Heightened competition puts mayors on hot seat
Elected officials are struggling to know how to respond to the weak economy and constituent demands for jobs.
Government & Economic Development
Articles
City halts apartment developer
The Near North Development Corp. asked the city in a Sept. 2 e-mail to compare the renderings for the Di Rimini apartment project at 733 N. Capital Ave. with what was actually taking shape. A week later, the Department of Code Enforcement issued a stop-work order for the project.
Firms with jobs ask for the moon; governments here show restraint
Businesses have always held the upper hand in negotiating for incentives with local government, but the past couple of years have given rise to the most intensely competitive economic development environment since the early 1980s.
Fishers forming sister-city relationship with suburb of Chinese city
The area southwest of Shanghai is known as a tourist destination, as well as for its high-tech industrial development zones.
FSSA names interim chief for welfare division
A personnel consultant who helped Indiana's human services agency develop its "hybrid system" of face-to-face case worker contact with automated welfare intake is now running the agency's main welfare division.
Health reform forces providers, insurers to lay aside rivalries
In this new age of health care, ushered in by President Obama’s signing in March of a sweeping health care reform law, health care players are encouraged to remove the gloves if they want to reap the benefits of reform.
Downtown tax district reaps unexpected windfall
The city has accumulated a $12 million surplus of funds from the downtown TIF district, raising questions from critics who wonder how the windfall came about.
Democrats: Secretary of state hopeful committed voter fraud
The Republican hoping to be Indiana's next top election official committed voter fraud when he cast a ballot in the May primary using his ex-wife's home as his address, Democrats alleged Tuesday.
Critics of parking proposal question $500,000 penalty
City leaders argue the termination fee would be paid only if the city breaks the 50-year agreement after the City-County Council signs off on the deal, not if the contract doesn’t win approval.
Obama signs $30B small-business lending bill
Scoring a prized political victory five weeks before the Nov. 2 elections, President Barack Obama on Monday signed a bill to help small businesses expand and hire by cutting their taxes and creating a $30 billion loan fund.
Dolce hotel, YMCA part of city-funded ‘North of South’ development
The city plans to issue bonds and use tax-increment financing to fund the $150M project, which also will include 320 high-end apartments and 40,000 square feet of retail space. Construction should begin this year.
Raytheon’s local plant lands $42M Navy order
Raytheon Technical Services Co. in Indianapolis has scored a $42 million contract to make forward-looking infrared sensors for the U.S. Air Force’s HH-60G helicopter, the Department of Defense said late last week.
Hoosiers can register to vote using cell phones
Indiana has a new high-tech way residents can register to vote for the Nov. 2 elections — using Internet-capable mobile phones.
INDOT lays off 30 employees in budget move
Gov. Mitch Daniels said the layoffs were “one of the very, very few involuntary reductions” that Indiana government has had to make to cut spending.
Money, economy hobble Democrat in Senate race
Ellsworth struggling as race against Coats for seat held by Evan Bayh swings into final weeks.
Indiana child care agencies protest cost of new rules
An effort to shift some foster care costs to the federal government would throw up more red tape and make it harder for caretakers and providers to get services for troubled children, a coalition of child care agencies said Friday.
Indiana slow to accept federal stimulus help
Under political pressure, Gov. Mitch Daniels’ administration has come late to the federal stimulus funds game. At best, the state will recover $24 million in reimbursements for money spent by not-for-profit agencies on services to the poor.
Tax caps spread relief around
Property tax caps—promoted as a way to relieve homeowners from skyrocketing property tax bills—have provided much more relief to a different group of taxpayers. Owners of rental properties and second homes got the lion’s share of assistance from the caps.
City meets deadline to get federal money for housing projects
The $29 million will be used to acquire and demolish or rehabilitate foreclosed and abandoned homes.
Indiana lawmakers push for Internet taxes
A bipartisan duo of state lawmakers wants Congress to allow states to collect sales taxes on Internet purchases, a move they say could bring hundreds of millions of dollars to cash-strapped Indiana.