Southern Indiana update.

• Author: Mayer, Kathy
• Position: Top Business Stories

CLARK AND FLOYD COUNTIES

One new business and three expansions are fueling a positive economic outlook for Clark and Floyd counties,

The newcomer is Danielson Holding Corp., which moved to Jeffersonville from New York, reports John Ragland, president of the Southern Indiana Economic Development Council. The publicly traded company is the parent of the area's top employer, American Commercial Barge Lines, which employs 1,265 in Jeffersonville making barge transportation equipment. While the holding company only employs a dozen, "it's a significant move from the standpoint of being a corporate headquarters," Ragland notes. Danielson also owns financial-services and insurance operations.

Greg Fitzloff, president of the Southern Indiana Chamber of Commerce, reports on three expansions of existing industries. D.A. Inc. in Charleston built a new facility for its hose-clip and hose- assembly parts business; the company employs about 180. Koetter Woodworking built a new 70,000-square-foot facility in Starlight, where it employs about 400 making wood moldings. And SerVend International, a manufacturer of ice-dispensing equipment recently purchased by Manitowoc Corp., built a new plant at its longtime site and moved its operations from St. Louis to Clarksville.

After American Commercial Barge Lines, the area's largest industrial employers include Beach Mold and Tool in New Albany, with about 1,000 workers, and Discount Labels in New Albany, which employs about 700 making self-adhesive labels. Gohmann Asphalt and Construction in Clarksville employs some 500 to 600 most of the year; with summer employment reaching about 800.

HARRISON COUNTY

Corydon has welcomed a new industry and several new retailers, and a Lanesville winery recently released its first product, fueling a healthy outlook from J. Brian Fogle, economic-development director for the Harrison County Chamber of Commerce. "Harrison County has weathered the current recessionary economic conditions with no plant closings and no massive employee layoffs," he says.

The industrial newcomer is Corydon's Lucas Oil Products, which employs 50 making automotive lubricants and fuel additives. The town also has established itself as a retail center, with a dozen new national chain stores and restaurants opening in the past year.

The Lanesville winery, Turtle Run Winery, is a family-run and operated facility. "It diversifies and continues to build upon Harrison County's value-added agricultural...