Recent Events

We are excited to announce that you are reading the Second place winner from the Mid-America Economic Development Council Best Newsletter of 2013!

Read the full press release here: LaGrangeCountyEDC.com.

The LaGrange County EDC, along with the LaGrange County Commissioners and LaGrange County Council, are also very glad to announce the launch of the new Revolving Loan Fund in LaGrange County! The Revolving Loan Fund in LaGrange County will be used to further the economic development and business development efforts in LaGrange County. There are many objectives of the Revolving Loan Fund, including: to promote significant opportunities for the employment of LaGrange County residents, to encourage the creation and retention of permanent jobs with a wide range of wage scales appropriate to our community, to create new wealth and above average wages, to leverage private investment in the county, to maintain and improve a positive business climate in LaGrange County, and to retain existing businesses and encourage new business creation. For more on the LaGrange County Revolving Loan Fund, please visit LaGrangeCountyEDC.com.

_______________________________________

LaGrange County Growing in the Right Direction

As of November 2013, we are please to have achieved a significant decrease of unemployment and the growth of per captia income in LaGrange County! According to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, per capita income levels for LaGrange County for 2012 were up 9.6% from 2011. National growth in PCI was 3.4%, putting LaGrange County's growth levels at almost three times the national average. Average per capita income in LaGrange County historically has been lower than state and national averages.

As for unemployment, according to data released by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, September 2013 unemployment rates for LaGrange County came in at 5.7%, with October up slightly at 5.9%. For comparison, the state of Indiana average for October was 7.0%. The September unemployment rate for LaGrange County is the lowest since May of 2008.

"We are thrilled that our community has continued to prosper coming out of the recession," said Keith Gillenwater, President/CEO of the LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation. "This is a testament to both the hard work ethic of LaGrange County employees and to the strength of our manufacturing base emerging out of the worst economic times most of us have ever faced."

Please visit LaGrangeCountyEDC.com for more information about LaGrange County's unemployment rates and per capita income.

_____________________________________________

Spotlight on Local Companies

LaGrange County is home to many successful manufacturing companies. We are going to put the spotlight on four of our companies this month, including: Mudd-Ox, Kabri Products, Lake Area Designs, and Nishikawa Cooper.

Mudd-Ox is a manufacturer of both six and eight-wheeled ground and amphibious ATV's. The business was started by owner Matt Oxender in late 2005 after he saw the need for an improved recreational and commercial ATV. Mudd-Ox has recently acquired the highly successful Recreatives Max range of 6×6 Amphibious All-Terrain Vehicles (AATVs). We are excited to be along-side this business in their future success.

Kabri Products, established in 1996, is an industrial supplier of products such as cabinet doors, adhesive tapes, sealants, mirror doors, plastics, and much more. We are glad to have Kabri Products a part of our community.

Lake Area Designs recently made LaGrange County its home in February 2013. Lake Area Designs, LLC (LAD) is a wood furniture and custom molding manufacturer for the recreational vehicle (RV) and commercial industries. The LaGrange County EDC is hopeful to what the future holds for this manufacturing company.

Nishikawa Cooper expanded their manufacturing company into Topeka in 2012. Nishikawa Cooper LLC is one of our largest employers (504 as of date) in LaGrange County, and a cornerstone of our Tier-1 automotive supply chain in LaGrange County and Northeast Indiana. We are proud to have this company in our business community.

_________________________________________________

President's Perspective

This month, I am writing about accolades that the State of Indiana has earned in celebration of our efforts to create a better business climate.

LaGrange County and Indiana prides itself on being fiscally sound. In fact, Indiana is one of a handful of states that has maintained a top bond rating from all three major credit rating agencies (S&P, Fitch, and Moody's). The October 2012 rating for best Business Tax climate from the Tax Foundation rated Indiana as 1st in the Midwest, and 11th nationally.

Indiana also fairs well in rankings of the best states for business. Chief Executive magazine rated us First in the Midwest and 5th in the US in their May, 2013 issue. Also in May, 2013, Site Selection magazine and Pollina Corporate Real Estate rated us 1st in the Midwest and 2nd in the US, and 1st in the Midwest and 5th in the US respectively. Finally, Area Development magazine in their October 2012 issue rated us 1st in the Midwest and 8th in the US.

Adding in the article earlier in the newsletter showing LaGrange County's explosive growth in per capita income, and Indiana's GPD growing at twice the national average in 2010, and I am confident that LaGrange County and Indiana is the right choice for your business!

-Keith Gillenwater, President & CEO

_________________________________________________