Legislators struggling with economic imperatives
The Indiana state budget will continue to be a work in progress for many more weeks.
Government & Economic Development
Articles
Market, not bailouts, should stimulate refinancings
Markets, no matter how imperfect, not government programs, manage the economy.
Payroll tax hike looming
Shoring up the state’s jobless-fund shortfall likely will cost employers and employees more.
Crackdown on bank pay pinches Hoosier execs
When Sen. Chris Dodd decided to wage war on corporate excess, he had Wall Street fat cats in his sights, not people like Bob Jones, the folksy CEO of Old National Corp. in Evansville.
ICVA seeks extra $15M to market new center
The Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association says it needs more sales and marketing firepower to fill an expanded convention
center and adjacent hotels. That means asking the city’s Capital Improvement Board—one of ICVA’s primary sources of funds—for
a budget increase of up to 50 percent at the worst possible time.
Economic illnesses are like viruses
What kind of remedy should be applied to the economy? Surely we want something that will work quickly. But we also want something
that will help provide income in the future. That’s called investment.
CIB can’t count on mall funders
If the Capital Improvement Board comes, hat in hand, looking for help, we trust the investing companies will carefully weigh the benefits they’ve derived from the city and its thriving downtown before delivering an answer.
Indians concerned about possible ticket tax
Some local officials wrestling with the Capital Improvement Board’s $37 million deficit think part of the profit made by the Indianapolis Indians could be used to narrow that deficit, but Indian officials balk at that idea because they say they’ve already paid more than their share.
CIB could ask for $34 million in write-offs from Circle Centre investors to ease deficit
A group of mostly local companies that made big investments to help launch Circle Centre mall soon could be asked to write
off a portion of profits they agreed to redirect into the construction of Conseco Fieldhouse.
Are we victims of ‘group think’?
“Group think,” a powerful and controlling force, was present as the Capital Improvement Board built Lucas Oil Stadium and Eli Lilly and Co. developed and marketed Zyprexa.
Don’t ask the Colts
The Colts are our “heroes,” the bedrock of our community (at least for the few months per year that most of them spend here). Why should these esteemed athletes help the city?
Pacers: We’ve lost money 9 of last 10 years
Swamped by financial losses that go back to the time Herb and Mel Simon bought the Indiana Pacers in 1983, team officials
are now looking for a new game plan—one that may involve financial assistance from taxpayers and visitors.
NASA contracts soaring
NASA begins to award more grants to Indiana firms and universities.
An open letter to Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay
Jim, you could engender so much good will if you would step forward and provide some short-term relief by paying more toward the operating costs of Lucas Oil Stadium.
CIB failure isn’t an option
Creativity and transparency are required to fix the Capital Improvement Board’s financial woes.
Redevelopment plans threaten Gasoline Alley
Business owners along the fabled Gasoline Alley north of Rockville Road think a proposal to close a north-south road linking
them to the front door of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will have devastating effects.
Proposed fiscal stimulus package has high costs
Expeditious and clever spending on roads, infrastructure and, in the half-dozen states where it is possible, a tax cut will determine the success of the stimulus plan.
Stimulus could help medical exchange
President Barack Obama’s economic stimulus bill provides a big opportunity for the Indianapolis-based Indiana Health Information Exchange to spread its expertise around the country.
Center Township’s Drummer stepping down
Center Township Trustee Carl Drummer intends to resign from his post to take a lobbying job with Ice Miller LLP, according to a WISH-TV Channel 8 report.
Indianapolis ‘raising the game’ for tourism
Lackluster economy be darned, Indianapolis’ tourism trade gained ground in 2008. And the city’s new head cheerleader has even
higher hopes for this year and beyond.