APRIL 21-27, 2014
Mayor Greg Ballard months ago announced plans for the nation's first all-electric car sharing service, but they have hit an imposing speed bump. Kathleen McLaughlin reveals the obstacle that could pass $16 million in costs to IPL customers. Also in this week's issue, Anthony Schoettle takes an indepth look at the Indiana Pacers' financial situation, which was brightening even before the team's recent subsidy deal with the city. And in Focus, Jeff Newman explores the architectural salvage niche and how players are adapting to economic trends.
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IPL wants rate hike to fund car-sharing charging stations
Mayor Greg Ballard’s hope of making Indianapolis the first U.S. city with an all-electric car- sharing service hinges on a rate hike to cover $16 million in costs to Indianapolis Power and Light.
Read MoreCity’s $160M deal adds to Pacers’ financial winning streak
The Pacers’ revenue stream this season has increased about $42 million from where it was during the 2008-2009 season, and the team’s finances could get even brighter as the NBA negotiates a new national television package.
Read MoreBeck’s Hybrids prospers against far bigger firms
When Lawrence and Francis Beck planted six acres of hybrid corn on their Hamilton County farm almost eight decades ago, the father and son sowed the seeds of a family business that’s still growing despite widespread industry consolidation.
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Chatham Tap crew buying ex-church for brewery, restaurant
The owners of two popular pubs on Massachusetts Avenue are delving into the trendy micro-brewery business with plans for a brewery and restaurant in a historic former church a few blocks away.
Read MoreTransit advocates step up push to sway policymakers
A grass-roots effort to salvage daily train service from Indianapolis to Chicago is solidifying into year-round advocacy for passenger rail in Indiana.
Read MoreMainstreet aims to help finance nursing home through crowdfunding
Mainstreet Property Group LLC plans to launch a new round of private placement fundraising on April 21 using a website run by Oregon-based CrowdStreet Inc. and a mix of traditional advertising in central Indiana.
Read MoreBanks whittle down Indy-area branches
Since January 2013, banks have closed 35 branches in Marion County and surrounding counties but have opened only six new ones.
Read MoreLocal businesses struggle to make sense of Heartbleed flaw
Companies around Indianapolis—especially small ones without their own IT teams—are still trying to determine how or even if they were affected by the confounding Internet security gap.
Read MoreFocusBack to Top
Indianapolis architectural salvage yards still in the hunt
The recession and lingering uncertain construction market put the shops through a withering shakeout, but several have found ways to thrive.
Read MoreBECKER: Indianapolis transit hub will redeem eyesore
Buses get no respect. Romance clings to the rails and to the grand stations that serve them. When you take a train, you may well find yourself in a replica of a Greek temple or the Baths of Caracalla.
Read MoreOpinionBack to Top
EDITORIAL: Fieldhouse lid cracking open
After years of insisting that it cannot make ends meet running Bankers Life Fieldhouse, and receiving millions of taxpayer dollars to ease the pain, Pacers Sports & Entertainment has agreed to open its books—somewhat—to city officials, and to the rest of us.
Read MoreMORRIS: May is mix of new fun, good memories
This year’s lead-up to the Indy 500 recalls a time when 16th and Georgetown was the only place to be.
Read MoreKENNEDY: First, eat the spinach
There is probably not a parent on the planet who hasn’t delivered the time-honored dinner lecture, “No dessert unless you eat your vegetables.” We want our children to understand that first things come first—that consuming healthy food has to come before sugary treats, no matter how tempting.
Read MoreHENDERSON: Why we should halt tax abatements
It’s time to rein in the tax abaters. If the business plan succeeds only if you can avoid or abate taxes, then it’s a bad plan.
Read MoreSkarbeck: Debt levels have shot higher in wake of financial crisis
According to the Switzerland-based Bank for International Settlements, aggregate global debt has ballooned more than 40 percent since the financial crisis and is estimated to have reached $100 trillion.
Read MoreHicks: Tax rates only half the story of government
With the passing of April 15 and the annual ritual of tax filings, news pages are filled with discussion about the size of federal, state and local tax burdens.
Read MorePlenty of credit for bike progress
I would like to thank the IBJ’s [April 14] editorial writers for acknowledging the explosion of Indy’s bicycling culture and amenities in the seven years since I took office, but I cannot in good conscience accept the credit single-handedly.
Read MoreBike legacy? Really?
Is [bike-share] worthy of an editorial [April 14]? A substantive accomplishment would be getting a large number of commuters to use bicycles rather than cars.
Read MoreLawyer stirs up trouble
After reading the lunacy involved in the [April 14] article concerning Richard Bell, I’m reminded of one of my favorite jokes:
Read MoreIn BriefBack to Top
Local private equity firm unveils $316M investment fund
Hammond Kennedy Whitney & Co. plans to use its biggest-ever fund to target mid-sized companies in the medical, infrastructure and energy sectors.
Read MoreGov. Mike Pence tours Germany
Gov. Mike Pence seemed to be looking for ideas about education as much as economic development deals on his recent trip to Germany.
Read MoreFort Wayne ad agency hangs shingle in Indy
Fort Wayne-based advertising/PR firm Asher Agency has opened an Indianapolis office, at 255 N. Alabama St., in the Lockerbie Commons Firehouse.
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