Development News From Southwest Indiana

Southwest Indiana Updates
by Kathy Mayer in Indiana Business Magazine
FROM CARS TO COAL, southwest Indiana is enjoying a robust industrial surge. New developments at The West Gate @ Crane Technology Park promise Opportunities for at least three of the 13 counties in the southwest Indiana region and tourism is also boosting the area's economy.

Toyota suppliers grow.
Besides the economic shot in the arm that comes from 5,000 employees. $26 billion in investmems and annual production of 300,000 vehicles, Toyotas decade in Princeton has spawned supplier industries throughout the region. says Todd Mosby. executive director of the Gibson County Chamber of Commerce "There's not an adjective strong enough to describe it," he says of the area's outlook.

Close to home, he pomts to Vuteq Corp in Princeton, which supplies Toyota with instrument panels. The company is expanding its 180,000-square-foot plant by 100,000 square feet and increasing employment from 250 to about 380.

In adjacent Knox County, internal door-frame manufacturer Futaba Indiana of Amenca is wrapping up its latest expansion, a 360,000 square foot addition for its stamping operations, which began in July, reports Gary Gentry, president of Knox County Development Corp. Futaba supplies the Toyota plant.

Tenneco, which makes exhaust systems for Toyota, moved into the Vanderburgh Industrial Park. where it employs about 50 and expects to expand says Nancy Deig, economic development specialist at Evansville Regional Economic Development Corp.

Two other transportation related industries making news are in Perry County. Tell City's ATTC Manufacturing Inc. recently completed an $11 million expansion at its auto machining facility and is now spending another $35 million to add nearly 75,000 square feet of new space and increase employment from 270 to 345. And in Troy, Automated Machine Products Inc. is building a $245 million machining operation that will employ 15 initially says Greg Wathen, executive director of the Perry County Development Corp.

Meanwhile, Pike County would like to attract Toyota suppliers and logistics companies "We're working with an engineering firm on developing a 50 to 60 acre industrial park," reports Paul Lake, director of the Pike County Growth and Development Council. The phased development will likely be county-owned.

Gibson County is hoping for a new coal mine that could open in 2009, a second for Gibson County Coal. "All the stars have to be aligned to make that happen. We're working toward it," says Mosby at the chamber. "It will be about a $140 million investment." Gibson County Coal's employment would jump from 200 to about 470 in Carlisle.

In Knox County, plans are progressing for a possible $1 billion Duke Energy coal gasification power plant at Edwardsport. "The decision will be made in 2007," says Gentry at the development corporation. The plant would employ about 90 and "it would create thousands of coal mining jobs."

Crane Park.
Daviess, Greene and Martin counties are developing the West Gate @ Crane Technology Park, currently about 500 acres with a potential of 1,000 acres. The first building is about to go up in the park. "EG&G Technical Services will be the first tenant," reports Ron Arnold, executive director of the Daviess County Economic Development Corp. The company is a contractor for the U.S. Department of Defense, employing about 600 at Crane. Construction on two other buildings also is slated for this year.

Tourist attractions.
Spencer County is expecting and counting on a busy tourist season, reports Tom Utter, director of the Lincolnland Economic Development Corp. The continually growing Holiday World and Splashin' Safari amusement park in Santa Claus, now in its 60th season, launched the Voyage roller coaster this year. It travels at 67.4 miles per hour and includes three drops of more than 100 feet. "Spencer County is literally abuzz over the Abraham Lincoln bicentennial," Utter says. "He lived here 17 years, as a youth, and Lincoln City is preparing to bring in worldwide guests for multiple years."

In Dale, agritourism will soon debut at Heartland Farms, where construction begins this summer on a 40-unit inn, restaurant and visitors' facility that will include crop demonstrations, a market for Indiana-grown produce and year-round festivals.

In Evansville, Casino Aztar is spending $40 million to create an entertainment district on the riverfront. It will include an upscale hotel, billiard club, restaurant and entertainment complex.

Other news.
Thyssen Krupp Waupaca in Tell City is spending $8 million to expand its iron foundry by 38,000 square feet and adding 25 to today's workforce of 933.

Evansville headquartered Shoe Carnival Inc. is doubling its distribution center to 410,000 square feet and building a new corporate headquarters - a $40 million investment. The company currently employs 300 and expects to add another 120 in the next five years.

OFS First Office has moved into its new corporate headquarters in Huntingburg, where it operates several plants and employs about 1,600. OFS makes desks, chairs, conference tables and other office furniture.

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