Top business stories: southern Indiana update.

• Author: Bryant, Oscar
• Position: Regional Report: South

Indiana's newest state park, the 68-acre Falls of the Ohio State Park, has attracted thousands of visitors, but a more controversial lure has drawn the Ohio River counties of Clark, Floyd, Harrison and Crawford back to the river as well.

These four counties considered riverboat gambling in a referenda held last fall and this spring. This controversial form of economic development may soon join the diverse economic mix in these and the other counties that make up Southern Indiana.

CRAWFORD COUNTY

One of Indiana's poorest counties, Crawford had the largest percentage approving riverboat gambling of any county voting in the state in recent elections, says Crawford County Chamber of Commerce President Pat Ramsey.

She credits the initiative's success to a strong proposal from developer Casino Magic. The development would include a riverboat, country-music theater and hotel complex. A later phase could include a golf course, youth center and day-care operation. Eventually, Casino Magic could bring up to 1,500 jobs to job-starved Crawford County, Ramsey says.

Meanwhile, developer Dave Carter continues to line up retailers for his shopping mall at Interstate 64 and Indiana 66 in Carefree. Ramsey says the county will begin to work with Carter on financing, once he has a sufficient number of leases.

Just 45 minutes from Louisville, both projects could attract significant numbers of visitors.

HARRISON COUNTY

Harrison, another county voting for riverboat gambling, also has high hopes for the economic stimulus that may come from gaming along its 40-mile riverfront, says Darrel Voelker, executive director of Harrison County's Chamber of Commerce.

But Harrison County also touts a strong mix of retailing and industry. A Wal-Mart Super Center, due to open in August, could employ up to 270 people, Voelker says. The center could draw as many as 2,000 cars a day, opening up further retailing opportunities at that point along Indiana 66.

Among Harrison County's diverse industrial firms are Ford Motor Co. suppliers Lobdell-Emery Manufacturing Co. and A.O. Smith Auto Products Co., maker of frames for the Ford Explorer. A.O. Smith recently boosted its work force to 225 to increase production 50 percent.

Other Harrison County-based companies showing growth are Cousin Willey's Popcorn producer Ramsey Popcorn Co. in Ramsey, which recently completed a $300,000, 25,000-square-foot warehouse and production facility, and Smith Store Fixtures, which recently announced...