Daniels Chairs Local Development Meeting
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
The state Economic Development Corp. met at Biomet Thursday with Gov. Mitch Daniels chairing the board.
Established a couple of months into Daniel's term of office, both Dane Miller, CEO of Biomet, and Kip Toms of Tom Farms, was named to the IEDC.
Lead by Indiana Secretary of Commerce and IEDC CEO Patricia R. Miller, formerly of Vera Bradley, IEDC is organized as a public/private partnership governed by a 12-member board.
The IEDC focuses its efforts on growing and retaining businesses in Indiana and attracting new business to the state.
Pat Miller opened the meeting of the 12-member board discussing how the corporation has downsized from 12 to five regional offices for "speed and flexibility.
"We're headed in the right direction. We've made a lot of changes the public may or may not have noticed."
She said economic development isn't a science, it's an art and, with that concept in mind, she said the corporation is being injected with a philosophy of being able to change, responsible and diverse.
Miller described a company that is customer-service oriented.
"Other states offer cash incentives or buy equipment or buildings for potential businesses. We've been working hard and working smart. We want people to know we're open for business."
This month an 85-member delegationis traveling to east Asia to imrpove relations with the Taiwanese and Japanese. There are 200 Japanese-owned businesses in the state.
Mickey Maurer, IEDC president, reported there were twice as many "deals" in the first quarter of this year compared to all of 2004.
He said in the last two months nearly 5,000 new jobs were created and nearly 6,000 jobs were retained.
Daniels said jobs were fine, but the focus should be on higer paying jobs.
Maurer said local governments were expected to support companies interested in establishing facilities in their county.
"If we don't see local enthusiasm we're not enthusiastic either," Maurer said.
Daniels said he expected board members to be active scouts as well as contributing wisdom about economic development. He praised Kip Tom an an unbeleiveable leader in the agricutlural and renewable energy sector and Dane Miller in motorsports.
Maurer said grants for technology parks were going to be scrutinized more than they have been in the past. In 2002, he said, $9 million was granted to start up parks. Some are still undeveloped; some have restaurants or "gentlemens' clubs."
"We're making specific regulations. The applicant must have must have a company coming to the park. We'll reserve the right to revoke the park's status."
Technology parks must have local, financial participation and a relations ship with a college or university. Maurer said several locations will be visited soon.
Barkley Garrett, the IDEC's north central region director: reported that Value Cabinetry, a custom cabinet designer based in Minnesota, will be offering 30 jobs in Culver.
Garrett said it is important to anticipate customers needs and meet them before they even ask for them.
North west region director Tim Sanders said hehad been in negotiations with Georgia Paciific Lumber representatives, losing out to Illinois because a 500,000 square foot building was 80 percent finished there,
Sanders said available buildings continue to be a problem.
The governor asked if a list of buildings was available and Maurer said "Yes, they just aren't there.
"If you're a real estate developer I'd say get busy and develop."
Other members include Sally Rushmore Byrn, West Lafayette, president and chief executive officer of SSCI Inc.; John A Hillenbrand II, Batesville, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Glynnadem Inc.; Robert L. Koch II, Evansville, president and chief executive officer of Koch Enterprises Inc.; Cathy Langham, Indianapolis, president and owner of Langham; James C. Marcuccilli, Fort Wayne, president and CEO of STAR Financial Bank and subsidiaries; William G. Mays, Indianapolis, president of Mays Chemical Company Inc.; John M. Mutz, Indianapolis, chairman of the board of the Lumina Foundation for Education; T.M. (Tim) Solso, Columbus, is chairman and chief executive officer of Cummins Inc.; and Bruce White, Merrillville, chairman and chief executive officer of White Lodging Services Corp. [[In-content Ad]]
The state Economic Development Corp. met at Biomet Thursday with Gov. Mitch Daniels chairing the board.
Established a couple of months into Daniel's term of office, both Dane Miller, CEO of Biomet, and Kip Toms of Tom Farms, was named to the IEDC.
Lead by Indiana Secretary of Commerce and IEDC CEO Patricia R. Miller, formerly of Vera Bradley, IEDC is organized as a public/private partnership governed by a 12-member board.
The IEDC focuses its efforts on growing and retaining businesses in Indiana and attracting new business to the state.
Pat Miller opened the meeting of the 12-member board discussing how the corporation has downsized from 12 to five regional offices for "speed and flexibility.
"We're headed in the right direction. We've made a lot of changes the public may or may not have noticed."
She said economic development isn't a science, it's an art and, with that concept in mind, she said the corporation is being injected with a philosophy of being able to change, responsible and diverse.
Miller described a company that is customer-service oriented.
"Other states offer cash incentives or buy equipment or buildings for potential businesses. We've been working hard and working smart. We want people to know we're open for business."
This month an 85-member delegationis traveling to east Asia to imrpove relations with the Taiwanese and Japanese. There are 200 Japanese-owned businesses in the state.
Mickey Maurer, IEDC president, reported there were twice as many "deals" in the first quarter of this year compared to all of 2004.
He said in the last two months nearly 5,000 new jobs were created and nearly 6,000 jobs were retained.
Daniels said jobs were fine, but the focus should be on higer paying jobs.
Maurer said local governments were expected to support companies interested in establishing facilities in their county.
"If we don't see local enthusiasm we're not enthusiastic either," Maurer said.
Daniels said he expected board members to be active scouts as well as contributing wisdom about economic development. He praised Kip Tom an an unbeleiveable leader in the agricutlural and renewable energy sector and Dane Miller in motorsports.
Maurer said grants for technology parks were going to be scrutinized more than they have been in the past. In 2002, he said, $9 million was granted to start up parks. Some are still undeveloped; some have restaurants or "gentlemens' clubs."
"We're making specific regulations. The applicant must have must have a company coming to the park. We'll reserve the right to revoke the park's status."
Technology parks must have local, financial participation and a relations ship with a college or university. Maurer said several locations will be visited soon.
Barkley Garrett, the IDEC's north central region director: reported that Value Cabinetry, a custom cabinet designer based in Minnesota, will be offering 30 jobs in Culver.
Garrett said it is important to anticipate customers needs and meet them before they even ask for them.
North west region director Tim Sanders said hehad been in negotiations with Georgia Paciific Lumber representatives, losing out to Illinois because a 500,000 square foot building was 80 percent finished there,
Sanders said available buildings continue to be a problem.
The governor asked if a list of buildings was available and Maurer said "Yes, they just aren't there.
"If you're a real estate developer I'd say get busy and develop."
Other members include Sally Rushmore Byrn, West Lafayette, president and chief executive officer of SSCI Inc.; John A Hillenbrand II, Batesville, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Glynnadem Inc.; Robert L. Koch II, Evansville, president and chief executive officer of Koch Enterprises Inc.; Cathy Langham, Indianapolis, president and owner of Langham; James C. Marcuccilli, Fort Wayne, president and CEO of STAR Financial Bank and subsidiaries; William G. Mays, Indianapolis, president of Mays Chemical Company Inc.; John M. Mutz, Indianapolis, chairman of the board of the Lumina Foundation for Education; T.M. (Tim) Solso, Columbus, is chairman and chief executive officer of Cummins Inc.; and Bruce White, Merrillville, chairman and chief executive officer of White Lodging Services Corp. [[In-content Ad]]