JULY 24-30, 2020
This week, Lindsey Erdody explores how many not-for-profit groups that provide vital services for needy clients have been forced to cut back and modify their missions on the fly during the pandemic. Mickey Shuey digs into the co-dependent relationship between downtown’s restaurants and the city’s hard-hit convention and tourism business. We have an in-depth interview on the topic of downtown’s survival with Mayor Joe Hogsett. He was grilled by the IBJ editorial board about a variety of concerns, including the city’s response to rioting and looting last month and the potential that the loss of convention business could start a chain reaction that debilitates downtown. And be sure to check out IBJ's annual list of the 25 fastest-growing companies in the Indianapolis area.
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Roiled by pandemic, not-for-profits cut back, shift missions
Seventy percent of not-for-profits in Indiana have reduced programs or limited capacity since the coronavirus pandemic hit the state, according to a recent report.
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Hogsett says city resilient, downtown to rise again
The mayor, who is in the first year of his second term, acknowledged the challenges—and even some naivete when it came to the riots. But Hogsett, a Democrat, said he’s confident in the ability of residents, the business community and leaders to address them.
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Couple’s germ-fighting robot keeps humans safe
The skill sets of husband-and-wife duo Jason and Diana Brugh are as perfectly blended for the task they aim to accomplish as the abilities of the integrated robots they’re building to kill germs and fight coronavirus in the workplace. Diana Brugh is a microbiologist with experience in food science and working with bacteria- and virus-killing […]
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Area ad agency adding 145 jobs, moving its HQ to downtown Indy even as industry shrinks overall
The Indiana Economic Development Corp. has offered JDA Worldwide and its newly created parent company, Prolific, up to $2.2 million in tax credits to support its expansion plans.
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Firms that stage trade shows retool themselves for remote events
Firms that specialize in making conferences, fundraisers and other events memorable and financially successful must pivot on a dime to stay relevant in the coronavirus era.
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More twists, turns in CNO’s surreal hedge fund odyssey
The Carmel-based insurer for years has been managing the fallout of a deal it cut in 2013 that was supposed to reduce risk but instead blew up in spectacular fashion.
Read MoreQ&A with Hotel Carmichael chef Joe Hsu
The immigrant from Taiwan is deep in research and development for his new role as executive chef at Vivante, a French restaurant opening in Carmel’s luxurious Hotel Carmichael on Aug. 4.
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Developer streamlines plans for mixed-use project on Speedway’s main drag
The $6 million project is expected to feature retail space on the first floor—already fully pre-leased—along with apartments on the second floor and condominiums on the third.
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IBJ panel discussion: Tech leaders say firms must do more to diversify staff, networks
The panel was Cummins Inc. Chief Information Officer Sherry Aaholm, Indy Women in Tech community engagement strategist Ariel Crawley, Vertex Intelligence CEO Tyler Foxworthy, TechPoint CEO Mike Langellier, Eleven Fifty Academy Chief Operating Officer Dewand Neely and Scale Computing CEO Jeff Ready.
Read MoreINDY BEACONS: Dr. John Evans created state’s first mental health hospital
The accomplished doctor move on to found both Northwestern University and the University of Denver.
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Downtown restaurants, conventions could be stuck in downward spiral
The loss in convention business due to COVID-19 is starving downtown restaurants of customers. And without great restaurants, Indy isn’t as attractive as a convention destination.
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Hogsett: Delays likely for Pan Am Plaza hotel, convention center project
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said the city is continuing to work with Indianapolis-based Kite Realty Group Trust—which is developing the project—to finalize a reworked timeline.
Read MoreEldorado’s $17.3B merger with Caesars clears final hurdle
The deal, which affects five Indiana casinos, was approved by New Jersey regulators on Friday.
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EDITORIAL: Feds should stay out of local decisions about whether to reopen schools
Considerations about whether students should be in school are about far more than just whether it’s the best learning environment.
Read MoreGREG MORRIS: Diversity project seeks corporate partners
Indy Accompliceship can help your company take the next step toward a more racially equitable Indianapolis.
Read MoreWALLIN: Government should loosen restrictions on hemp-derived CBD sales
Rather than a bailout from the federal government, what Indiana hemp farmers and small-business owners need is for the federal government to classify cannabidiol as a food additive or supplement.
Read MoreBELL: Equal access to broadband needed to shrink equity gaps for Hoosiers
Our society already relies on the internet for education, jobs and personal needs, yet 666,000 people in Indiana live without access to high-speed internet.
Read MorePETE THE PLANNER: Milestones are points on your financial journey, not destinations
Debt elimination is a beautiful thing. From paying off student loans to making your last mortgage payment, getting rid of monthly debt obligations is undoubtedly an accomplishment worth acknowledging and celebrating.
Read MoreWESTERHAUS-RENFROW: How companies can ‘walk the walk’ on social issues
Corporate America can no longer get away with merely issuing token public statements on websites or social media supporting social justice issues.
Read MoreBOHANON & CUROTT: Masks teach economic lesson of external benefits
Debating mask wearing as a matter of individual liberty largely misses the boat.
Read MoreLETTER: Thank you for good care
My son Adam is my world and, like for most parents, his well-being and safety is my number one priority. That’s why when he tested positive for COVID-19 my heart sank. Even though the virus hadn’t impacted adults around his age, 40, as severely as other groups, Adam is at higher risk because of underlying […]
Read MoreLETTER: Hill is no role model
I am a frequent reader of Curt Smith’s columns and enjoy his perspectives on matters which are important to our community. With respect to his July 10 Forefront column, “Three voices worth hearing in fight to stop violence,” I respectfully disagree with his choice of Curtis Hill as one of those voices. The point about […]
Read MoreLETTER: Positive news much appreciated
The alternating columns of Greg Morris and Nate Feltman are always thoughtful, informative and enjoyable, whether or not one agrees with the opinion expressed in each. I was motivated to write a long overdue letter of appreciation after reading Feltman’s column in the July 17 IBJ: “Are you ready for some positive news?” My answer […]
Read MoreLETTER: You can’t delete the past
I was especially pleased to see Indiana University McKinney School of Law student Riley Parr’s valid reasoning in his recent Forefront column [Don’t consider history in the context of today, Forefront, July 17]. Don’t you wish that all the so-called Constitutional EXPERTS really knew what they were talking about? Deleting persons of veneration of the […]
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Lilly seeking $23.8M tax break to expand diabetes research, production
In the past seven years, the drugmaker has received tax breaks worth nearly $40 million in exchange for investing more than $500 million at its Indianapolis properties.
Read MorePenrod Arts Fair canceled due to coronavirus concerns
The annual festival, which for more than 50 years has served as the unofficial kickoff of the fall arts season in Indianapolis, typically attracts more than 20,000 attendees and hundreds of artists and performers.
Read MorePalmer Trucks plans $17M expansion, 220 new jobs in Indianapolis
Plans call for the 55-year-old truck dealer to add a new dealership and training center on the east side of Indianapolis and expand its existing operations on the west side.
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Fishers council approves $16M financing plan for Geist Waterfront Park’s first phase
The lone council member to vote against the plan questioned whether now is an appropriate time to commit more money to a “nice-to-have” project.
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Area builders see big jump in home-construction applications
After a slowdown in May, applications for home construction permits made a solid rebound in the Indianapolis area in June despite the pandemic.
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Fast 25: Virus forces fast-growing firms to retool on the fly
The pandemic has changed business in ways great and small, and it’s required companies to adapt quickly.
Read MoreFast 25: Genezen Laboratories Inc.
The company is tapping into the explosive growth in gene therapy research, but in a way founder Bill Vincent believes is lower risk.
Read MoreFast 25: GenTech Associates Inc.
The company has prospered by providing management consulting services to arms of government.
Read MoreFast 25: Compass Commercial Construction Group LLC
The company’s specialties include constructing huge warehouses, a type of real estate that’s experiencing explosive growth.
Read MoreFast 25: Mavpak
The industrial-packaging distributor has experienced explosive growth by riding the e-commerce wave.
Read MoreFast 25: Sipes Asphalt Solutions
The company has been able to grow rapidly through word-of-mouth referrals and the growth of existing customers.
Read MoreFast 25: Apex Infinite Solutions LLC
The company says it stands out from other managed-IT services firms by consulting with clients on strategy.
Read MoreFast 25: Speedread Technologies
The company distributes automated meter-reading systems for water, gas and electric meters.
Read MoreFast 25: Platinum Recruiting Group
The company began as an accounting and finance staffing firm in 2008 but over the years has substantially broadened its services.
Read MoreFast 25: Professional Management Enterprises Inc.
The company, which provides administrative support, human resources, call centers and customer service, has seen revenue roughly double over the past 18 months, thanks in part to contracts with Anthem and Conduent.
Read MoreFast 25: Formstack LLC
The company, which helps customers build online forms and automate workflow, has made five acquisitions in the past 24 months, the most recent an e-signature business.
Read MoreFast 25: Gemco Constructors LLC
The company excels by letting “our team members do what they’re great at and encouraging them to go for it,” said Andrew Toth, the chief financial officer for the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, building automation systems and service contractor.
Read MoreFast 25: Mainstay Property Group
The real estate investment firm handles 150-200 projects a year on behalf of other investors that are both local and out of state, meaning it coaches, consults and advises those investors on Indy-area properties.
Read MoreFast 25: Hubstaff
The firm’s software lets small businesses create detailed reports about the amount of time employees spending working for each client on a daily and hourly basis. It can be used to invoice clients automatically, show them proof of work, pay contractors, manage flow and more.
Read MoreFast 25: SupplyKick
The company help consumer brands achieve their full potential on Amazon, which means Amazon’s dominance has helped spur SupplyKick’s growth.
Read MoreFast 25: Renewable Transport Services Inc.
The refrigerated-trucking company transports milk, produce, frozen goods and medical goods throughout the Midwest and sometimes beyond and has grown, its founder says, thanks to the quality service it provides.
Read MoreFast 25: GadellNet IT Consulting
The firm, which provides IT services for small and midsize companies, has been working more with businesses that are looking beyond fixing their infrastructure to figuring out how to maximize employee productivity and efficiency.
Read MoreFast 25: Peterman Heating Cooling and Plumbing
The company moved some of its advertising budget from radio to TV over the past year—and it has paid off, with television ads becoming its top source of leads.
Read MoreFast 25: Barratt Asset Management
The company, which buys and manages apartment communities, has 13 total assets in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois and will close on two more this summer.
Read MoreFast 25: Metazoa Brewing Co.
Some Indianapolis restaurants have asked the breweary to make proprietary beers for them—which they do—and Metazoa also cans three of its beers for sale in local grocery and liquor stores.
Read MoreFast 25: DB Services
The software maker has grown thanks to long-term relationships the company has built with its clients, some of whom have been partners for more than a decade.
Read MoreFast 25: Magnolia Boutique
The company’s focus is on affordable items, with the idea that its customers can get a head-to-toe look for under $100.
Read MoreFast 25: Steele Insurance and Financial Services Inc.
In 2019, the company retained 100% of its existing customers. It has a formal plan to triple its revenue and number of customers over the next nine years.
Read MoreFast 25: MSL Copack + Ecomm
The company has always been a secondary contract packaging facility, taking products from primary manufacturers that make one item and doing something different with that item.
Read MoreFast 25: IWM Consulting Group LLC
The remediation expert specializes in brownfield investigation—looking at any previously developed land that is not in use but might have been contaminated.
Read MoreFast 25: Rehab Medical
The company now has a presence in 18 states, including more Indiana locations and entry into the Florida market.
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MIKE LOPRESTI: What’s in a name? It’s not always what you think
The monikers we associate with our favorite teams have interesting origins, among them are children, fires and passing thunderstorms.
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