Economic Development News in Perry County, Indiana
Perry County - Waupaca Team for Diversification
With a financial boost from the Perry County Redevelopment Commission, local officials will explore possibilities for diversifying ThyssenKrupp Waupaca's products to strengthen it against the lagging automotive industry.
Responding to questions following annual meeting of the Perry County Redevelopment Commission, Chris Kinnett, President and CEO of the Perry County Development Corp explained that Waupaca could take on production of transmission or casing components used in wind turbines. He stressed that a "thinking-outside-the-box" exploration of potential customers is necessary to help the company weather the current economic struggles.
The redevelopment commission approved a $60,000 grant to Waupaca from the TIF fund for the area. Kinnett had told the commission he'd been in discussions with Waupaca officials, and noted that while "the economic environment hasn't been the greatest, they continue to employ 696 people and continue working hard to be as efficient and productive as they can."
In that effort, he explained, the company is installing $5.5 million worth of software to track inventory and transportation costs. Gary Gigante, president and chief executive officer for the Wisconsin-based company, had requested $60,000 from the redevelopment commission toward that software.
"What that would allow them to do is take a look at some other opportunities that they haven't been able to do with regard to diversifying their product mix," Kinnett said, "looking at other opportunities that might be out there that they're not currently taking advantage of.
PCDC's been working with them on an ongoing basis to try to develop this, taking a look at who might have the expertise to do this."
The new software will serve all of Waupaca's locations, and while it's difficult to specifically forecast the improvements it will bring, "overall this will streamline our processes and lead to increased customer satisfaction."
Port-rail agency awarded USDA Money
The USDA announced May 7 the port authority was among 28 organizations in 11 states receiving shares of $15 million in grants or loans intended to create or retain jobs and spur economic development in rural communities.
The port authority, doing business as Hoosier Southern Railroad, is getting a $740,000 loan administered by Southern Indiana Power.
"Our co-op has the ability to apply for zero-interest loans on behalf of agencies like the port authority," said Southern Indiana Power President and Chief Executive Officer Mike Hammack.
The cost initially projected for the upgrade was $9.1 million, but the port board opted to break it into phases when that amount appeared difficult to obtain.
Phase 1 is pegged at $5.1 million, Neumann said Tuesday, and will achieve most of the desired upgrades. The remainder, for which funding is uncertain, will include bridge and other improvements.
"These funds will help rural communities build stronger local economies," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in announcing the grants and loans. One of the strengths of the USDA Rural Development Program, he added, "is that the USDA works with organizations that are best positioned to help address an area's economic needs."
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PCDC, company officials express economic optimismThe economy here "in the heartland of the country" is not as volatile as in coastal areas of the country, Clay Ewing, the chairman of the PCDC board of directors said during the PCDC annual meeting.
PCDC President and Chief Executive Officer Chris Kinnett noted that the American economy is not in a depression.
"There is some good news," he said. "First, I heard a report that Ford Motors had called back workers for a rising demand for the ever-popular F-150 Ford pickup truck … and the average price of a used car has actually gone up $600 in the last three months. This could be an indication that inventory is dropping and demand is on the rise. Third, 52 percent of the 245 large U.S. employers surveyed in February have already conducted layoffs and 56 have instituted hiring freezes, which is up 39 percent and 47 percent, respectively. The good news in that is that the percentage of companies still planning layoffs or hiring freezes has dropped almost as sharply. Thirteen percent of those surveyed said they expected layoffs, compared to 23 percent two months earlier."
"Fourth," Kinnett continued, "Nestle, which recently opened a new facility in Anderson, Ind., had originally planned to employ 300 people, but apparently the Nesquick and Coffee-mate business is really good, because the company has already announced that it will expand and add another 100 jobs."
"However, the next two years will be critical in determining our future direction," he added.
Retaining existing businesses is important because they account for 70 percent of all new jobs created and play an important role in attracting other businesses, he said. "It's cheaper to retain existing businesses than attract new ones."
He promised the PCDC will continue to provide leadership, advocacy and community planning and development "to raise the per-capita income of Perry County residents, retain existing firms and attract new businesses."
Methods may change, he said, "but our basic premise is to develop a strong relationship with our existing businesses and respond to individual company needs."
Kinnett introduced guest speaker Gary Gigante, president and chief executive officer of ThyssenKrupp Waupaca, who began by saying ThyssenKrupp, with sales of $70 billion and 191,000 employees worldwide, has remained profitable even in the first couple of years of the current downturn.
"We can complain about everything that's happening," Gigante said, "or we can look at it as an opportunity, and that's what we've chosen to do at Waupaca."
That perspective will not only help the company survive the recession, he concluded, but will bring increased success in the future.
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Hoosier Southern Railway Finds Parking Rail Cars for Others Profitable
"We entered a contract to store up to 80 rail cars," Dick Neumann said during a regular meeting of the Perry County Port Authority Board of Directors. Twenty cars were to find parking places on Hoosier Southern sidings, he said, adding, "a lot of railroads are storing a lot of cars these days."
The port-rail agency's fabrication-shop roof was undergoing repairs, the vice president and chief executive officer said, with 75 percent of the cost covered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The building sustained roof damage in high winds spawned by September's Hurricane Ike. Half of the FEMA payment was already paid, Neumann said.
The federal government also declared it would fund costs resulting from a January ice storm, Neumann continued.
In an ongoing effort to upgrade rail facilities to handle 286,000-pound cars, Neumann opted, after reviews by legal and engineering consultants, to accept a bid from A & K Railroad Materials Inc.'s Chicago office.
The three bids received and opened at the board's February meeting appeared to be under the engineer's estimate, Neumann said then, which called for $867,000 in new rail, joint bars, tie plates and spikes. The work will include upgrades to three bridges.
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Perry County hospital purchases 38 acres as likely building site
A tract of land along Indiana 237 may hold the future for Perry County Memorial Hospital. The health-care facility's board of trustees voted Monday to purchase 38 acres for just more than $1 million and confirmed the property is a possible site for a new county hospital.
The purchase agreement calls for the hospital to pay $1,060,000 for 38.689 acres located across Indiana 237 from the Perry County Animal Hospital.
Trustees agreed to have three nearby hospital-owned properties appraised and placed up for sale. Two of the tracts were purchased in 2006 and are located on the northeast corner of the intersection of Indiana 237 and Indiana 37. The News reported in March 2006 that the hospital's board of trustees purchased more than 20 acres for $670,000. Those tracts will be marketed by the Perry County Development Corp. as a possible site for future small businesses, Stuber said.
Perry County has new "Shovel Ready" certification
Perry County Industrial Park has earned the title of 'shovel ready' paving the way for businesses to quickly locate new operations on property ready for development.
The Perry County site joins 30 other 'shovel ready' sites identified by the state since 2006 that have undergone extensive title work, proof of ownership, legal and environmental review and qualify for expedited permitting with state regulatory agencies.
"With more and more companies looking for sites where they can have a shovel in the ground as quickly as possible, this program gives Indiana an advantage when it comes to competing with other states for new investments and new jobs," said Nathan Feltman, Secretary of Commerce and chief executive officer of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. "This is another vital tool in our economic development toolbox that will help give Indiana the edge when attracting new and promising investment to the state."
Designed to lower the cost of site development, improve efficiency of state permitting and enhance the marketability of sites statewide, the program has already begun to achieve success, said Brad Moore, shovel ready project manager for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.
Passed in the 2005 legislative session as part of Governor Daniels' jobs agenda, 'shovel ready' sites are certified by the state's Fast Access Site Team that consists of representatives from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, Governor's Office, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Indiana Department of Transportation, Indiana State Department of Health, Indiana State Department of Agriculture and the Indiana State Department of Homeland Security.
Certified sites have been eligible for matching grants to assist with eligible costs associated with applying for the shovel ready program.
Airport awarded $457,000 by FAA
A $456,950 Federal Aviation Administration grant to the Perry County Airport Authority will allow a new wildlife fence to be placed around the county's municipal airport.
The new fence will prevent wildlife such as deer and turkeys from entering airport property, where they could pose a danger to taxiing aircraft and planes landing or taking off.
Airport authority member Gene Borders said the base of the fence will be buried in the ground a foot to 18 inches in depth to keep groundhogs and other burrowing animals from digging underneath it. It will also keep out deer.
"It's going to be a tall fence that should keep the wildlife out," Borders said.
Sen. Richard Lugar and Ninth District Congressman Baron Hill announced the grants last week, saying the money will be put to good use.
"I am very pleased the Perry County Airport Authority will receive this sizeable grant," Hill said. Lugar said the more than $6.8 million awarded to Hoosier airports will enhance safety and expand capacity.
"This is good news for Indiana airports," Lugar said. "I commend our officials for their work. Airport improvements are important in our combined effort to strengthen Hoosier communities."
The FAA covers 95 percent of the grant-funded projects, with the county's airport authority and the state each responsible for 2.5 percent.
A 2007 grant worth $166,250 was awarded the Perry County Airport to fund a partial taxiway.
Cannelton to Rejoin Perry County Development Corp.
Cannelton Common Council members voted at a regular meeting to rejoin the Perry County Development Corp. after a 12-year absence.
"I personally feel we lost 12 years of opportunity," Mayor Smokey Graves said. "We just have not stepped forward from that day, we haven't gone anywhere."
"We can leverage our strengths," Chris Kinnett, director of PCDC said of members. Every community has weaknesses and has to address them, he explained, but the cities that belong to PCDC can collectively showcase their strengths.
"Our mission is to get everyone's standard of living up," he said, adding the PCDC board of directors "has put their arms around this; they want to make it happen."
Cities that join PCDC pledge to pay up to 20 percent of their Economic Development Income Tax revenues.
"It's a fee-for-services contract," Kinnett explained, adding the city would get bills explaining the hours of service provided.
"I think that's a good investment," Graves said of the EDIT percentage.
In addition to receiving economic-development assistance, the city would send two representatives to the PCDC board. The mayor will appoint one representative and the council another.
Port's directors approve site-use plans
The board of directors for the Perry County Port Authority approved a resolution and memorandum of understanding concerning the move of a boat-building company into the former Maxon Marine site they occupy.
The memorandum of understanding was drafted by Tell City officials and defines the space the port-rail agency will continue to occupy and on which part of the property along Boundary Way, south of Gutenberg Street in Tell City, the company will set up its operation.
In recent weeks, owners of Corn Island Ship Yard have worked toward opening their own boat-building firm there. That company plans to build a variety of boat types.
The company plans to rebuild a dock at the port to accommodate a 250-foot crane and will replace a pig-iron storage pad.
The company's move into the site will not result in any costs for the port authority.
Foertsch, Owner of Corn Island Shipyard propose investing up to $5 million; new project could create 50 jobs
A Spencer County businessman who operates a shipyard along the Ohio River has proposed leasing the former Maxon Marine Shipyard in Tell City to construct a variety of marine vessels.
Don Foertsch, whose family owns Corn Island Shipyard between Troy and Grandview, told the city council last Monday he is ready to invest between $4 million and $5 million in the proposed Tell City Boat Works, a project he said would construct towboats, barges and other marine vessels.
Foertsch predicted the company will employ 50 people within two years.The city council approved a verbal resolution of support for the project and asked Foertsch to meet with the Perry County Port Authority and Perry County Development Corp. in preparation for a formal memorandum of understanding between him, the city and the Perry County Port Authority.
Tell City owns the land that was home for years to barge-builder Maxon Marine. The city purchased the land after the company folded and now leases the site to the county-operated port authority.
The port also operates the Hoosier Southern Railroad and transports pig iron, coal and other products to Waupaca Foundry, American Colloid and other companies.
Foertsch's plans and the council's initial support of his efforts cast further doubt on whether another company will make good on any of its promises to bring jobs to the site.
Tell City Boat Works proposes to lease the unused office space and the warehouse located on the city side of the floodway. The port and railroad use portions of the office building and had agreed to share space with Tell City Marine.
Tell City Boat Works proposes to construct a 30,000-square-foot fabrication building and wants to relocate outside storage areas used by the port upriver and will construct a concrete pad for pig iron for the port.
The port would continue to use its existing storage buildings under Foertsch's plan. Tell City Boat Works is also offering to pay for utility relocations.
Foertsch, who plans to seek an abatement of taxes on equipment used in the manufacture of marine vessels, said he wants to reach an agreement as soon as possible, saying he has customers in line.
Chris Kinnett, executive director of the Perry County Development Corp. asked for time to work with Foertsch and to talk with Tell City Marine representatives on the status of their project. An agreement with Foertsch could come before the city council at a special Dec. 17 meeting or at its first meeting in January.
Perry County Convention and Visitors Bureau Receives Funding for Study
Lt. Governor Becky Skillman has announced that 11 Indiana communities will participate in a community assessment program designed to help improve tourism and economic development. The assessments are scheduled to take place between April and November 2008 and will be led by Roger Brooks, founding member of the Destination Development group. Each of the 11 communities will receive $5,000 toward the cost of participating in the program, provided by the Indiana Office of Tourism Development. The Perry County Convention and Visitors Bureau was one of the recipients.
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It’s official: ‘Life is Better’ in Perry County
A simple image of a rising sun – or depending on one’s perspective, a setting sun – over rolling hills and a flowing river has been chosen as the common image to represent Perry County’s tourism, business-promotion and economic-development efforts.
The image and the words, “Life is Better,” were unveiled Thursday, capping months of work to come up with a common brand for the county. Officials hope the image and words become synonymous with the county.
Before this project, the main three organizations representing Perry County had three different print identities. Now, when the chamber recruits a business, the CVB recruits a bus to stop here or the PCDC recruits a manufacturer to Perry County, they will look like they are recruiting for the same place. The image will be adopted by the chamber, the county’s convention and visitors bureau and the Perry County Development Corp.
Silouan Green, an Indianapolis marketing consultant who has a track record of creating successful brands for businesses, developed the image and slogan during several months of work with the three groups.
A countywide study completed more than two years ago suggested the county needed to hone the image it was projecting to others. The need for a county brand topped a list of six recommendations and local officials were encouraged to create an image that reflected the county’s natural assets, the Hoosier National Forest, Ohio River, culture and history, economic base and manufacturing, recreation, scenery, wildlife and timber.
The end result could be more people choosing the county as a destination for enjoying the outdoors, exploring local history or weekend homes.
Utility plans hydroelectric project at Cannelton dam
An Ohio utility could break ground as soon as spring on a new hydroelectric plant proposed for the Cannelton Locks and Dam. The project is expected to create more than 100 construction jobs and eventually generate enough energy to power thousands of homes.
American Municipal Power recently secured licenses for hydroelectric projects from Tennessee-based W.V. Hydro, which first proposed a hydroelectric plant for the dam two decades ago.
Construction contracts for the power-generating facility will be awarded in coming months with construction expected to start in the spring, said Kent Carson, Director of Communication for AMP.
Based in Columbus, Ohio, the utility serves 121 member communities in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Virginia and West Virginia. It operates a coal-fired generating station near Marietta, Ohio, and operates the Belleville, West Virginia, hydroelectric plant, in operation since 1999.
The local generating station will be located on the Hancock County side of the river, with power modules located on eight of the dam’s gate bays. Water passing through the dam will be directed into turbines, generating electricity. The new plant is expected to generate up to 84 megawatts of electricity, enough to power more than 80,000 homes, Carson said.
AMP’s Belleville plant, in comparison, generates 42 megawatts of energy.
Unlike hydroelectric stations located at large, dammed-up reservoirs, the local project will harness energy from water naturally passing through the upper and lower levels of the dam, Carson said.
The utility is operating under licenses issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Engineering work has been under way for some time and AMP has sought bids on the first phases of construction, including two cofferdams 1,200 feet and 1,800 feet in length.
Additional work will include construction of a reinforced-concrete powerhouse containing three 28-megawatt generating units and a 1,000-foot-long transmission line.
AMP is no stranger to alternative energy. The utility recently began operating Ohio’s first commercial wind farm in the northern part of the state.
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Perry County Learning Partnership to Receive $96,000.00
Lt. Governor Becky Skillman awarded $1,364,497 to fund 11 rural economic development projects that will serve 26 counties. The Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) administers the funds through the Rural Capacity Grant (RCG) program, which encourages rural communities to develop creative ways to build capacity in workforce development and rural entrepreneurship.
Perry County Learning Partnership will receive $96,000 to fund an expansion of the Perry County Basic Service Skills Certification. A summer institute will be conducted to connect the education and business communities.
PCDC Web Site Receives Economic Development Directory Award for Content
The Perry County Development Corp. received an award from the Economic Development Directory for achieving and/or exceeding the IEDAs criteria for providing information for site selectors and consultants.
The award pictured above was presented with the following statement:
"This website certified to contain development information organized for the requirements of site selection consultants, real estate departments and business people."
Background of award: In recent years, many site selection consultants have asked that economic development agency websites provide more of the kind of information the site selection professionals need. This award indicates that this kind of information is presented on the PCDC site.
Service Industry Training Funds Sought
Local officials want to teach current and potential employees in the service industries skills that will serve them and their bosses. Employers from service-industry firms, said skills such as interacting with customers, operating a cash register, making change, and undergoing interviews, need to be enhanced in Perry County’s working population.
At their June 20 meeting, the county commissioners signed a letter of support for the Perry County Learning Partnership to accompany a request for a state Office of Community and Rural Affairs Rural Capacity Grant. The learning partnership is a parent organization for the learning center.
County Administrator Charlotte Rogier said no county funding would be required.Carol Hagedorn, project manager for the Perry County Development Corp., is preparing the service skills grant application. The PCDC is a member of the learning partnership, a consortium of business and educational organizations, she explained.
The rural-affairs office created the grant program to support the state’s rural strategic plan, whose priorities include supporting rural workforce development.
The Perry County Community Foundation awarded the Perry County Learning Partnership $8,000 in December to cover curriculum costs for the service-skills class.Classes launched in the summer of 2004 were aimed at increasing math, communication, business and other skills identi&Mac222;ed by manufacturing-company representatives as lacking in workers.The Perry County Basic Skills Manufacturing Certification Program was offered to county residents at no cost through the Southwest Indiana Network for Education.?
New meetings with manufacturers are being arranged to see if that program needs to be revamped in light of recent technology changes, Krieg said, explaining classes were offered until student numbers waned. The classes were then incorporated into vocational instruction available to students throughout the county.
Hagedorn said that training is provided in an effort to keep up with a growing economic environment, and employers will be asked if it needs to be offered to adults again.
“Webb Wheel is an example,” she said. "The company opened a facility next to Waupaca Foundry after the manufacturing-skills class curriculum was developed," she noted, “and the technology they’re using wasn’t even available in the United States.”
"Waupaca, too, is using cutting-edge technology for some of its processes," she added. “We’re seeing more and more advanced manufacturing opportunities in the community. Part of these funds would look at whether we’re hitting everything we need to be addressing. If there are needs we should address, we’ll look for funding to offer it to adults.”
"Curricula for the service-skills and manufacturing-skills training have to be business-driven", she explained. “We have to ask what needs for entry-level employees aren’t being met? And we need to see if the needs employers originally expressed have changed.”
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Kinnett tapped for PCDC top post
Economic-development veteran Chris Kinnett will join the Perry County Development Corporation as its president and chief executive officer.
Kinnett brings more than 20 years of experience in economic development, including terms at the helm of the Johnson County Development Corp. and the Knox County Development Corp. Kinnett also recently served as treasurer of the Indiana Economic Development Association, a state-wide organization which strives to promote Indiana’s economic welfare.
"We are very excited to have an individual of Chris’ caliber join our organization," said PCDC Chairman Clay Ewing. "He brings a great deal of experience in company recruitment and has a wealth of infrastructure and economic-development knowledge. His strong leadership skills, along with his experience and ability to work at the local, regional, and state levels will be invaluable to the PCDC and our community as we continue our growth strategies."
While serving other communities, Kinnett has been responsible for the recruitment of domestic and foreign companies to Indiana and for developing innovative programs and partnerships to facilitate economic development activities. He also brings extensive port experience to the position, having served as director of the Indiana Port Commission in Jeffersonville and Mt. Vernon from 1984 to 1996.
As president and CEO of the PCDC, Kinnett will work with area businesses to enhance their strengths and opportunities while continuing to work toward recruiting additional businesses to the Perry County community. In addition, he will serve as the lead team member on the PCDC’s community enhancement efforts, which involve workforce education, residential recruitment and community branding.
The PCDC board of directors expressed its gratitude this week to interim executive director Connie Fowler, who has served the organization for three months. "We all owe her our thanks for a job well done," Ewing said during Tuesday’s meeting of the Tell City Economic Development Commission. He said she has been instrumental in several projects, including a recently announced expansion at ATTC Manufacturing.
Kinnett fills the job held for 15 years by Greg Wathen, who left March 1 for the job of president and chief executive officer for the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana
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ATTC in Tell City Announces Expansion
ATTC Manufacturing Inc., Toyota’s North American supplier of brake drums, rotors and differential cases, announced today it will expand its manufacturing facility here, creating 90 new jobs.
The $49 million project is the fourth expansion for the Japanese-owned company since it located in the Perry County Industrial Park South in 2000.
Construction of the 90,000-square-foot addition to the company’s manufacturing facility is slated to begin later this year, making room for new production lines that will provide brake, engine and steering components to Toyota North America, NUMMI, Nissan and American Axle.
“Due to the increased confidence our customers have placed in us, ATTC is excited to announce our recent growth that has lead to this fourth expansion,” said David Stagnolia, ATTC’s human resources manager. “ATTC is grateful for the support we have received from the community and the state, but most of all we are grateful for our team members who continue to make ATTC great.”
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered the company up to $830,000 in performance-based tax credits based upon the company’s planned investment and job creation. Perry County officials donated 5.5 acres of land to the company and provided property tax abatement worth more than $2.5 million.
“ATTC is an exemplary corporate citizen that continues to bring new jobs and investment to Tell City,” said Pete Franzman Perry County Council president. “With more than 340 local employees, ATTC plays a significant role in Southern Indiana’s economy.”
Economic agency picks interim chief - Fowler already supporting county
A 23-year economic-development veteran “with extensive knowledge of Indiana’s economic leadership and programs” will serve as interim executive director for the Perry County Development Corp.
Connie Fowler served most recently as the director for the Southwest Region of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (formerly the Indiana Department of Commerce). In that position, she worked extensively on projects involving competitive expansion, retention and attraction for the 16 counties in her region, which includes Perry County.
Fowler will work with area businesses to enhance their strengths and opportunities while continuing to work toward recruiting additional businesses to the Perry County community.
In addition, she will serve as the lead team member on the PCDC’s community-enhancement efforts, which involve work-force education, residential recruitment and community branding.
Perry County aerospace firm seeks tax break in adding 36 workers
Perry County Council members gave preliminary approval Thursday to a tax abatement that will help Stewart Warner South Wind Corp. as it takes on new work that will require the addition of 36 workers and bump its payroll to more than $4 million annually.
Jennifer Land, accountant for the manufacturing firm in the Perry County Riverview Industrial Park near Troy, told the council Pratt and Whitney, Stewart-Warner's biggest customer, wants it to provide oil coolers and heat exchangers for an Eclipse Aircraft Corp. airplane. New equipment to be installed toward that objective will be covered under the abatement. The company was able to install it in its existing facility, she explained, meaning no new construction will be necessary.
Operation to possibly bring 150-200 jobs
A new barge-building operation in Tell City, Ind., isn't yet fully approved by state and federal officials, but it's already generating lots of interest from people who may want to work there. A Web site is now accepting job applications. The site has received more than 5,000 hits since it first went up less than a month ago, said Greg Wathen, executive director of the Perry County; Ind., Development Corp.
The Web site is operated by Tell City Marine Contractors, LLC -the new barge-maker. The builder is expected to bring between 150 to 200 jobs. Interviews with job applicants most likely won't begin until sometime this fall, said Wathen.
"By then all the required permits should have been granted," he said, referring to permits needed from the state and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
A group of private investors mostly from Louisville, Ky. -wants to establish Tell City Marine Contractors, LLC, 'on the river-front site of the former Maxon Marine Industries. Progress is being made in the permitting process, Wathen said. "But no deal is a done deal until it's completely finished," he said.
The main holdup is determining where to relocate the Tell City River Port's home base to everyone's satisfaction, he said, adding that "we're gaining on that too, though."
Both the land and old buildings on the former Maxon site are owned by Tell City. A portion of the property is currently the home base of the Tell City River Port. If the barge-building project moves forward, the port authority likely would be moved to other city-owned property further south along the river, officials said.
Dick Neumann, vice president and chief executive officer of the Tell City River Port/Hoosier Southern Railroad, expects the old Maxon buildings will be rehabilitated for use by the new barge builder. The first barges are expected to begin rolling off the assembly line in early 2007, he and Wathen said. The private investors' lease on the property will soon expire. The City Council in Tell City will be requested to extend the lease until November. Wathen said he feels certain the request will be granted.
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New Investment at Former Maxon Site Could Reach $18 million
TELL CITY - A newly formed company wants to return the business of building barges to Tell City and could invest up to $18 million in a project that may eventually employ up to 150 people.
The Tell City Common Council agreed Tuesday to offer Tell City Marine Contractors LLC a 90-day option to lease the former Maxon Marine site on the city's south side.
Greg Wathen, executive director of the Perry County Development Corp., said two companies have expressed an interest in using the site to fabricate barges.
“We've been in negotiation with a couple of different companies looking at reactivating a barge-building facility,” Wathen told the council at a special meeting, called to discuss the option.
With the 90-day option, Wathen said he hopes an agreement can be finalized with the company. If that happens, he predicted, the city council will be presented an agreement that would lease the property to Tell City Marine Contractors for 10 years. Future renewals would be sought every five years.
Wathen said the company, which he described as a “start-up but with seasoned professionals,” is interested in investing $14 to $18 million and could employ up to 150 workers.
Several investors are involved in the project, among them former American Commercial Lines executives Michael C. Hagan and Jim Wolff.
The Jeffersonville-based company is the parent of American Commercial Barge Line and Jeffboat
Wathen said the new company, should it locate in the city, would “coexist” with the port. Some existing port activities would shift to city-owned land located south of an existing fabrication shop.
Tell City Marine Contractors would also use a portion of the city-owned port building on Boundary Way.
Free Wireless Internet up and running at library
TELL CITY - A new wireless Internet network in operation at the Tell City-Perry County Public Library allows patrons to surf the Web, conduct research or send e-mails anywhere in the building. There is no charge for the wireless access.
The technology which allows laptops to access the Internet through the airwaves, will also allow future computer classes to move from the library's ever-popular computer lab to a conference room on the other side of the main floor.
A $5,000 gift from ATTC Manufacturing Inc. helped pay for the wireless system. Presented in May, the money was given in honor of the late Katsumi Uesugi, president of the company from 2003-05.
The ATTC bequest is also helping to fund a business-resource center at the library.
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Perry Central Third- and fourth-graders shine on standardized tests
LEOPOLD - Perry Central Community School students posted several rates significantly higher than statewide averages in standardized testing, according to results released by the Indiana Department of Education last week.
Third- , fourth- , ninth- and 10th-graders each achieved scores 12 percent or more higher than averages for Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress.
Perry County Lands Major Investment, Jobs
TELL CITY, INDIANA July 27, 2005 – ATTC Manufacturing Inc. – a subsidiary of Aisin Takaoka Company, Ltd. – announced today plans for the third expansion of its state-of-the-art automotive machining operation. With construction scheduled to begin in September, the company will invest $35 million over the next four years for equipment and to add 74,277 square feet of manufacturing space. In addition, the expansion will create 75 new jobs.
“We are happy that growth in our business is allowing us to expand yet again,” said Kiyoshi Ohashi, President of ATTC Manufacturing, Inc. “We are working hard to meet the demand of our customers while providing excellent employment opportunities in Perry County.”
The new investment is contingent upon tax abatement being granted by the Perry County Council. When complete, ATTC Manufacturing will have invested more than $95 million in Perry County with a combined total of 290,000 square feet in manufacturing, warehouse and office space.
The company began production in July 2001 and currently employs 247 workers. Located three and 1/2 miles north of Tell City on Indiana Highway 37 in Perry County Industrial Park South, ATTC Manufacturing continues to accept applications for positions in maintenance and production.
Source: Perry County Development Corp.
Wathen, Roberson Speak at Symposium
PCDC Executive Director Greg Wathen and Perry Central Community School Superintendent Mary Roberson explain the Community Learning Center of Perry County and its value to the area at the second annual SINE Symposium...more
Perry County is Featured in the March/April edition of INCONTEXT, a newsletter of the Indiana Business Research Center, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University. - Following is an excerpt.
Perry County is bucking economic trends.
Instead of their share of the U.S. per capita income going down, it is goingup. Instead of their share
of Indiana’s average wage per job shrinking, it is growing. What gives? Our answer: economic
development works and proof can be found in economic indicators. This article highlights a number of those indicators for this southern Indiana county.
s the community's commitment to business," said Ken Dickson, president of Webb Wheel Products.
Webb Wheel Products is a 60-year-old company based in Cullman, Ala. It makes spoke wheels, hubs, brake drums and rotors for medium and heavy-duty trucks, trailers and buses.
It is a subsidiary of Marmon Highway Technologies, which is a member of the Marmon Group, an international association of manufacturing and service companies with collective annual sales of $5 billion.
Finkbiner said the company would offer a competitive wage and benefit package. Details of that package, however, would be worked out after the company has filled a human resource position for the plant, he said.
Among the local and state incentives are up to $950,0000 in Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) tax credits over a 10-year period; the use of the newly created Hoosier Business Investment Tax Credit; and a $112,500 training grant. The state also will give $150,000 to Perry County to help build public infrastructure for the project.
Perry County will provide an estimated $2.56 million in assistance, including infrastructure improvements, the cost of the land, temporary office space and assistance in screening and hiring workers.
Most of that money, about $1.35 million, will be generated through a Tax Increment Financing District (TIF) around the plant. The TIF funnels property taxes collected from improvements to a property into a special fund to pay for infrastructure improvements.
Local money also will be generated through local option income taxes that will generate about $400,000, said Greg Wathen, executive director of the Perry County Economic Development Corporation. The land is valued at $810,000.
Local officials welcomed the new company during the announcement at the Perry County Courthouse on Wednesday.
"The company that's coming here is absolutely first class," said Pete Franzman, president of the Perry County Council. He said the company had a good environmental record, as well as a tradition of offering high wages and good benefits.
Tim Monger, executive director of the Indiana Department of Commerce, said the announcement was "a testament that we (Indiana residents) are transitioning from a manufacturing state to an advanced manufacturing state."
Tell City Mayor Gayle Strassel said the announcement helps boost a community that has received some bad economic news in recent years. "Today, the economic outlook for Tell City, Perry County and Southern Indiana looks much brighter," she said.
County Commissioner Jody Fortwendel said the location of the plant in Perry County was the result of work by many local officials. "Today's announcement is the best example I can think of teamwork," he said.
Wathen said Webb Wheel's decision to locate in Indiana shows that manufacturing is not dead. "I think today's announcement illustrates that manufacturing can work and does work in Indiana, if you do it right," Wathen said.
Wednesday's announcement marks a homecoming for Webb Wheel. It formerly had a plant in Lebanon, Ind., which it closed to move to Alabama in 1982, Finkbiner said.
Evansville Courier & Press - 3/25/04
Webb Wheel Products announced Wednesday it will build a $22.5 million "state of the art" manufacturing facility in the Perry County Industrial Park near Troy, Ind.
The facility, which is expected to employ 82 workers and amount to an investment of $25 million within two years, will make wheel and drum components for the heavy truck industry.
The plant will be next to Waupaca Foundry, a major supplier of Webb Wheel Products and one of the reasons the company chose to locate in Perry County, according to Kent Finkbiner, vice president and general manager of the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) business unit.
Perry County also was selected over other sites in Indiana and Kentucky because of local efforts to attract the plant, the work ethic of the local population, state assistance in providing training for advanced manufacturing and Perry County's location within 150 miles of many of the company's customers, Finkbiner said.
Perry County News
An association of Hoosier universities and colleges will staff and manage a local learning center that could begin offering college courses and employee training programs in Perry County early next year.
Members of the Tell City Economic Development Commission voted last week to commit $120,000 over two years to fund the salary of a learning-center coordinator who will lead the center’s efforts and work with a county-based learning partnership board. If modeled off existing facilities elsewhere in the state, the local center will offer credit and non-credit courses, professional development seminars and customized training for businesses.
The South Central Indiana Educational Association operates six area learning centers in the southern half of the state, including locations in Bedford, Paoli and Seymour. Indiana State University serves as the site manager and fiscal agent for the centers. ISU, Indiana University, Ivy Tech State College, Purdue University and Vincennes University are members of the association, which is headquartered in Bedford.
Funds contributed by the city will come from a $315,000 Lilly Endowment grant awarded the city in 1999. Funding in the state’s biannual budget funds the association’s other centers, Tell City Mayor Bill Goffinet said. While the EDC is footing the first two years of costs, state funding will be sought for later years.
“We’re dedicating money to pay a coordinator for two years,” Goffinet told EDC members. “After that, we’ll be looking for help.”
Goffinet said state legislators will be lobbied in hopes of securing funding in the next state budget.
Envisioned as a learning center when constructed in 1999, the Schergens Center will serve as the hub of learning-center activities, but courses and programs could be offered at other locations. Equipped with distance-learning technology and classrooms, the Schergens Center hosts occasional college classes. Though ISU will hire the coordinator, the city will continue to schedule activities at the center.
Goffinet said ISU will serve as “broker” in recruiting other area schools, such as Ivy Tech and the University of Southern Indiana, to offer courses in the county.
Steve Ray, regional director for the alliance, said center coordinators work to develop programs that meet individual community needs. Coordinators not only organize courses and schedule classes, but provide student support services that include proctoring tests and offering career guidance.
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