Articles
Governor Daniels' Weekly Update: 5/7/08
Weekly Wrap-up
A look at news and events in the Daniels Administration
Volume 2, Issue 80
April 28-May 5, 2008
Construction begins on Fort to Port
April 30, 2008- Governor Mitch Daniels, together with local and state officials, broke ground last week on the first of four phases to build the Fort to Port project. The $170 million Major Moves construction project will improve access between Fort Wayne to the Port of Toledo, and, with the Hoosier Heartland Corridor, complete the long-awaited stretch from Lafayette to Ohio.
Indiana companies have won all of the contracts for the $200 million of work the Indiana Department of Transportation's (INDOT) Fort Wayne District has awarded in the past two years, including the $11 million contract to Fort Wayne-based Primco, Inc., for the first phase of Fort to Port.
"Our waiting is over. A safer road and countless new jobs are finally on their way, without a dollar of new taxes or new borrowing. Hoosiers are showing America how to solve problems and protect taxpayers at the same time," said Daniels.
The US 24 project will fulfill a long-standing commitment by the states of Ohio and Indiana, local governments, regional planning commissions, and citizens to improve US 24 between Fort Wayne and Toledo. Studies on improvements to US 24 were initiated years ago for safety and economic development reasons.
The Fort to Port Corridor includes added capacity for a 13.1-mile section of US 24, which is currently a two-lane rural road with inadequate capacity. When combined with the Hoosier Heartland Corridor, the new, limited access travel corridor allows for the distribution of products from Lafayette to the Great Lakes ports. The project has an anticipated completion date of late 2012.
Late last fall, the governor directed INDOT to include two interchanges as part of the project. Those interchanges - one at Webster Road and one at State Road 101 - will be built two years ahead of schedule. A pedestrian overpass for non-motorized vehicles will be built at Ryan/Bruick Road.
Construction firm to locate operations in Angola
April 30, 2008- Governor Mitch Daniels joined executives from start-up commercial builder Allied Manufacturing Inc. last week to announce the company's plans to locate its first manufacturing facility in Steuben County, creating 35 new jobs.
The company, which will design, build and manage modular and on-site construction projects for franchise companies, will invest nearly $900,000 to equip an existing 35,000 square-foot facility to house its manufacturing and distribution center.
"Big wins from established companies like Honda and Amazon get the headlines, but homegrown small businesses are the true heart of the Indiana economy. Self-starters with a new idea like Allied's are the real job creators in America, and our favorite people here in Indiana," said Daniels.
The company, which will build modular retail buildings for companies like Indianapolis-based Ritter's Frozen Custard, will begin hiring production associates and administrative staff in the second quarter of 2008, ahead of the company's start of production in the third quarter.
Dental manufacturer to relocate North American headquarters to Indiana
April 30, 2008- Heraeus Kulzer, Inc., a global manufacturer and distributor of dental products, announced it will relocate its North American headquarters from Armonk, N.Y. to South Bend, creating 45 new jobs by 2012.
The German maker of dentures, porcelain veneers and other aesthetic dental restoration products will consolidate its New York headquarters into its existing 25,000 square-foot manufacturing operations on the south side of the North Central Indiana city.
"Heraeus Kulzer joins a growing list of companies like Arcadia Healthcare, Really Cool Foods and Berry Plastics that have decided to locate or grow their headquarters in Indiana. Headquarters locations bring high-paying jobs and community commitment, and are good news for our economy," said Governor Mitch Daniels.
The company, which currently employs 61 at its South Bend manufacturing and distribution center, will begin hiring executives, marketing professionals, customer service staff and technicians later this year as it relocates the headquarters to Indiana. Approximately one-third of Heraeus Kulzer's workforce is expected to relocate to Indiana as part of the consolidation.
Auto parts manufacturer to expand its headquarters, manufacturing center in Franklin
May 1, 2008- Aluminum auto parts manufacturer Casting Technologies Company and its parent, Compass Automotive Group, has announced it will expand its manufacturing and headquarters operations in Franklin, creating 40 new jobs.
Casting Technologies and the Compass Automotive Group will invest more than $3 million to increase its casting operations and renovate its headquarters facility.
"Indiana's strength in advanced manufacturing, coupled with our unmatched infrastructure, is helping us win new opportunities with companies like Casting Technologies Company. That translates into new jobs for Hoosiers," said Governor Mitch Daniels.
Casting Technologies Company, which produces lightweight castings for nearly every major automotive manufacturer, currently employs 85 associates at its Central Indiana facility and plans to begin hiring additional operators, maintenance technicians and professional staff in the fourth quarter of 2008.
"Automobile manufacturers are looking for ways to reduce vehicle weight to improve fuel economy. Casting Technologies Company specializes in providing lightweight aluminum castings as an alternative to heavier components made from steel or cast iron," said Craig Conaty, president and chief operating officer of Compass Automotive Group.
Start-up silicone supplier to begin operations in Fort Wayne
May 2, 2008- US Silicones, a start-up supplier of compounded silicone rubber materials for the medical, industrial, automotive and home appliance markets, has announced it will locate its manufacturing operations in Fort Wayne, creating more than 20 new jobs by 2011.
The company, formed by Fort Wayne-based executive management firm Thistle Group, will invest more than $1.1 million to upgrade an existing 15,000 square-foot facility at 3103 Cannongate Drive in Centennial Industrial Park on the city's northwest side.
"Homegrown small businesses are the true heart of the Indiana economy, and more and more companies like US Silicones are recognizing that Indiana is a great place to start and grow a business," said Governor Mitch Daniels.
US Silicones plans to begin hiring production associates and administrative staff immediately to coincide with the planned commencement of manufacturing operations later this year.
"We selected Indiana and particularly Fort Wayne as our site because of its centralized location to most of our industrial customers and technical partners," said Tom Lapsley, US Silicones' president and chief executive officer. "We can serve more than 50 percent of our market within a close proximity of Fort Wayne. In addition, this area provides a solid technical employment base to attract qualified staff and a solid overall business environment."
Governor's schedule for May 7-8
Wednesday, May 7
-Governor Daniels will join officials from a life sciences company for an economic development announcement.
10 a.m.
9550 Zionsville Road
Indianapolis
-The governor will meet with senior high school students at Frankfort High School.
1:15 p.m.
Frankfort High School
One South Maish Road
Frankfort
-The governor will give the keynote address at the Montgomery County Chamber Dinner.
6 p.m.
Crawfordsville Country Club
3272 West Country Club Road
Crawfordsville
Thursday, May 8
-Governor Daniels will give brief remarks at a ribbon cutting for Recycled Goods and Trucking Company's new Dixie Chopper Distribution Center in Montgomery County.
9:30 a.m.
10891 South State Road 47
Waveland
-The governor will meet the owners and employees of Cottage Gardens, Inc. in Bainbridge.
11 a.m.
7796 North County Road 100 East
Bainbridge
-The governor will present awards at the 2008 Governor's Public Service Achievement Awards Ceremony.
3 p.m.
State House north atrium
Indianapolis
In The News
Angola attains new builder, 35 jobs
May 1, 2008
The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
By Kimberly Peterson
Gov. Mitch Daniels greets people Wednesday morning in Angola, where Allied Manufacturing will begin manufacturing modular buildings this year.
Wednesday - Allied Manufacturing Inc. announces plans to open its first manufacturing plant in Angola, creating 35 jobs.
Allied Manufacturing Inc., a startup modular-building company, announced Wednesday it will locate its first manufacturing plant in Angola, creating 35 jobs.
"We are just so committed to encouraging businesses like this," said Gov. Mitch Daniels, who was in Angola for the morning announcement.
Allied Manufacturing hopes to begin hiring within the next month or two and plans to start production in the third quarter, treasurer Andy Garman said Wednesday. Average pay for the new jobs is $19 an hour, Garman said, and the company is looking for skilled trades workers and office staff. Interested applicants can apply at the Angola WorkOne office.
The company will manufacture buildings for franchises, including Ritter's Frozen Custard. Modular buildings are manufactured in a factory, then sent by truck and moved by crane to their final destinations.
Modular buildings have several advantages over traditional buildings. They cost about 15 percent to 25 percent less than on-site construction, depending on the location of the building, Allied Manufacturing President Stephen Garman said. Modular buildings can also be finished more quickly than a traditional building, Andy Garman said. And because they are assembled in a factory, modular buildings are not subject to weather delays as traditional buildings are.
"We see this modular building model working very well for franchises," Andy Garman said.
Allied is setting up operations in the former Fab-Glas Industries building at 300 Industrial Drive in Angola. Fab-Glas filed for bankruptcy in June 2002 and later ceased operation. Gary Nielander, executive director of the Steuben County Economic Development Corp., said Fab-Glas is one of eight vacant buildings that have become occupied since the economic development corporation was created about four years ago.
"It's great to see the entrepreneurial spirit is still alive and well," Nielander said.
The modular-building business has been booming in northeast Indiana recently. Allied Manufacturing is the third modular company to start up or announce expansions since November.
On Nov. 19, a subsidiary of Elite Manufacturing LLC in Angola announced plans to add 60 jobs to its Angola operations by 2010. Like Allied Manufacturing, Elite manufactures modular kiosks and buildings for franchises. But Nielander said the two companies won't compete directly because they focus on different types of franchises.
Andy Garman said he hopes Elite Manufacturing and Allied Manufacturing will "put Angola on the map as the modular building capital of Indiana."
Dental company to create 45 jobs: Decision to move headquarters from N.Y. to South Bend hailed by Daniels
May 1, 2008
South Bend Tribune
By: YaVonda Smalls
SOUTH BEND -- At a time when the area's job loss ticker has been rising, area residents got some news Wednesday that many could really sink their teeth into, so to speak.
Heraeus Kulzer Inc., a global manufacturer and distributor of dental products, announced Wednesday it will relocate its North American headquarters from Armonk, N.Y., to South Bend, creating 45 new jobs by 2012.
The German maker of dentures, porcelain veneers and other aesthetic dental restoration products will consolidate its New York headquarters into its existing 25,000-square-foot manufacturing operations at 4315 S. Lafayette Blvd. on the south side of the city.
"Indiana has to find a way to win in a good economy and a weak economy," said Gov. Mitch Daniels in a phone interview. "Today shows we can do both."
The company, which currently employs 61 at its South Bend manufacturing and distribution center, will begin hiring executives, marketing professionals, customer service staff and technicians later this year as it relocates the headquarters to Indiana.The company didn't say exactly where the salary range will fall.
"We're probably on par with the orthopedics industry and some of the other consumer industries when it comes to our pay scale," said Bernie Bolka, chief financial officer for Heraeus Kulzer.
The company will begin hiring in May or June for certain key positions and will attract employees through many modern methodologies, from taking applications outside the company to using recruiters, Bolka said.
He said he expects 15 employees to be relocated during the company's consolidation, and 20 local new hires. The other 10 jobs will likely come after growth continues over the next few years, he said. South Bend's manufacturing operations will be remodeled, and the building with the new headquarters will be ready in mid-August, he added.
Bolka said the company, whose lease is winding down on its New York location, had to decide whether to stay in New York or move elsewhere.It chose the latter.
Indiana in particular was a prime spot for the company to move, Bolka said, simply because it is the geographical center of the country. That's crucial since most of the company's product line depends on speedy transportation to its dealer networks and laboratory customers, he said.
On top of that, the Indiana Economic Development Corp. offered Heraeus Kulzer up to $590,000 in performance-based tax credits and up to $58,500 in training grants based upon the company's job creation plans.
South Bend, too, will provide the company with property tax abatement, and Project Future, the economic development organization for St. Joseph County, also provided support to the company in securing incentives.
On the whole, the secret to attracting businesses to the Hoosier state, Daniels said, is to build the best total business climate possible in Indiana and to try to out-hustle the competition by making sure companies know about the advantages Indiana has to offer.The state has received a flood of inquiries from companies in states ranging from Michigan to Illinois to New York that are interested in locating here, Daniels said.
And it makes sense when you consider the state's low cost structure -- such as low taxes -- and its transportation location and infrastructure, which has become more vital amid the nation's rising gas prices, Daniels said.
What's also exciting for Daniels is that Heraeus Kulzer joins a growing list of companies such as Arcadia Healthcare, Really Cool Foods and Berry Plastics that have decided to locate or grow their headquarters in Indiana.
Headquarters locations bring high-paying jobs and community commitment, he said.
"We go after jobs of all kinds," Daniels said. "But we're particularly interested when a headquarters might be involved."
Long road to get here: Indiana begins its part
May 1, 2008
The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
By: Benjamin Lanka
Gov. Mitch Daniels speaks Wednesday at the groundbreaking for the Indiana leg of the Fort to Port project.
With a few spades of dirt thrown, the clock began ticking toward the end of the "highway of death."
Gov. Mitch Daniels and representatives from the Indiana Department of Transportation and General Assembly broke ground Wednesday on the first Indiana section of the new U.S. 24. The officials praised the project as a way to spur economic development for the area, as well as promote safety.
Trucks account for about half the traffic on the two-lane road, which has seen a high number of accidents and fatal crashes. A tractor-trailer rig overturned this week on U.S. 24, just east of Interstate 469. No one was injured.
Rep. Randy Borror, R-Fort Wayne, thanked Daniels for his pledge to finance the much-needed improvement.
"You will save lives on what has been known as the highway of death," Borror said.
The groundbreaking ends a decades-long discussion of improving U.S. 24. Daniels said northeast Indiana drivers would still be waiting for the project if it hadn't been for the Major Moves legislation, which leased the Indiana Toll Road.
In fact, much of the event Wednesday centered on the legislation and how it has benefited the state.
Many of the politicos there thanked the governor for taking the politically risky move of leasing the Toll Road. Daniels is running for re-election this year, although he faces no opponent in the Republican primary.
The $170 million Fort to Port project will eventually link Fort Wayne to the Port of Toledo with an interstate-like highway. Indiana's portion of the project is an 11-mile stretch from I-469 in New Haven to the Ohio line.
The first segment of the Indiana project, which is called Phase IV, stretches from just west of Indiana 101 to the state line.
Primco, of Fort Wayne, won the contract for nearly $11 million, to be completed by Thanksgiving if weather cooperates. The work must be done by fall 2009.
Ohio's portion of the project began construction last year, and the states hope to link the highway at the state line in 2009. Indiana will then complete the rest of the expansion west to New Haven.
Indiana last year added $40 million to the project to include interstate-like interchanges at Webster Road and at Indiana 101.
The planned regular intersection with Bruick and Ryan roads - which is the same road on opposite sides of U.S. 24 - will still be built without interchanges, but an overpass will be built to help horse-drawn buggies traverse the four-lane highway.
The next phase of the project is the interchange construction, which is scheduled to be awarded to a contractor this fall, and some preliminary work could begin this year.
The first phase of construction is not expected to disrupt most existing traffic patterns, although there likely will be some closures on State Line Road.
