Western Indiana update.

• Author: Hayhurst, Susan
• Position: Regional Report West

Retooling, retraining and refurbishing are the new three Rs on Western Indiana's economic chalkboard. Though sevral counties are seeing some new businesses locate to their communities, their economic-development officers are more likely to be helping existing firms upgrade facilities and educate their employees.

Greene County is an enthusiastic example of the three Rs all working together, says James Aydelotte, executive director of Greene County Economic Development Corp. "We've been working hard to keep our corporations here and their investments in our communities stable at a time when we knew they were considering leaving."

Aydelotte cites the recent possibility that Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center would close. It straddles Martin, Lawrence and Green counties and is Green County's largest employer. "Several counties banded together, traveled to Washington, D.C., and lobbied our case to keep the center open. Well, it's still here and now we're working on the next plan for 1995 when base closures are up for national discussion again."

Though Crane employs 930 Greene County citizens with an annual payroll of $30 million, several other companies engage hundreds of people and have recently undergone major capital improvements to retain them. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Reclamation recently moved into its new $950,000 office facility. "The building houses a state-of-the-art telecommunications system, which now allows them to be networked with other state and national offices," Aydelotte notes. The upgraded facility allows for the retention of 80 jobs and a $3 million payroll.

Retooling existing equipment and facilities during the last year enabled General Electric Co.'s Motor Division to create its own niche in the marketplace. "This GE plant makes aluminum die castings and punches steel parts for motors," Aydelotte explains. "GE decided to refocus these types of manufacturing from their other plants and channel it all to the Greene County plant. Now it's the only GE plant to manufacture these parts and is also allowed to accept contracts from outside companies."

The plant's $1.2 million investment helped 145 employees retain their jobs, and they were retrained with a $90,000 Indiana Department of Commerce grant, keeping the $4 million payroll in the immediate area.

Another exclusive product now home in Greene County is Sunbeam-Oster Corp.'s wrought iron line of furniture. Thanks to the retooling of Sunbeam's...