JAN. 29-FEB. 4, 2021
Downtown hoteliers say they’re confident they'll be well-staffed and ready to go in six weeks when March Madness comes to town, bringing a sudden influx of thousands of guests to a market that has been operating well below normal levels since the pandemic began. IBJ’s Mickey Shuey sheds light on the needs hoteliers are trying to anticipate as they gear up for the rush. Also in this week’s paper, Greg Andrews unpacks the ramifications of a settlement that will cost Indianapolis-based health insurer Anthem nearly $600 million. Despite the jaw-dropping price tag, the deal is viewed by some investment analysts as a huge win for the company. And Lindsey Erdody reports on legislative efforts to establish workplace accommodations for pregnant women in Indiana, one of about 20 states that doesn’t have them on the books.
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Downtown properties scramble to ramp up for NCAA influx
Five of the city’s most prominent hotels, accounting for more than 2,800 rooms, will house the 68 teams in the three-week NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament that tips off March 18.
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Anthem paying $594M to settle antitrust litigation, but deal terms might fuel growth
Paying a half-billion-dollar settlement might seem painful, but health care observers say resulting changes to Blue Cross Blue Shield rules are so favorable to Anthem’s growth prospects that the deal is a huge win.
Read MoreLegislation seeks to keep pregnant women on the job
Gov. Eric Holcomb and a group of lawmakers and family advocates are pushing for legislation that would require companies to offer more breaks or modify schedules and tasks for pregnant women—if they need them.
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Local firm’s new initiative matches remote workers with relocation incentives
Entrepreneurs Bill Oesterle and Evan Hock last month launched MakeMyMove, a subsidiary of TMap.
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Fishers startup gamifies trading, targets historically Black colleges
Social media startup Stockteamup has partnered with the philanthropic arm of a hip-hop-inspired snack company to teach financial investing to Black communities.
Read MoreQ&A with Nicole Ulrich, who manages the food hall at Bottleworks
The massive hall, known as The Garage, currently features 10 dining and drink options and three retail spaces and opened early this month to much fanfare. Another five dining selections are on their way.
Read MoreFast-growing startup to add 225 jobs, expand Carmel headquarters
Kinetic Advantage, which helps finance inventory for independent car dealers, launched last July, but has already grown to 65 employees and is operating in 26 markets.
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MacKenzie Scott donation to United Way of Central Indiana breaks organization record
The United Way of Central Indiana announced Wednesday that a donation of a previously undisclosed amount from philanthropist and author MacKenzie Scott is the largest gift from a single donor the organization has ever received.
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Dealmaking activities have largely moved online for social distancing. Will the new habits stick?
Since the pandemic has shifted many of these interactions online, local dealmakers say they feel the loss of assessing non-verbal cues and interactions among members of a management team as they decide whether to acquire companies or invest in startups.
Read More2020 mergers and acquisitions that lacked public prices
Here are notable Indianapolis-area mergers and acquisitions that closed in 2020 for which financial details were not available.
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Why dealmakers expect tech M&A to keep up its red-hot run
Salesforce.com Inc.’s December announcement that it was buying Slack Technologies Inc. for $25 billion—the largest software deal of the year—could spur other companies to revisit their wish lists, advisers said.
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Editorial: IndyCar, Penske provide strong example of jumpstarting diversity efforts
Announcements are easy. Implementation is harder. And implementation that leads to impactful change is harder still.
Read MoreLesley Weidenbener: Legislative efforts to strip power from governor could mean headaches for lawmakers
Lawmakers seeking to curb gubernatorial power in emergencies might want to think twice about whether they are prepared for the aftermath.
Read MoreChristian Maslowski: Johnson County needs advanced industries, inclusive growth
Aspire Economic Development and Chamber Alliance was formed to drive economic development and business success in Johnson County and southern Marion County. Our organization recently released a five-year strategy to position the region for continued economic success.
Read MoreKevin Teasley: Let 21st century scholars use college dollars in high school
The latest Indiana Higher Education Commission report finds that 51% of students who start college complete a degree within six years of graduation from high school, 38% earn a four-year degree on time, and 21% earn a two-year degree on time. How do we get to 100% college completion?
Read MoreLiz Malatestinic: New year, administration bring new challenges for employers
Regardless of whether any new laws that affect the workplace are enacted, there are always administrative changes at the federal level that affect companies. Regulatory agencies and commissions such as the EEOC, the Department of Labor and the National Labor Relations Board have rule-making authority on a variety of important issues that can impact employers, and their interpretations often change with new administrations.
Read MoreJalene Hahn: Financial planner, adviser, broker? What’s in a name?
Most titles are for marketing purposes and are generally meaningless. Marketing pitches lead you to believe there is no distinction among different types of financial providers.
Read MoreBohanon & Curott: Facebook, Twitter should not be regulated as common carriers
Isn’t it interesting how many on the right have suddenly found affinity with the common-carrier doctrine, while those on the left have abruptly discovered a commitment to unfettered free markets?
Read MoreLetter: Cosmetologists need licensing
In Jennifer Wagner’s column [Pandemic offers opportunity to rethink regulations, Forefront, Jan. 15], her choice of licensed professions to compare was interesting. I agree the two professions (real estate agent and cosmetologist) seem, on the surface, to be treated unequally. However, I disagree with her statement that “a sloppy real estate agent is likely to do more long-term damage than crooked bangs.”
Read MoreLetter: Make column required reading
The column titled “We must accept election results as part of free market, society” [Jan. 22] should be required reading for all politicians and all who care about our democracy.
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Indy airport adding leisure carrier with routes to Orlando, Minneapolis
Recently acquired by a private equity fund, Sun Country Airlines has added dozens of leisure-oriented routes and currently serves more than 50 destinations.
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Elanco cuts 50 jobs at Greenfield HQ as part of latest restructuring
The maker of animal feeds and vaccines also is closing research and development sites in Germany and New Zealand, and making smaller cuts elsewhere. Altogether, Elanco is chopping 350 jobs in 23 countries.
Read MoreGreenwood-based filter company expands its manufacturing plant, workforce
National Trade Supply, located at 2011 Southtech Drive, employs 157 people in Greenwood and 167 at retail locations throughout the state and country. That includes 43 local employees it added last year.
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Eatery specializing in cereal, breakfast treats coming to Greenwood
Day & Night Cereal Bar, which opens next month at Greenwood Park Mall, is a franchised location for the Los Angeles-based concept, which launched last summer as a mobile food truck.
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Lopresti: Sports legends’ endings come in many flavors
Philip Rivers’ short career as a Colt brings to mind other notable last games in the state of Indiana, including the swan songs of Reggie Miller, Gene Keady, Peyton manning and Brad Stevens.
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