MAY 8-14, 2017
Tech companies will be looking to hire thousands of workers in central Indiana over the next several years. Jared Council reports that a shortage of talent to fill those jobs has local companies, education officials and community leaders brainstorming for ways to flood the pipeline. Also in this issue, Anthony Schoettle details the marketing effort to put a youthful face on the 102-year Kiwanis Club. And in A&E Etc., Mike Lopresti previews the big storylines that will play out this month at the Speedway.
Front PageBack to Top
Pressure escalates to mint tech talent after giant job announcement
A shortage of available talent to fill the thousands of jobs that tech companies like Infosys plan to offer has local leaders powwowing about ways to flood the tech pipeline.
Read MoreBEHIND THE NEWS: Reading the tea leaves after Angie’s List sale
No one knows how the $505 million sale of Angie’s List Inc. to New York media and internet company IAC will affect local employment, but the buyer doesn’t seem interested in slash and burn.
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Label maker DuraMark sees ‘immense’ growth prospects
The company says it patented all-digital production process allows it to produce labels faster, cheaper and in smaller quantities than by the traditional screen printing method.
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Kiwanis’ first major ad campaign seeks to put youthful face on brand
Most people are aware of the Kiwanis Club. Sort of. Precious few know what the 102-year-old organization actually does.
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Coalition prepares for another tobacco tax push in next year’s legislative session
Supporters of a cigarette tax hike are reviewing their strategy to see whether this year’s loss was a case of bad timing, faulty messaging, poor execution or just plain bad luck.
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Proposed zoning along U.S. 31 in Carmel would allow residential, more retail
The city is considering eliminating the highway’s Corridor Overlay, which prohibits residential use and restricts retail, parking, and building locations and sizes.
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Celadon execs avoid live questions in brief conference call
The troubled Indianapolis-based trucking company conducted a conference call Wednesday to answer questions about its latest accounting issues, but the call lasted 18 minutes and investors didn’t get to talk.
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Ambrose’s $550M proposal chosen to revamp GM stamping plant site
The local developer’s plan for the problematic downtown property calls for 2.7 million square feet of development, including 250 apartments in the first phase, office and retail space, a hotel and public green space.
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Butler set to start work on $49M School of Business building
Construction on the four-story structure should start next month and will continue a campus transformation featuring more than $220 million in projects.
Read MoreWith loss of pharmacies, Marsh can no longer sell hard liquor
State law prohibits grocery stores without pharmacies from selling spirits, prompting Marsh to offer big discounts on its inventory.
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City set to rescind tax breaks for planned Interactive Intelligence expansion
The company that bought Interactive Intelligence last year for $1.4 billion has fallen short of the Interactive’s hiring and investment goals and is vacating a new, $12.4 million office building on the northwest side.
Read MoreFocusBack to Top
Life sciences firms see some fundraising success but need massive sums
Around Indiana, life sciences companies are searching high and low for venture capital to fund promising but expensive new products, which can take a decade or longer to develop.
Read MoreEILENBERG: Are we at a tipping point in health care disruption?
Will the health care sector be disrupted by one big change or through a series of smaller changes?
Read MoreTranscript of April 28, 2017, Life Sciences Power Breakfast panel discussion
IBJ’s Life Sciences Power Breakfast was held April 28, 2017, at the Marriott downtown. Here’s the full transcript.
Read MoreOpinionBack to Top
EDITORIAL: Aggressive economic development attitude pays dividends
State must continue to ‘lean in’ as it works to ensure Indiana can fill thousands of new tech-sector jobs with qualified workers.
Read MoreDRAGOO & STEPHENS: Men must help pave way for women
We need men to be real partners at work, not just at home. We need men to “lean in” alongside women not only to ensure that both women and men have opportunities to lead but also to enable their organizations to thrive, innovate and compete.
Read MoreKENNEDY: Whistling in the dark
The rise of populism, increasing racial resentments and anti-immigrant rhetoric, the widening divide between flourishing cities populated with skilled workers and emptying rural areas pock-marked with abandoned factories and stores should be a wake-up call.
Read MoreMERISOTIS: When looking back moves people ahead
The state can improve upon its 41 percent rate of residents age 25 to 64 with education beyond high school by encouraging much greater use of reverse transfer.
Read MoreBOHANON & STYRING: Strong U.S. government is desirable, within limits
The Federalist Papers regarded federalism and its cousin, the separation of powers, as surer bulwarks of liberty than anything written into the Bill of Rights.
Read MoreKIM: How new owners turned Twinkies into solid gold
The tale of Hostess’ demise and rise from the ashes is a fascinating case study of iconic brands, mismanagement and how private equity/buyout firms can make mind-boggling sums in the blink of an eye.
Read MoreLETTER: Trump budget hits rural areas hard
In President Trump’s proposal, the community development block grant budget would be completely eliminated. If approved, this decision could be devastating to many Indiana communities.
Read MoreLETTER: Ricks should detail how to cut spending
The Lilly CEO’s commentary would gain strength and legitimacy if he told us how to make up the revenue lost to tax reform.
Read MoreIn BriefBack to Top
Duke Realty selling medical office business for $2.8B
The massive deal—which includes 6.6 million square feet of space spread across 71 buildings that are in operation and five that are under construction—will leave Duke as solely an industrial real estate company.
Read MoreVoters approve three Hamilton County school referendums
Carmel Clay Schools and the Sheridan Community School Corp. had proposed seven-year tax hikes for operational funding, and Westfield Washington Schools asked taxpayers to cover the costs of $90 million in construction projects.
Read MoreBorgWarner plans to spend $28M on new Noblesville tech center
BorgWarner Inc. is set to close two technical centers in central Indiana and consolidate them into a newly constructed facility in Noblesville that will house more than 300 high-wage employees, the Hamilton County city announced Wednesday afternoon.
Read MoreIndiana governor signs measure closing cold beer sales loophole
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb took the opportunity to also call for a review of the state's alcohol laws.
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