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

• Author: Mayer, Kathy
• Position: Lawrenceburg resort

DIVERSIFIED BEST DESCRIBES the economy in the eight-county southeast Indiana region, where a ski resort, three casino gambling sites and a variety of manufacturers offer employment opportunities.

Let it snow! The 1,000 employees at Perfect North Slopes Ski Area expect to welcome 250,000 guests in about a 100-day season at the 25-year-old Lawrenceburg resort, built on the Perfect family's hill-packed farm. "It's an awesome place and has a large draw, with guaranteed snow because of its snow machines," says Mike Rozow, president of the Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce.

Bet on it. Other visitors are flocking to the area's three casinos, now able to house a combined 9,600 guests in more than 150,000 square feet of space.

The largest is Argosy Casino and Hotel in Lawrenceburg, opened in 1997 and acquired last year by Penn National Gaming Inc. It employs 2,300 and is currently expanding. "Argosy is building a new parking garage and new casino, for about one-quarter-of-a-billion dollars in new investment," Rozow at the Dearborn Chamber says.

In nearby Rising Sun, the Grand Victoria Casino and Resort brings 2 million visitors a year to town, says Sherry Timms, executive director of the Rising Sun-Ohio County Convention, Visitors and Tourism Bureau. "For a small town, tourism can be a saving grace for the merchants and the attractions," she says. To generate visitors' interest beyond gaming, the town has developed Riverfront Park with an amphitheater and events, such as a regatta and fireworks displays. In the works: a five-county wine trail and a Southern Indiana artisan trail.

In Switzerland County, the Belterra Casino and Resort employs 1,150 at its 38,000-square-foot casino, six restaurants and 608-room hotel, says Jon Bond, director of the Switzerland County Economic Development Corp.

Expanding industries. Among the growing employers is North Vernon Industry Corp., which makes counterbalance products at its two North Vernon plants with 175,000 square feet of operations. Established in 1996, the gray iron foundry employing 230 completed a $30 million expansion last year, reports Kathy Ertel, executive director of the Jennings County Economic Development Commission. The company boosted production to 82,000 tons in 2005, up from 49,800 the year before.

Also in North Vernon, Lowe's Distribution is spending about $25 million on a 516,000-square-foot expansion. The company employs 800. And Hilex Poly Co. LLC has completed its expansion, a $13...