EDCWC E-News Updates

Business Development

EDC of Wayne County, Indiana recognizes companies at 2010 annual meeting

The EDC of Wayne County held their 2010 Annual Meeting on May 2nd. Seven companies were recognized for job creation and investment in Wayne County. The EDC also thanked the Indiana Municipal Power Agency (IMPA) and Hoosier Energy for sponsorship of staff training. IMPA member communities include Centerville Electric Utility and Richmond Power and Light. Whitewater Valley REMC, who provides power to a large section of Wayne County, is a member of Hoosier Energy. Past board members were recognized for their service. Current Board Chair, Gary Hackman, recognized 2010 Chair Kevin Ahaus for his leadership.

Pictured left to right: Tim Rogers, President and CEO, EDC of Wayne County; Kevin Ahaus, Past Chair, EDC of Wayne County; Gary Hackman, 2011 Chair, EDC of Wayne County, IN.

Energy efficiency incentive program available for IMPA’s commercial and industrial customers

Controlling the cost of electricity has long been a concern for companies, especially those who are large power users. The Indiana Municipal Power Agency (IMPA), a not-for-profit, wholesale power provider, is offering an incentive program for commercial and industrial customers who implement energy-saving measures. IMPA offers incentives to qualified customers in the areas of energy efficient lighting; heating, ventilation and air conditioning; motors, fans and drives; and refrigeration, food service and controls. IMPA serves 53 cities and towns across Indiana and one town in Ohio. IMPA provides wholesale power to communities ranging in population from 500 to 55,000 who own and operate their own power distribution systems. Communities in Wayne County served by IMPA include Richmond, Centerville and Dublin. For more information regarding IMPA, other services available or the Commercial and Industrial Energy Efficiency Incentive program, go to http://www.impa.com/IMPA-energy-efficiency-program.asp.

Indiana’s corporate income tax rate will decrease in the next four years

With the signing of House Bill 1004 by Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, the state’s corporate income tax rate is set to decrease 25 percent between 2012 and 2015. The current rate is 8.5 percent and is considered to be among the highest particularly among neighboring Midwest states. The legislation outlines a 0.5 percent drop each year to reach 6.5 percent in 2015. Sponsor of the bill, Senator Brandt Hershman says, “By reducing the tax burden for businesses we are sending a strong message to company decision-makers from coast-to-coast and around the world that Indiana is serious about competing for their business and will continue to work to make our state the best possible place to grow.” You can learn more here.

Community Development

Dot Foods and Dot transportation to hold job fair at Ivy Tech Community College in Richmond, Indiana

Dot Foods and Dot Transportation is hoping to fill over 50 full- and part-time truck driving positions for their Cambridge City facility at their job fair on June 4th at the Richmond campus of Ivy Tech Community College. The job fair will be held in Johnson Hall from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the campus located at I-70 and US 27 in Richmond. The company will also release information about a new program to help people who have never driven a truck professionally obtain their commercial driver’s license in order to drive for Dot Foods. Tim Loyd, General Manager at the Cambridge City facility says, “We have been in business now for over 50 years and our business is still growing. In fact, in 2010 the company posted the best sales year in its history.” Loyd says it’s because of this growth that they have the openings for truck drivers at the Cambridge City facility. Dot Foods, with $3.6 billion in revenues, is the nation’s leading food redistributor. Dot distributes foodservice, convenience, retail, vending and equipment and supplies for 700 of the nation’s top manufacturers to over 3,800 customers in all 50 states. Dot has 3,300 employees including over 190 at the Cambridge City facility.

Employer incentive offered by Ivy Tech for training

Ivy Tech Community College is offering an incentive to the region’s employers for use of the community college’s training services. The Employer Incentive Fund is targeted either at first time clients (those who have not used Ivy Tech’s training services in the past two years) or current clients purchasing new services. The incentive can be used to reduce training costs by half and a maximum amount of $2,500 is available. The incentive cannot be used for assessment, consulting or profiling services. Companies interested in the incentive fund can contact Kim Thurlow for a short application at kthurlow@ivytech.edu or by calling the Workforce and Economic Development (WED) office at 765-966-2656, ext. 4013.
www.ivytech.edu/richmond/WED

Available Sites/Buildings

Shovel ready sites available at the Indiana Gateway Industrial Park, Cambridge City, Indiana

Only 3 lots remain in this 282 acre industrial park. IEDC Shovel Ready Certified, available lot sizes are approximately 16 acres, 37 acres and 41 acres. Close proximity to I-70 via the 137 interchange and located on State Road 1. Current tenants include Taconic Farms, DOT Foods and Really Cool Foods. All lots can be subdivided to meet your exact needs. For more information, contact Valerie Shaffer, Vice President of Business Development by phone at 765-983-4769 or by email at valerie@edcwc.com.

To search for Wayne County buildings and sites visit the EDC’s Buildings and Sites web page.

Fast Facts

ACCRA first quarter 2011 cost of living index composite index numbers

The ACCRA Cost of Living Index measures price levels for consumer goods and services in 322 U.S. cities. The average for all participating areas equals 100 and each participant’s index is read as a percentage of the average for all places.

Wayne County Unemployment Rate

Source: STATS Indiana, 2011
(Note: Unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted)

For more employment statistics, visit the Indiana Department of Workforce Development’s June 2011 Indiana employment report and click “view”.

Did You Know?

Berry Plastics is the 74th largest privately held company in America. It was featured on the list of Forbes’ America’s Largest Private Companies of 2010.  Berry Plastics employs approximately 250 people in the Wayne County area and thousands more world wide. 

Originally established in 1967 as Imperial Plastics, the company has grown into a leading manufacturer of injection-molded plastic packaging, thermoformed products, flexible films, and tapes and coatings.  

Also on the Forbes 2010 list:

Dot Foods is the 108th largest privately held company in America and was featured in the best-selling book Think Big, Act Small by Jason Jennings as one of the most successful businesses (private or public) in the United States.

There really is a “Dot” of Dot Foods. The company is named after the founder’s wife, Dorothy Tracy. The founders of Dot Foods, Robert and Dorothy Tracy had eight children in 1960 when they started the company. The family would later grow to twelve children. Today there are over 50 grandchildren in the family.

Since January of 2009, the Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County, through its EDIT fund has assisted 21 businesses in their commitment to the retention and creation of close to 375 jobs. These projects have resulted in $57.4 million in new private investment in Wayne County. The county’s consolidated EDIT fund comes from funding provided by partnering towns in Wayne County who have agreed to provide half of their EDIT proceeds yearly for county-wide economic development. Partners in county-wide economic development currently include the towns of Cambridge City, Centerville, East Germantown, Economy, Hagerstown, Milton, Mt. Auburn, Richmond, Whitewater and Wayne County.

For more information, call us at 765-983-4769 or email us at norene@edcwc.com!