|
Dax Norton Appointed Executive Director of OCRA
 Inside Indiana Business
Lt. Gov.-elect Ellspermann announced that Dax Norton will be heading up the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA). Norton has eight years of experience in economic development and was a small business owner for eight years. He has been the executive director of the Boone County Economic Development Corporation since 2008 and previously led economic development for Blackford County and downtown Greensburg, Indiana.
"Dax Norton understands that economic development in rural communities is driven by strong community development," said Ellspermann. "His experience in both will be a great asset to OCRA."
|
|
Times Report on IEDC Shows Low Cost of Corporate Subsidies
Indianapolis Business Journal
Easily chafed by media scrutiny, Gov. Mitch Daniels found no quarrel with the results of a 10-month investigation by the New York Times into corporate subsidies granted by states.
That's because the Times report, published earlier this month, showed Indiana spending less than some neighboring states and others the Indiana Economic Development Corp.competes with for corporate expansions. Indiana spends $142 per capita on corporate subsidies, according to the Times' database. That's more than Illinois, which spends $117 per person, but far less than Michigan ($672), Ohio ($281), Texas ($759) and New York ($210).
Daniels said that's the result of putting tax breaks and other incentives in the hands of IEDC staff and holding them accountable for the cost per job, a metric that has fallen over the past eight years to less than $9,000.
"It's a dangerous thing to turn politicians loose with a checkbook," Daniels said during a Dec. 11 IEDC board meeting. Repeating an IEDC catch phrase, he said, "It's not the incentive. It's the sandbox."
Click here to continue reading.
|
|
Hancock County Forms Higher ED Coalition
 Daily Reporter - Arika Herron
Hancock County is the latest to answer the state's call to improve college success rates among Indiana students, developing its own College Success Coalition. Comprised of local business, nonprofit and education leaders, Hancock County's coalition is one of 10 that have joined the statewide effort this year, bringing the total of participating counties to 50. To become a member organization, the county had to establish a steering committee that will guide the organization's local efforts to increase higher education attainment. The Indiana Commission for Higher Education and Learn More Indiana - organizations sponsoring the initiative across the state - encourage local groups to do so by partnering with community organizations and playing host to events to engage students in discussions about college and educate them about the process and its importance. "There's a lot of different groups doing a lot of good things for the purpose of college success," said Alyse Vail, representative for the Hancock County Community Foundation. "But I think a lot of people are in agreement that some type of collaboration would be helpful in this effort." Click here to continue reading. |
|
State Grant Will Aid Downtown Greenfield Revitalization Plans
The Daily Reporter - Arika Herron
Downtown Greenfield will be put under a microscope in the coming year as the city makes use of a $40,000 state grant to boost economic development in the area. Greenfield received a Downtown Revitalization Plan grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. Combined with the city's required 10 percent match and contributions from Greenfield Main Street and the Hancock County Tourism Commission, the year-long project has a budget of near $58,000. The grant will allow city officials to examine some of downtown's historic structures and develop plans for restoration. An economic development plan will be created to boost both the number and vitality of businesses in the area. Downtown's walkability will also be studied to see how to better connect downtown to surrounding areas, thus boosting pedestrian traffic. "This will be a document that establishes our goals, provides us with a timeline and tools to make those goals happen," explained Joanie Fitzwater, city planner. A steering committee of city officials, downtown building and business owners and other parties with a vested interest in the district will work with a team of three firms conducting the work. Click here to continue reading. |
|
West Lafayette Pays $875,000 For Research Park, Donates It
 Journal & Courier - Ron Wilkins
Yeager Road has been paved north of Kalberer Road; the lift station is being installed, and now the land has been purchased so that Automobile Robotics Indiana Lab can begin construction in the new Phase 3 at Purdue Research Park.
The Redevelopment Commission agreed to purchase roughly five acres in Purdue Research Park, commission President Larry Oates reported Wednesday.
The group paid the Purdue Research Foundation $875,000 for the land, and will transfer ownership to the Automobile Robotics Indiana Lab.
"This is job creation in the best sense of the word," Oates said. "The agreement includes a pledge of $1.3 million in revenues and at least 20 full-time jobs with this plant." "This is a facility dedicated for natural gas technology development," said Ravi Gudapati, Automobile Robotics Indiana Lab founder and president.
Click here to continue reading.
|
