Articles
Weekly Wrap-up
A look at news and events in the Daniels Administration
Governor's Newsletter
September 24-30, 2007
Governor meets with
Sept. 24, 2007- Governor Daniels traveled to
The governor also toured the new David Letterman Communication and Media building and learned about the award-winning NewsLink
FORTUNE 500 company to create 500 jobs in
Sept. 25, 2007- Governor Mitch Daniels and Mayor Kevin Smith joined executives from Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. to announce that the company will locate a customer care center in
"This fulfills the commitment made by IBM last year that the company and its partners would create 1,000 jobs for Hoosiers if selected to help us fix the state's welfare system," said Daniels. "Reducing waste and fraud and saving a half billion taxpayer dollars is a very large cake, but 1,000 new jobs is my favorite kind of icing."
ACS' decision to locate in
Northeast Indiana manufacturer to create more than 100 new jobs in Markle
Sept. 25, 2007- Governor Daniels joined executives from Novae Corporation in Markle to announce the company's plans to expand its
The manufacturer of utility trailers, commercial lawn care attachments and industrial material handling systems will invest more than $1 million to build and equip a 12,000 square-foot addition to its current facility and plans to add more than 100 new employees to its 80-member workforce by 2010.
"We're excited to bring new jobs anywhere in
Listed among Inc. Magazine's "Inc. 500" fastest growing privately held companies in the country, Novae has nearly doubled its workforce since locating in the northeast Indiana town in 2005. The company plans to begin hiring welders, assemblers and clerical staff later this year.
Envelope company to grow its
Sept. 24, 2007- Wolf Envelope announced it will make a multi-million dollar investment to its production center in
The envelope giant will invest more than $1.8 million dollars over the next four years to add new high-speed color jet printers to its 90,000 square-foot production facility in
"Wolf Envelope's continued growth is a great sign that the business environment we have created is supportive of growing companies," said Nathan Feltman, Indiana Secretary of Commerce and chief executive officer of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.
Ramadan fast-breaking event held at Statehouse
Sept. 24, 2007- For the third consecutive year, Governor Daniels welcomed Muslims from across
"The Muslim community as I have come to know it is a talented, principled, value-driven, faithful and very strong contributing factor to the promise of
On behalf of the state, Governor Daniels accepted gifts of an original painting from Hoosier artist Uzma Mirza, towels from
Governor Daniels, Congressman Visclosky seek additional Little
Sept. 24, 2007- Governor Mitch Daniels and Congressman Pete Visclosky sent a joint letter to the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority (RDA) to request assistance with funding to complete the Little Calumet River Flood Control and Recreation project.
Daniels and Visclosky have asked the RDA's Board to provide $6 million in local match funds needed to complete the work. They have suggested that the RDA consider an advance to be repaid over the next several years in state appropriations that are contained in the state's budget. Since 1990, $119.2 million in federal funds have been obtained to support the levee construction, and there is $15 million in Fiscal Year 2008 Appropriations to support construction activities.
Governor's schedule for October 2-3
Note: All times are local.
Tuesday, October 2
- The governor will attend a swearing-in ceremony of newly appointed Lake County Judge Calvin Hawkins. Judge Hawkins succeeds the late Judge Robert A. Pete.
2:30 p.m.
Wednesday, October 3
- Governor Daniels will join Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard and Indiana Retired Teachers Association (IRTA) Executive Director Ralph Ayres to launch a new partnership between the Indiana Supreme Court's Guardian Ad Litem/Court Appointed Special Advocate program and the IRTA.
10 a.m.
State House
- Governor Mitch Daniels will join business and community leaders for a major economic development announcement.
2:30 p.m.
1200
Thursday, October 4
- Governor Daniels will join executives from PMG Indiana for an economic development announcement.
9:30 a.m.
PMG
- The governor will chair a meeting of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation board of directors.
10:30 a.m. - meeting
11:30 a.m. - media availability
Cummins Columbus Engine Plant (Customer Visit Room)
IN THE NEWS
Cheri Daniels visits Miller's in Plymouth
September 28, 2007
By Rusty Nixon
That was the message of
"I'm here to let people know that age doesn't matter," she said. "You can still lead a healthy lifestyle.
Daniels, the granddaughter of Chicago Cubs' second baseman Billy Herman, accepted a gift from Miller's resident and avowed Cubs fan Ned Meckstroth. Meckstroth presented Daniels with a framed picture of her grandfather in his Cubs uniform that included a photo of his Baseball Hall of Fame plaque.
Daniels encouraged those in attendance to lead a heart-healthy lifestyle.
"There are things we can't do anything about -- like our age or our family history," she said. "But there are a lot of things we can do something about in our lifestyle choices."
"There is one thing you can do, even if you do nothing else, that will help more than anything," she told those in attendance. "Stop smoking."
The reason for Daniels' stop at Miller's in
"They asked me," she said with a smile. "Some of the people here saw me speak in
She did make a promise to the group.
"If you decide to have a weekend dance here please let me know," she said. "I'll come back for that."
September 27, 2007
The Issue: It was ordered closed indefinitely because of unsafe conditions.
Our View: Find out if privatization is an option.
Although it has been an economic lifeline between Southwestern Indiana and Southern Illinois, age and bureaucratic limbo finally have caught up with the
The 77-year-old bridge over the
The two-lane New Harmony bridge carried about 900 vehicles a day between
Fixing and reopening the 2,579-foot-long bridge will not be quick or inexpensive.
Operated by the last remaining federal bridge commission, the
When Congress created the commission in 1941, it envisioned that once the bonds to build the bridge were paid off, ownership would transfer to
In 2001, an Indiana Department of Transportation study estimated it would cost $1 million just to do a bare-minimum fix, and $7 million to rehabilitate the bridge to last another 20 years. But the commission has only $460,000 in operating funds, so the bridge could remain closed indefinitely.
What do we do with an important but underperforming infrastructure asset? Recent privatization efforts elsewhere may hold the answer.
Last year, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels pushed through the lease of the northern
Daniels then raised the stakes when he proposed building a new 75-mile tollway around suburban
That idea died because of intense public opposition to the route in central
Could such a deal on a much smaller scale rescue the
Until Tuesday's closure, the toll had been $1 per vehicle since 2002. Expect that tolls would at least double. It's clear that a bridge operator can't charge tolls too high or no one would pay to cross the bridge. But motivated by the desire to get toll booths ringing again, a private operator would want to get the bridge fixed and reopened sooner, rather than later.
Suppose a viable business model dovetailing with
The state's privatizing of public assets remains extremely unpopular in some quarters. But if the alternative is continued bureaucratic limbo and a severed connection between two rural communities, what is the harm in taking a look?
The Daniels administration and INDOT ought to investigate the possibility.
Governor wheels into Markle for Novae ceremony
The Bluffton News-Banner
Sept. 25, 2007
State government came to Markle this morning, in person, as Governor Mitch Daniels rode into town on his motorcycle to attend Novae Corporation's official ground-breaking ceremony for their new development project.
The ground opposite Novae's current facilities is currently occupied by a cornfield, but in just a few weeks time, Novae will begin construction on a new 2,000 square foot warehouse, which will be part office space and part manufacturing. The new development is needed due to rapid expansion of Novae's trailer sales, service, repair and trade operation.
Novae Chief Steve Bermes told how back in 1995, he and his brother Greg began by making products in their father's barn. By December 2001 the company had grown sufficiently to force a move to premises in
The Markle facility comprised some 61,000 square feet, but still was not large enough to match the continuing growth of the company, which is now one of the "big three" in Markle. It is still very much a family owned company, but Bermes explained that in 2008, the company will have 100 employees on its payroll.
Governor Daniels praised the company, saying that small business such as Novae, that grow to create job opportunities and economic development are important to
Daniels was also pleased to see Novae based in a smaller town such as Markle, ensuring that economic growth within the state is shared around the state, and not just limited to a small number of centers.
Daniels was also pleased with the role that state government had played in road development, that was enabling Novae's business to grow.
Daniels advised that
Markle Town Council president Tamra Boucher spoke of the cooperation between state and local government, the staff at Novae and the people of Markle in the success of the project.
With building of the new facility due to start over the next few weeks, Bermes does not expect it to be quite complete by the start of the new year, but anticipates that it will be up and running by spring.
Governor Mitch hears a 'poo' pitch
The governor visited campus on Tuesday to tour the Letterman building.
September 25, 2007
By Gail Koch
Rather, the governor had plenty of questions for the student about his developing business, Poo You.
The Web site will give people a chance to send a "poo package" to someone they disagree with -- be it their neighbor, Donald Trump or Michael Vick, Bare told the governor.
"So, do you, ...are you really sending them poo?" Daniels asked wryly.
Bare said recipients receive "realistic"-looking poo made from non-toxic materials -- not real body waste.
"Well, if you find a market, my guess is you'll never run out of targets," the governor quipped.
Part of Daniels' hour-and-a-half long visit at
Daniels also took a tour of the university's new David Letterman Communication and
Speaking to the entrepreneurship students, Daniels asked them to forgive his casual state of dress, the result of his arrival on campus atop his motorcycle, a police escort included.
"I mean no disrespect showing up like this, but I've only got so many days of good weather left to ride and today was one of those opportunities," he told the students.
Earlier in the day, Daniels was in
Morrison said Daniels wanted to be on campus earlier this month for the dedication of the Letterman building, at which Letterman was present. When Ball State President Jo Ann Gora presented the Late Show host with a Sagamore of the
Daniels left the morning of the Sept. 4 ceremony for an economic development trip to
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Ben Ledo
Office of Governor Mitch Daniels
