North-Central Indiana update: the region's top business stories.

AuthorMayer, Kathy
PositionREGIONAL REPORT NORTH CENTRAL

NORTH-CENTRAL Indiana's 10 counties are enjoying growth in virtually every sector, and improving transportation routes are expected to further that.

Hoosier Heartland. The $500 million Hoosier Heartland Corridor, covering 100 miles from Lafayette to Fort Wayne, is about to get its final four-lane leg, with completion of the final portion from Lafayette to Logansport targeted for 2013.

"That will really help us," says Jim Tidd, executive director of the Miami County Economic Development Authority, reflecting the sentiment of many "So will the bypass around Kokomo. They'll give us quicker access via four-lane highways and improved accessibility to the interstate highway system."

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Energy. Energy alternatives remain on the area's front burner.

Green Fuels LLC is planning a Fulton County refinery, to produce 10 million gallons of biodiesel annually, reports Shane Blair, executive director of Fulton Economic Development Corp.

In southwestern White County, the resource is wind, as Texas-headquartered Horizon Wind Energy plans to begin construction next spring in a 100,000-acre area, says Connie Neininger, executive director of White County Economic Development Organization.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

North Manchester is welcoming South Dakota-based POET, a dry-mill ethanol producer, now building a $130 million facility It will use 21 million bushels of corn annually, producing 65 million gallons of ethanol and 178,000 tons of distillers products. "Two things that we do really well in Wabash County are agriculture and manufacturing," says William Konya, president and chief executive officer of the Economic Development Group of Wabash County "Any opportunity that enables us to take locally grown crops and add value through processing is a win-win." Hiring is underway; the plant comes online later this year.

The Andersons in Cass County is increasing ethanol production from 110 million to 130 million gallons annually It employs 80.

Renewable aviation fuel would be the product in Delphi if plans by Swift Enterprises materialize, says Daryl Smith, executive director of the Carroll County Economic Development Corp. The West-Lafayette startup is launching SwiftFuel, made of synthetic hydrocarbons derived from biomass. It hopes to build a plant to produce 2,000 gallons a day

Medical. Three new hospitals and related developments are under construction in the area.

In Monticello, the $25.5 million White County Memorial Hospital and an...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT