Northeast Indiana update.

• Author: Hughes-Lazzell, Terri
• Position: Business climate

Northeast Indiana is riding a wave of growth that has delivered more than 2,000 jobs in recent months.

Some of the growth stems from investments by companies already established in the nine counties of Northeast Indiana, while the rest springs from new investments, says Lincoln Schrock, director of Indiana Northeast Development. This year alone, area industries announced 57 projects, 14 new initiatives and 43 expansions, with investments totaling $335 million.

DEKALB COUNTY

The biggest news of the year is, once again, Steel Dynamics Inc. in Butler.

The steel mini-mill is currently in its second phase of construction - its cold-rolled mill operation - and is ahead of schedule. The company also went public in November.

"It's all ahead of initial projections," Schrock says.

Ultimately, the second phase of the project will add 175 jobs to the 200 already created by the first phase, the hot-mill operation. And these are good jobs, paying up to $50,000 a year, Schrock says.

SDI also has attracted more businesses and housing to Butler, helping to build DeKalb County's economy.

ALLEN COUNTY

With the General Motors Corp. truck assembly plant and Dana Corp. Spicer Axle Division, Allen County and Fort Wayne are a hub for automotive production.

The $300 million body-shop expansion at GM is a sign of confidence in the community, says Phil Laux, president of the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce.

GM continues to undergo construction that began the end of last year, while Dana continues to implement a $36 million investment in new equipment for its plant.

Though new jobs aren't expected, the investments are crucial, says Elizabeth Neu, director of the City of Fort Wayne Department of Economic Development. "We have a lot of reinvestment of new technology by major manufacturers," she says. "It's important because jobs will be retained."

Slater Steel Corp. also made a positive job-retention announcement for the Summit City earlier this year. The producer of stainless steel promised to invest $65 million in its Fort Wayne operations over the next four years and keep 650 jobs in Fort Wayne.

These upgrades will ensure more than just job retention. They will put more money in the Tax Increment Financing program to use for upgrading infrastructure, such as sewer capacity at the Baer Field Industrial Park, Neu says.

Although the details have not been finalized, United Airlines plans to build an Allen County reservation center. And the Air Trade Center will be...