the readiness of graduates for the day-to-day aspects of a job is excellent or very good. Only 40 percent feel graduates are meeting employment expectations. In an interview to air this weekend on Inside INdiana Business Television, Walker Senior Vice President Bruce Kidd discusses the results. |
| Duke Realty Plans New Construction in Boone County
Duke Realty will soon be starting infrastructure improvements to a roughly 300-acre quadrant in the Anson property to prepare it for future development. Blaine Paul of Duke spoke to the Boone County Commissioners at Monday's meeting, requesting approval for TIF dollars for the improvements on the property, which sits at the southeast corner of County Roads 400 South and 500 East.
Taking advantage of good weather for construction, Duke plans to begin the work soon - on their own dollar. It will eventually be reimbursed as bonds are issued by the county, and the work will be paid by TIF dollars in the end.
The commissioners approved a declaration Monday, stating that if the redevelopment commission approves the TIF request, then it is fine by the commissioners as well.
"It just says: If this happens, then we're OK with it," Commissioner Jeff Wolfe said.
Click here to learn more.
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Where State Transportation Money Goes
Transportation funding is complex. Literally trillions of dollars are constantly at work or on the boards for one thing or another. The type of spending ranges from building overpasses to laying light rail tracks to painting those white-line bicycle riders on the asphalt in bike lanes. And so much more.
Trying to define exactly where every transportation dollar in the U.S. goes is probably more effort than it's worth. Understanding generally where that money goes, however, is both doable and informative. A new report has tracked the spending priorities of each state, as laid out in their state transportation improvement programs (STIP).
"Tracking State Transportation Dollars" was produced by the Tri-State Transportation Campaign building off its annual analysis of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. This comprehensive look at the STIPs of all 50 states gives a nice overview of the nation's transportation priorities. Each state is federally mandated to produce a STIP, which identifies how each state is planning to use its federal transportation funding. The STIP generally covers about four years of transportation investment priorities, though some states plan out a bit more.
Click here to learn more.
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| Redeveloping Downtowns Generate More Tax Revenue Than Suburban Malls
Cities may be wowed by flashy retail developments - the malls, shopping centers, and big box stores that some municipalities show off like badges of honor.
But according to Joe Minicozzi, cities waste their time by chasing those sprawling big-money developments.
Instead, a renewed focus on dense, urban environments simply pays off better for municipalities, Minicozzi says. That's right - redeveloping those much-maligned downtowns generates more tax revenues per-acre than even the busiest of malls.
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What Makes a City Family-Friendly?
When city officials invoke family-friendliness in their advertising strategies, what aspects of the city are they basing that claim on? Arguments from readers fell into three camps: It could be the availability of urban amenities like zoos, museums and public pools that the whole family can enjoy together. Or it might be a dog whistle alerting home buyers and other in-migrants to the presence of a prevailing conservative cultural sentiment, reminiscent of a kind of "family values" rhetoric. Or it could be suburban-style development with the space and creature comforts demanded by a middle class that's slow.
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Boone EDC Video Blog
 | | Boone EDC Video Blog: City of Lebanon Mayor Lewis |
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Meeting Dates:
Boone County Commissioners: - August 6 @ 9 a.m. Boone County Council: - August 14 @ 8:30 a.m. Boone County APC: - August 1 @ 7 p.m. Boone County RDC: - July 20 @ 2 p.m. Advance Town Council: - August 13 @ 7 p.m. Jamestown Town Council: - August 13 @ 7 p.m. Lebanon City Council: - July 23 @ 7 p.m. Thorntown Town Council: - August 20 @ 7 p.m. Whitestown Town Council: - August 14 @ 6:30 p.m. Zionsville Town Council: - August 6 @ 7 p.m. Boone EDC Board of Directors: - July 26 @ 4 p.m. Boone EDC Executive Committee:
- August 9 @ 7:30 a.m.
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