DECEMBER 10-16, 2012
This week, read about new Hulman & Co. CEO Mark Miles' vision for the IndyCar Series and find out where Midwest Energy Partners is looking to strike oil. In Focus, meet three local entrepreneurs who built their businesses during the Great Recession. And in A&E, Lou Harry shares his thoughts on three of Indianapolis' long-running holiday shows.
Front PageBack to Top
Retail, apartment blitz hits Fishers
It seems as if all of Fishers is under construction—and not just the perpetual improvements to Interstate 69. Developers have lined up a multitude of deals adding residential and commercial space, projects that are coinciding with the town’s recent voter-approved transition to a city.
Read MoreJapanese automakers help drive economy
A deal struck 25 years ago brought Subaru-Isuzu to Indiana. Toyota followed in 1996, and Honda came in 2008. The three Japanese automakers now collectively employ 10,000 and support thousands more jobs at suppliers across the state.
Read MoreDeal to save racing show had many twists, turns
In a matter of a few months, operators of the Performance Racing Industry show and its upstart rival, the International Motorsports Industry Show, went from being bitter rivals to merging—a deal that will return the world’s largest motorsports trade show to Indianapolis next December.
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Midwest Energy oil firm drilling for $15M
An Indianapolis investment advisory oil firm has been looking for blowouts in its own back yard. Midwest Energy Partners is preparing for its seventh—and largest—round of funding to pay for oil drilling in southwestern Indiana and southeastern Illinois.
Read MoreNew Hulman & Co. CEO eyes changes to resurrect open-wheel racing
New Hulman and Co. CEO Mark Miles will focus in his new role on all of Hulman & Co.’s ventures—including real estate holdings and Clabber Girl. But his biggest challenge will be turning around the money-losing IndyCar Series and bolstering one of the region’s most famous landmarks—the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Read MoreLawmakers may tighten grip on gold-buying business
State lawmakers and Indianapolis officials are looking to regulate the gold-buying business, which police say provides an easy outlet for stolen goods. Cash-for-gold stores have multiplied as prices more than doubled since 2007.
Read MoreInvestors let down guard, opening door to Durham fraud
Shouldn’t the 5,100 Ohio investors who lost more than $200 million when Fair collapsed have seen Fair’s lofty interest rates as a red flag?
Read MoreTax software upstart proves appeal to major companies
AppealTrack’s simplicity gains attention in growing market for firms managing property tax appeals.
Read MoreBill would crack down on convenience store safety
Stores with crime problems that wanted to remain open overnight would have to do one of the following: have two employees working, install a bulletproof enclosure, have a security guard or conduct business through a pass-through trough.
Read MoreAbout 1 in 10 firms plans to drop coverage
Even as the rising cost of medical benefits has moderated, 11 percent of Indiana employers with 10 or more workers say they will terminate their medical coverage within the next five years, according to the latest survey from the benefits consulting firm Mercer.
Read MoreSite of historic church being shopped for retail development
The 4.5-acre site of the St. John United Church of Christ is back on the market following the settlement earlier this year of a lawsuit between the church and the city.
Read MoreFocusBack to Top
How 3 real estate entrepreneurs expanded during slowdown
Aasif Bade of Ambrose Property Group, Tadd Miller of Milhaus Development and Joe Whitsett of The Whitsett Group saw opportunity as many rivals retrenched.
Read MoreCornerstone content with small medical developments
Local firm has carved out niche building for hospitals, physician groups.
Read MoreSecond-quarter commercial real estate statistics for Indianapolis
Commercial Real Estate Focus sections include statistical snapshots of Indianapolis' multi-tenant office vacancy rates and the local industrial market.
Read MoreOpinionBack to Top
EDITORIAL: Praise for entrepreneurs who seize the moment
The three real estate developers profiled in our Commercial Real Estate Focus section this week personify that maxim—wisdom that we often lose sight of in the midst of economic hardship.
Read MoreMAURER: Think outside the retirement box
I realized that my original vision of the American Dream was a nightmare. I learned that there is more to business than the money earned.
Read MoreRUSTHOVEN: Pence, Obama contrasted
Indiana’s just-elected governor and the nation’s just re-elected president take markedly different approaches to current economic issues.
Read MoreGIGERICH: Need for leadership growing critical
As a father of four (three of whom are about to become teenagers—yes, triplets), my wife and I are constantly talking to them regarding the importance of being a leader and making good choices.
Read MoreHICKS: Perhaps it is time for Americans to pay our debts
Our republic can—and probably should—run a debt. As a great nation, we build and do things that endure, and these should be paid for, in part, by successive generations.
Read MoreKIM: Don’t be fooled by ‘hot hand’ fantasy in hoops or investing
With basketball a metaphor for life for many passionate fans, what lessons hold true both on and off the court?
Read MoreKissinger partly right
Pete Kissinger [Nov. 26 letter] seems to think that the Bible is the root of all intolerance.
Read MoreMaurer pumped stock
Mickey Maurer’s [Nov. 26] commentary details a very rosy outlook for the future of Endocyte, the Indiana biopharmaceutical company.
Read MoreDon’t restrict who can marry
In Indiana, the groundwork is again being laid by legislators to bring to a vote a constitutional amendment which would define marriage as between one man and one woman.
Read MoreImpairment is impairment
I am astounded by the editorial reactions and apparent support for the legalization of small amounts of marijuana.
Read MoreRecycling is big economic engine
In the [Nov. 19] IBJ, Jesse Kharbanda outlined the Hoosier Environmental Council’s legislative “wish list” for the upcoming session.
Read MoreIn BriefBack to Top
Honda unveils 2013 Civic
Compact car made in Greensburg usually gets rave reviews from critics, but last year’s model was slammed for poor handling and a ‘cheap’ interior.
Read MoreIndiana SBA lending drops in 2012, but still exceeds 2010
Indiana businesses borrowed $424.7 million through U.S. Small Business Administration programs in 2012, an 18-percent decline from 2011, latest SBA statistics show.
Read MoreYogurt bares all, but container is recyclable
Company descended from Ball Corp. making recyclable glass packaging for product typically found in plastic.
Read MoreMonarch turns to natural gas to run trucking fleet
In a sign of the rising popularity of natural gas engines, the Indianapolis-based distributor of alcoholic beverages will make 85 of its 105 trucks run on natural gas by 2015.
Read MoreISO reports smaller deficit after more support from foundation
The Indianapolis Symphony Society on Monday said its expenses exceeded revenue by $900,000 in the 2011-2012 fiscal year despite $11.4 million in funding from its endowment.
Read MoreEast-side biz incubator’s new owner is old owner
The Indianapolis Enterprise Center on the near-east side has been acquired by a local investor group led by the former owner of the troubled business incubator.
Read MoreNico raises $6.5 million more from existing investors
Indianapolis-based Nico Corp. wants to use its new round of capital to develop brain surgery products to address diseases that were often considered inoperable, such as metastatic brain cancer and intracerebral hemorrhages.
Read MorePROXY CORNER: Steel Dynamics Inc.
Fort Wayne-based Steel Dynamics Inc. is one of the largest steel producers and metals recyclers in the United States.
Read MoreHoliday Wish List
The following is a list of Indianapolis-area not-for-profit organizations and the things each needs most. This is an opportunity for businesses and individuals to make tax-deductible gifts in the spirit of the season. Anyone who wishes to make a contribution should contact the organization directly.This list is being published weekly through Dec. 24. Requests should […]
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