Eastern Indiana update: the region's top business stories.

• Author: Mayer, Kathy
• Position: Regional Report East

Getting a foothold. A new incubator that's already attracted two Japanese companies could prove to be a source for growing new businesses, reports Jim Hizer, president of the Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County. The group co-ventured the project in early 2003 with Sanyo Foreign Auto Parts, which provides office and distribution space at its Richmond facility.

The first company to arrive was Yamaguchi Manufacturing USA, a screw and machine parts supplier. Howa Textile Industry Co. Ltd., which makes sunshade trim boards for autos, opens soon. Together, they bring about 55 new jobs.

Hizer is targeting small companies interested in a U.S. presence. "The incubator provides them with a foothold here so they can get going and grow," he says. "Chances are reasonably good that we'll get these companies to grow here. It's turned out to be just what the doctor ordered in terms of providing an entry point for foreign companies that want to establish a presence here."

The county also landed wire brush maker Osborn International, the world's largest brush manufacturer, which begins Richmond operations in July and moves manufacturing from Cleveland later this year. The plant will employ more than 100. The company makes some 3,000 standard products and hundreds more custom products for industrial and retail use.

Hizer also is working on a possible salvage of jobs from Dana Corp., which employed 500 a couple of yeas ago. Negotiations are under way for a possible sale to Wisconsin's Richland Ltd. of Dana's business making automotive and heavy-duty cylinder liners.

"We're trying to find a way to keep the foundry open," Hizer says. "We're making some progress."

Putting up new signs. Sign makers should be busy in Henry and Franklin counties, where new industries are opening and others have new owners.

In New Castle, the new signs read American Keeper Corp., Viking Industries and Metaldyne.

American Keeper took over a 51,000-square-foot facility formerly occupied by Barden Homes and plans to hire about 50 by 2005, making rubber "boot" covers for automotive joints. About 25 will be on the job this year.

Ohio-based Viking, operating as Viking New Castle under contract with Delphi Corp., is moving into the former Chatsworth Building, a 91,000-square-foot facility, and ultimately hiring 184.

About 30 were on the job in January, says Bryan Coats, president and CEO of the New Castle/Henry County Economic Development Corp. "Inside work is under way, with...