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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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Noble County Leaders Identify Three Pillars For Success
News-Sun - Matt Getts
What kind of future should Noble County be gearing toward?
Civic, educational and business leaders received their marching orders at the conclusion of the Noble Vision Summit held Tuesday at Wayne Center Elementary School. Approximately 90 involved citizens attended the event organized by the Noble County Economic Development Corp. in conjunction with the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership.
They came to delineate actions to meet three pillars to a successful Noble County - "Superior Quality of Life," "World Class Learning Opportunities" and a "Vibrant and Diverse Economy." Making those pillars into a reality is what Tuesday's meeting was all about.
The summit was the culmination of more than a year of individual study group meetings and planning. But it isn't the end of the process, according to Noble County REMC's John English, board president of the Noble County Economic Development Corp.
"We're going to keep promoting, pushing and prodding to move this forward," English said. Reaching the potential of the three pillars would help "make this a shining example of a great place to live."
The pillars were presented one-by-one, with each subcommittee for that pillar offering three suggestions on how to make the overall goal a reality. Participants then voted on the suggestions to determine what the committee would pursue in the future.
Click here to learn more.
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City of Kokomo Sets Aside $300,000 For Historic Preservation Funds
Kokomo Tribune - Scott Smith
It's hard to blame Kokomoans for having a certain stoicism when it comes to tearing down historic properties.
After all, how many of the industrial relics of the Gas Boom-era survive? The industrial work of the city ebbs and flows, and the river of commerce leaves behind rust and rubble.
Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight, however, lives in the middle of the old Silk Stocking district, an amalgam of older homes just west of downtown, where surviving Victorian mansions - some from the Gas Boom era - stand next to subdivided rental properties and homes which might have once had architectural integrity, but have succumbed to bad remodel jobs.
It's a neighborhood that might have been something a great deal more than it is, if Kokomo had taken steps long ago to protect the historic features of the buildings.
That's part of why Goodnight asked - and the Kokomo Common Council agreed - to set aside $300,000 this year to protect historic properties in Kokomo.
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City Robotics Center Aims To Spark Interest in STEM Careers
Indianapolis Business Journal - Chris O'Malley
The TechPoint Foundation for Youth is seeking corporate support to launch a robotics-themed center to pique K-12 students' interest in careers involving science, technology, engineering and math.
Robotics competitions would be the flagship of the program to be located in a center that would be open year-round, although other hands-on activities also are contemplated.
The program would allow students to work in teams and hone skills such as writing software or learning the engineering fundamentals needed to build robots.
"We need a building," said Marvin E. Bailey, president of Harrison College's northwest-side campus and chairman of the TechPoint Foundation for Youth. Ideally, the facility would be in or near downtown to ensure easy access, particularly for underprivileged students in the urban area. The building needs to have at least 8,000 square feet of space, with the capacity to house a machine shop and "large collaborative spaces for students to gather," according to a request for proposals the foundation issued.
Click here to learn more.
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Shale Gas Could Lower U.S. Manufacturing Costs, Drive Reshoring
Material Handling & Logistics The expansion of the shale gas market could potentially enable U.S. manufacturers to lower their raw materials and energy costs as much as $11.6 billion annually by 2025, according to a PwC report, Shale Gas: A Renaissance in US Manufacturing?Another PwC report, Shale Gas: Reshaping the U.S. Chemicals Industry, notes that the process of removing impurities from natural gas produces by-products (natural gas liquids, or NGLs, such as ethane, butane and propane) used to produce a variety of derivative products that ultimately become raw materials for several manufacturing sectors. Industries that stand to benefit include apparel and accessories, computers and electronics, machinery, textile and fabrics and transportation equipment. "The positive impacts could flow through the value chain into other manufacturing sectors, particularly given that chemicals are used in an estimated 90 percent of all manufactured products," said Anthony J. Scamuffa, U.S. Chemicals leader for PwC. "Not only could the abundance of NGLs help drive reduced pricing for derivative products, it could also potentially drive domestic re-shoring activity and possibly bring about a favorable shift in the U.S. balance of trade as ethylene capacity comes on line." |
Collaboration Key To Economic Development
Lafayette Journal & Courier - Chris Morisse Vizza Collaboration, education and strategic planning are the core tools being used to create jobs in Tippecanoe and 11 neighboring counties. "The biggest challenge is the shortage of individuals with the skills needed to fill jobs in processing, manufacturing and equipment maintenance," Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski said. A handful of manufacturers, government leaders and Ivy Tech in Lafayette created a program named Advancing Manufacturing. "Through Advancing Manufacturing, money is put into scholarships so workers can go to school, get training and get on the job," Roswarski said. "The companies don't have down time or lost productivity." |
CDFA WebCourse: Intro to Public-Private Partnerships
The Intro Public- Private Partnership Finance WebCourse examines this emerging development finance model with a focus on how development finance agencies can adopt P3 principles to address a variety of projects. This course will cover basic P3 concepts, key players involved in transactions, asset valuation, contract negotiation, risk assessment, revenue stream development and feasibility analysis. In addition, several P3 projects from across the country will be presented, and P3 experts will analyze the successful elements in each deal.
When: December 12-13
Time: Noon - 5 PM
Cost: Member $550 Non-Member $600
Click here to learn more.
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New Boone EDC Board Member
The Boone County Economic Development Corporation (Boone EDC) is pleased to announce that Jamie Ford- Bowers is now a member of the Boone EDC Board of Directors!
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Meeting Dates
Boone County Commissioners: - October 15 @ 9 a.m. Boone County Council: - November 13 @ 8:30 a.m. Boone County APC: - November 7 @ 7 p.m. Boone County RDC: - October 19 @ 2 p.m. Advance Town Council: - November 12 @ 7 p.m. Jamestown Town Council: - November 6 @ 7 p.m. Lebanon City Council: - October 22 @ 7 p.m. Thorntown Town Council: - October 15 @ 7 p.m. Whitestown Town Council: - November 13 @ 6:30 p.m. Zionsville Town Council: - November 5 @ 7 p.m. Boone EDC Board of Directors: - October 25 @ 4 p.m. Boone EDC Executive Committee:
- November 8 @ 7:30 a.m.
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