President Obama visited Indiana on August 5, to announce $2.4 billion in high-tech federal grants. It turns out that $400 million is going to six different Indiana companies, the second-largest amount doled out among 25 states. Three of these grant recipients are located in the Indianapolis Region.
There are plenty of high-tech stories to tell relating to clean-technology, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing operations in the 10-county Indianapolis Region, which is the focus of the grants. And while each individual story is newsworthy, it’s “the sum of the parts” that communicate a compelling message to the rest of the nation and the world.
That message is that Indiana has a great deal of activity going on in major growth industries – namely hybrid-electric cars, lithium-ion batteries, and other components for electric cars and “heavy hybrid” work vehicles.
I spoke with Indy Partnership President and CEO Ron Gifford about the grants this morning and he said it’s fitting that President Obama traveled to Indiana for the announcement because “we’re for real.” Not that other regions and other states don’t have quality projects underway, but few have the advantages that we’re experiencing in the Indianapolis Region.
For example, the electric car was invented in the Indianapolis Region and several of the original GM engineers who worked on the EV1 are now leading hybrid-electric car companies and suppliers making headlines here. The region’s strengths in manufacturing and advanced manufacturing are already nationally recognized as well as our strong competitive position in transportation distribution and logistics. Together with leading research universities and other post-secondary institutions (six of which just received clean-technology stimulus grants of their own) and a trained, available advanced-manufacturing workforce, the Indianapolis Region is “for real.”
Nearly 200 Indiana University faculty members will gather starting today for a two-day conference to create an energy research plan for IU. The plan will identify critical challenges in Indiana as well as the nation, and avenues where IU can contribute to sustainable solutions.
The first day will be hosted by the Office of the Vice Provost for Research at IU Bloomington, where national and state leaders will speak about energy related issues facing the nation. Energy Systems Network (ESN) President and CEO, Paul Mitchell, is included in the impressive list of conference speakers. ESN is a clean-technology energy initiative of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership and a sister organization to the Indy Partnership.
The second day will be hosted by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research at the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) campus where IU faculty will examine IU’s strengths in order to identify opportunities to contribute. Some of the areas IU expects to contribute in are transportation, education and workforce, energy source management, environmental issues, and economic and legal issues.
"Indianapolis is among the top performing Midwest cities on a number of measures. For example, it has the fastest population growth of any metro area over one million people and it is also among the best performers in terms of employment. It can be tempting to view this as a product of good circumstances or good luck - state capital, center of state, only large city in state, Eli Lilly, etc. And all of those are important to the city's success to be sure. But I think it misses a lot of the flat out good decisions and good execution that have contributed, particularly in the economic development space."
Renn goes on to talk about our saavy new Energy Systems Network initiative (also a sister organization of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership), citing our leadership in clean-tech energy components manufacturing potential as well as the numerous projects in the pipeline including hybrid electric batteries, "Hoosier Heavy Hybrid," and "Project Plug In."
Renn does seem to blast the trend of focusing on clusters such as life sciences and advanced manufacturing as "me too," and the Indianapolis Region certainly does its fair share of touting its business clusters. But I have a feeling Renn is directing these comments to regions that are reaching a bit too far. Surely he wouldn't fault Central Indiana for letting its visitors know that we are a bona fide, indepentently verified leader in six major fields -- life sciences, clean-tech energy, advanced manufacturing, logistics, information technology (specifically "measured marketing), and motorsports.
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INDIANAPOLIS REGION CLUSTERS
In a news story released today by our friends at the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, a Portland, Ind. company called Sertech Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. was recently awarded a $77,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture to further develop its proprietary solar technology.
From the story: "Under development by Sertech Owner Wayne Blevins for nearly five years, the company's Solar Thermal Energy Storage Vessel is similar in size to a residential water heater and contains a proprietary mix of environmentally friendly chemicals that can more efficiently store the sun's heat. Sertech is using the grant to fund a feasibility study with Ball State University."
While Portland, Ind. is located just outside of the 10-county Indianapolis Region, this story is yet another example of Indiana innovation and leadership in the clean-technology, renewable energy space. There are currently more than 100 Central Indiana companies working with or developing new products and technologies that reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
Both Bright Automotive with its 100 miles-per-gallon fleet vehicle, and EnerDel with its comprehensive hybrid-electric battery production have been making national headlines for a while now. But lesser known clean-tech energy projects are underway here, too.
Projects such as the collaboration between Cummins, Allison Transmission and Delphi called Hoosier Heavy Hybrid, which seeks to bring more cost effective light, medium and heavy duty hybrid trucks to market. And Project Plug-IN, a collaboration among auto, technology and utility companies, including Duke Energy and Indianapolis Power & Light Company (IPL). The project will build the infrastructure to support plug-in vehicles, such as "smart grid" technology that would allow Indianapolis metro commuters to plug-in and recharge their vehicles at home and in downtown parking garages.
And there are many, many more projects underway.
In fact, there is so much activity in Indiana in the clean-tech energy space and so much potential for more activity, that Indy Partnership President and CEO Ron Gifford recently made a bold statement in an address to Indy Partnership investors.
"No other region in the U.S. is better positioned to become the manufacturing epicenter for clean-tech energy compared to the Indianapolis Region," Gifford said. "In addition to our high renewable energy rankings, we offer the most productive manufacturing workforce and the best business climate in the Midwest. When coupled with our central location, our logistics infrastructure, and experienced workforce, it's hard to imagine anyone else competing on this level."
RECENT RANKINGS:
- #1 Advanced Manufacturing Technology
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation ranks Indiana as the top state in the U.S. in advance manufacturing technology.
- #1 Manufacturing Productivity
The Census of Manufacturers determined that Indiana has the most productive manufacturing workforce in the Midwest.
- #1 Wind Energy Growth State
The American Wind Energy Association ranked Indiana the fastest-growing wind energy state in the country in 2008 and continuing today.
- #2 Renewable Components Manufacturing
The Renewable Energy Policy Project (REPP) recently identified Indiana as the 2nd best state for jobs and investment in renewable energy when normalized for population.
- Twice the National Average
Manufacturing employment makes up 13% of the Indianapolis Region's workforce, which is more than twice the national average.
- High Manufacturing Facility Concentration
The Indianapolis Region has more than 375 manufacturing facilities with greater than 50 employees.
The world’s new gateway to the city is just a 16-mile non-stop drive from downtown. It is served by 10 major and 19 national/regional passenger airlines and has the nation’s second largest Federal Express hub.
The Indianapolis International Airport ranks as the eighth busiest cargo airport in the United States and the 20th largest in the world.
The new facility includes:
--A new, 1.2 million-square-foot, 40-gate terminal building featuring outstanding architecture, the ability to accept international arrivals, enhanced retail and dining opportunities and the capacity to handle growth from the airport’s current 8.2 million annual passengers.
--A new, five-story parking garage that can accommodate 5,900 cars and 1,200 rental cars.
--More than 17,000 parking spaces, including the garage and surface lots.
--Direct access from Interstate 70 just west of Interstate 465.
--The FedEx expansion will increase package processing capacity more than 30 percent, from 75,000 packages per hour to 99,000 packages per hour, at the second-largest domestic FedEx Express hub behind Memphis.
--The additional capacity is needed to meet forecast long-term package-volume growth, particularly for international shipments. FedEx operates international flights from Indianapolis to Europe, Asia and Canada.
--The expansion includes a 400,000 square foot expansion to the hub's existing sort facility and construction of a 175,000 square foot secondary sort building.
--Two maintenance buildings — including a 40,000 square-foot facility for aircraft maintenance and an 8,000 square-foot facility for ground support equipment — will push total hub growth by more than 600,000 square feet.
From an economic development perspective, the new Indianapolis International Airport is obviously of great benefit to the Indianapolis Region and its business clusters such as advanced manufacturing and transportation logistics. But its also beneficial to the other business clusters, such as life sciences, technology and motorsports because of the expansion of the FedEx hub (which is already the second largest in the world) and the improved ease of both commercial transport and consumer travel.
A few photos of the new Indianapolis International Airport provided by Rob Banayote of Banayote Photography (www.banayote.com):
Visit http://www.indianapolisairport.com/ to learn more.
Inaugural Real Estate Trends in Indiana Report to be released at "Emerging Trends in Real Estate" event on Nov. 18
The ups and downs and areas of opportunity within the real estate industry have great impact on economic development here in the 10-county Indianapolis Region and across the nation. As critical as superb transportation, distribution and logistics infrastructure as well as world-class workforces are, real estate issues can make or break a business relocation or expansion project.
"It is the combination of our assets that gives the Indianapolis Region its competitive advantage over the coasts and neighboring states,” said Ron Gifford, president and CEO of the Indy Partnership. “Having better access to rail service and interstates wouldn’t do us much good if our real estate rental rates were three or four times higher like they are in California and Florida, for example.
“That’s why we are supporting the Urban Land Institute Indiana as a sponsor of its upcoming ‘Emerging Trends in Real Estate’ event and why we are particularly eager to see its Real Estate Trends in Indiana Report become a successful annual resource.”
According to Area Development magazine’s 2007 Annual Corporate Survey, real estate issues were said to be “important” and “very important” by between 79 percent and 89 percent of all respondents when ranking their expansion and relocation priorities. These issues range from availability of buildings and land, construction costs, “fast-track” permitting, energy considerations and residential housing availability and costs. In fact, real estate issues account for three of the top five site selection factors tracked by the survey.
According to Matt Waldo, director of research for the Indy Partnership, the Indianapolis metropolitan area ranks as the “second most affordable” among 46 major metro areas for industrial warehouse rental rates (based on 2008 Mid-Year Market Report data from Cushman&Wakefield) and is highly competitive in Class A and Class B office space.
“The Indy Partnership was directly involved in the decision making process for seven of the 10 largest real estate lease transactions in Indianapolis from the middle of 2007 through the middle of 2008, and I can tell you with the highest degree of certainty that understanding the real estate trends in the Indianapolis Region as they relate to the nation was critical to making the argument to create jobs and invest here. The Urban Land Institute Indiana’s report will enhance our ability to continue this track record of success for our region,” Waldo said.
Learn more about the "Emerging Trends in Real Estate" event .
The Indianapolis Region, a 10-county economic development area in Central Indiana which includes
"These data are continued positive news for companies considering relocating or expanding in the Indianapolis Region," said Matt Waldo, director of research for the Indy Partnership. "The Indianapolis economic development region offers numerous advantages for advanced manufacturing and logistics, life sciences, technology and motorsports industries among others, and the ability to extend a low cost of living to employees is critical."
The scores for each of the cost categories for
http://www.iredp.com/reportInterface/iw_p1.aspx?fsheet=qol&county=indianapolis%20region
EnerDel Batteries will Power Hybrid, Electric Cars:
INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 21, 2008) - Governor Mitch Daniels joined executives from lithium-ion battery developer EnerDel today to announce plans to locate the company's new global manufacturing and development operations here, a move that is expected to create more than 850 new jobs across the state through 2012.
The developer of lithium-ion batteries for hybrid, plug-in electric and electric vehicles will expand its
"Eight hundred fifty jobs of any kind is great news. When those jobs are in a technology of tomorrow, like electric cars, it offers the prospect of even bigger news to follow.
Part of Ener1, Inc., (AMEX: HEV), EnerDel currently operates a 92-person production facility on the northeast side of Indianapolis and plans to begin hiring additional engineers, production associates and administrative staff later this year.
EnerDel, founded in 2004, develops lithium-ion batteries for automotive manufacturers that are lighter, occupy less space, provide more power and have a longer life than the nickel metal hydride batteries found in today's hybrid vehicles.
"
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered EnerDel up to $7.125 million in performance-based tax credits and up to $58,000 in training grants based on the company's job creation plans. The cities of
"There is no doubt that EnerDel is a leader in advanced manufacturing, and we are fortunate that their new global manufacturing and development operations will be located here in Marion County," said Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard. "They are not only bringing great jobs and investment to our county, but they are serving as a sign that
"We are honored and excited that a growing and innovative company like EnerDel has chosen to expand its operations to the city of
"The lithium-ion battery will revolutionize the hybrid and electric car industry and will make it a reality for the mass market in the very near term," Grape said. "EnerDel has a unique lithium-ion chemistry and advanced battery system that provides the safest and most economical energy solution for automotive applications."
EnerDel is presently the only manufacturer producing lithium-ion batteries in the
EnerDel is a participant in U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium, a collaborative research effort between the U.S. Department of Energy, Chrysler, Ford and General Motors, aimed at developing hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle batteries that will enable mass production for electric drive vehicles.
Money Magazine and CNNMoney.com released its "Best Places to Live 2008" issue this week and Hamilton County's Fishers, Ind., ranked 10th out of 100 on the list of "America's Best Small Cities."
"It's quite a climb from being ranked 33rd last year to breaking into the top 10 of America's best places to live among small cities," said Jeff Burt, president of the Hamilton County Alliance, a member of The Indy partnership.
Burt explained that rankings such as Money Magazine's "Best Places to Live" are valuable to Fishers because it helps bring national acclaim to an exceptional community, and it helps local employers recruit personnel from all over the U.S. It also eliminates any barriers that employers considering relocating to Fishers and the Indianapolis Region might have about being able to develop a world-class workforce.
WINNER
Top 100 rank: 10
Population: 61,800
Fishers is growing fast, attracting residents who are young (median age: 30) and smart (over 60% have a bachelor's degree or more). It has the range of pluses common among our top 10, including a strong economy (lots of life-science companies are moving in), low home prices ($149,700 for the typical house) and good schools (they get high rankings in the state).
Though a walkable downtown is still in the planning stages, transportation is already here: Fishers started a commuter bus service to downtown Indianapolis and plans rapid transit via rail in the next two to five years.
When it comes to smart planning and sheer livability, other places could learn a lot from this little city in the Midwest.
Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., the
This story was published on July 3, 2008.
But what you might not know is the role that The Indy Partnership played in helping Cooper Tire arrive at its decision to relocate its distribution center to Franklin, Ind. in Johnson County.
The Indy Partnership first began working with the site consultants representing Cooper Tire as early as late-summer 2007, almost an entire year prior to today's announcement. The Partnership provided custom labor demographics and detailed information about available buildings and sites throughout the 10-county Indianapolis Region. The Indy Partnership business development and research teams continued to provide information and other support services to Cooper Tire's site consultants during their year-long decision-making process.
The end result? New construction and 60 jobs join the growing and thriving transportation, distribution and logistics industry in the Indianapolis Region.
According to a fact sheet released by Cooper Tire, the company conducted an analysis that indicated relocating to the Indianapolis Region would save Cooper Tire money and allow for improved customer service.
About Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is a global company that specializes in the design, manufacture, marketing and sales of passenger car, light truck, medium truck tires and subsidiaries that specialize in motorcycle and racing tires. With headquarters in Findlay, Ohio, Cooper Tire has manufacturing, sales, distribution, technical and design facilities within its family of companies located in 10 countries around the world. For more information, visit Cooper Tire's web site at: www.coopertire.com.
By: Ron Gifford - President & CEO, The Indy Partnership
In winning the right to host the 2012 Super Bowl, Indianapolis beat out some tough competition: Houston and Phoenix had both hosted the game before, and both offered the promise of sunny weather and plenty of financial incentives for the NFL.
As seen on Inside Indiana Business with Gerry Dick
Despite these advantages, the Indianapolis region scored a victory with a shrewd and aggressive strategy, selling three decades of experience and investment that has made our region uniquely suited to host major championship events.
Now take this three-city contest and expand it to include every metropolitan area in America – and in some cases, around the world. That’s economic development today, a dog-eat-dog competition for new jobs. In this battle, Indianapolis has built a similarly focused approach – combining our geographic advantages and competitive business climate with strengths in industries like the life sciences, advanced manufacturing, logistics, technology and motorsports.
As a football fan, I was happy to hear that Indianapolis landed the big game. But I’m even more excited about this event in my day job as the head of our regional economic development effort. I’m confident that winning the Super Bowl will help us score more victories in the broader competition for business opportunities.
First, there’s the marketing value. The Super Bowl will bring many of the nation’s most influential corporate executives to Indianapolis – a first-time visit for several of them. Why does this matter? Well, we see this phenomenon time and time again: We’ll host someone who’s never been here, and typically they don’t have much of an impression of the region. And then they get to experience first-hand all that our city has to offer, and they are uniformly blown away. “I had no idea what a great city this is,” is a common refrain. Almost nobody moves their company on the spot, but this exposure certainly builds relationships and lays the groundwork for future business relocations or expansions.
Showing our region at its best to the audience of millions who tune in for the game also provides an invaluable brand-building opportunity. My organization, the Indy Partnership, is a consortium of local economic development organizations from ten counties tasked with marketing the region. Funded by private investment, we engage in a program of advertising, public relations, tradeshow participation and personal outreach to site selection consultants and business leaders.
Our efforts have borne success; 2007, for example, saw relocation, expansion and retention projects committed to create nearly 13,500 new jobs and bring new capital investment of $1.36 billion to the region. We’ve won these competitions despite the fact that our leading competitors spend millions on mass advertising to shape public awareness. The Super Bowl erases much of this advantage, bringing a wave of publicity so significant it would be impossible to buy…and if the city manages the event with its typical aplomb and hospitality, the boost to Indianapolis’ image will give us a solid new foundation to build upon.
There’s also the race for human capital. Dynamic economies are fueled by concentrations of talented people – the regions with the most educated workforces also tend to rank high in per capita income and job growth. Today, the Indianapolis metropolitan area ranks above the national average in college graduates as a percentage of the adult population. But this position is threatened by a ‘brain drain’ that sees too many of our young people leave the state after earning their degrees.
To thrive in the knowledge-based economy, we have to attract and retain more educated workers – Richard Florida’s ‘creative class.’ We can’t offer mountains, beaches, or year-round golf weather to entice tomorrow’s workforce. But a steady diet of world-class sports and cultural amenities, with the excitement that comes with hosting high-visibility events like the Super Bowl, helps put Indianapolis on the map as a great place to live, start a career and raise a family.
The Super Bowl will certainly provide a short-term bonanza for our region’s economy, with more than $120 million in direct spending of the course of game week. But the long-term ramifications are even more powerful: If we take full advantage of this opportunity, we’ll be more than just a destination for football fans in four years – we’ll be further down the road towards being a prime destination for capital, new job opportunities and top talent.
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