Get the lowdown on the high-level culture, shopping, dining and festival events that drive the downtown spirit.
Critical Acclaim for Greater Lafayette
Business and lifestyle media across the country continue to recognize Greater Lafayette for its impressive new-business potential and quality of life.
Indiana Lt. Governor Skillman Makes Announcement with Region’s Leaders
More than 100 people gathered at Ivy Tech Community College’s Lafayette campus on Friday morning for the MidWest Indiana Economic Development press conference featuring Lt. Governor Becky Skillman and business and community leaders from a nine-county region.
“MidWest Indiana will help these counties pool their resources to better sell the region to growing companies,” Lt. Governor Skillman said. “As Indiana ramps up its emphasis on regional economic development, this group of nine counties is positioned to be a leader.”
Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski and Logansport Mayor Mike Fincher were among the dignitaries to speak at the press conference to offer their support of MidWest Indiana Economic Development.
“This isn’t the first time our region has worked together to accomplish something grand,” Mayor Fincher said, referring to the Hoosier Heartland Corridor. “The Hoosier Heartland Corridor’s completion in 2013 will be a tremendous boost for the economy and will make it faster and safer for business- goods and employees – to move throughout our region.”
Mayor Roswarski highlighted the importance of manufacturing to MidWest Indiana. “Manufacturing is a critical sector to our region and several of the world’s leading manufacturers are right here,” Mayor Roswarski said. “Subaru, Ball Corporation, Tyson Foods, RR Donnelly, Nucor, Wabash National, Indiana Packers, Braun Corporation, Caterpillar, Vanguard, Mibor, and Smurfit-Stone, to name a few, are taking advantage of our skilled workforce and providing our region with jobs that offer competitive wages, good benefits package and keep our region globally competitive as goods manufactured in our region are exported around the world.”
Ivy Tech Community College Lafayette hosted the press conference and Chancellor David Bathe announced his institution’s role with MidWest Indiana Economic Development.
“Ivy Tech Community College’s Lafayette campus will be the fiscal agent for MidWest Indiana Economic Development,” Chancellor Bathe announced.
President of the Benton County Economic Development Organization’s Board of Directors Grant Whaley talked about the importance of wind farms to MidWest Indiana at Friday’s press conference.
“The stiff breezes in our region unite us and position us to be a world leader in wind energy,” said Whaley. Three wind farms in MidWest Indiana are currently online in Benton and White Counties with a regional impact of hundreds of millions of dollars.
Fountain County Commissioner Janet Shoaf discussed the communities that make up MidWest Indiana. “With more than 330,000 residents in 2008, MidWest Indiana has a large population base. There are 20 cities and towns in our region with a population of over 1,000 – three of them in Fountain County,” Shoaf said. “Lafayette and West Lafayette are the two largest communities in the region, but the smaller communities are just as important to our economic growth.”
Steve Burton, White County Commissioner, highlighted the logistical assets to the region, including its strategic location. “We stand apart from other regions because of our location between Chicago and Indianapolis, with the fastest growing freight traffic corridor, Interstate 65, running through our region,” said Burton. “Interstate 74, U.S. Highway 52, and U.S. Highway 24 are major arteries that connect our region to 75% of the American and Canadian populations within a one day drive.
Higher education was also stressed as Phil Bane, Montgomery County Commissioner, talked about the education opportunities in MidWest Indiana.
“Higher education is important to our region, and we are fortunate to have Purdue University, Wabash College and Ivy Tech Community College turning out tomorrow’s leaders,” said Bane. “The more than 8,000 students at Ivy Tech Lafayette are learning in Lafayette, Crawfordsville and Monticello, and they are staying in the region with the skills and education for the jobs of today and tomorrow.”
Warren County Commissioner and Executive Director of Warren County Advantage Steve Eberly discussed the region’s workforce. “The workforce in MidWest Indiana is ready for the jobs of tomorrow. With a resident employment base of 168,374 people in the region, manufacturing is the largest private employee sector,” Eberly said. “The workforce in our region is a mobile one – commuting within the region.”
Carroll County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sana Booker represented Carroll County at the press conference and talked about the importance of tourism as a region. “There’s more than corn in MidWest Indiana,” said Booker. “Tourism is an integral part of our region.” Three state parks, Lake Freeman, Lake Shafer, Indiana Beach and Purdue football games bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to MidWest Indiana every year.”
MidWest Indiana has a strong history in agriculture. Speaking on behalf of Pulaski County was Dan Dolezal, Director of the Pulaski County Community Development Commission.
“Today, value-added agriculture is thriving in our region. In Tippecanoe County, Tate and Lyle processes approximately 3,000 bushels of corn per day to make its sweetener products,” said Dolezal. “The Anderson’s Ethanol Plant in Cass County will produce 110 million gallons of ethanol per year and is a boost to the region’s farmers. Food processing plants in Carroll and Cass Counties are also boosts for farmers and food products from our region are being shipped across the world.”
MidWest Indiana Economic Development is setting out to create the premier economic development partnership, increase the wealth opportunities and quality of life within the region and advance a knowledge-based workforce that prioritizes education, work ethic and innovation.
A
