Central Indiana Update

DISTRIBUTION, MANUFACturing, entertainment and professional services are all bringing growth to the eight-county central Indiana area.

Distribution central. New and expanding distribution centers top the news in Boone, Hendricks, Shelby and Marion counties.

Billed as "the world's largest

automated pharmacy," Medco Health Solutions chose Anson, the mixed-use development in Boone County for its $145 million prescription drug fulfillment center. The 340,000-square-foot facility is expected to create 1,300 jobs. "They are one of the nation's leading pharmacy benefit managers," says Tina Staley, coordinator of administrative and research services at Boone County Economic Development Corp. "When the facility is open and running at full potential, they will fill one million prescriptions a week."

Other new businesses in the area include Subaru Parts Distribution Center in Whitestown, which employs 31 managing auto parts shipping, and Temco Machinery Inc., which breaks ground this spring for a sales, maintenance and warehousefacility that will employ 22. Temco makes snow removal equipment, street sweepers and other equipment for cities and airports.

Cinda Kelley, executive director of Hendricks County Economic Development Partnership, sees continued growth of distribution centers. Whirlpool Corp.'s 805,000-square-foot parts center in Plainfield, owned and operated by Ryder and employing 419, is getting a $9.4 million investment and 150 new employees in 2008.

In Shelbyville, Ohio-headquartered Seneca Medical Inc. is spending $3 million on an 85,000-square-foot expansion that will more than double its size; it distributes medical suppliesand equipment to healthcare facilities. Its workforce of 40 will increase by about 25, says Dan Theobald, executive director of Shelby County Development Corp.

Distribution expansions also include Hachette Book Group in Lebanon, which spent $12 million on a 300,000-square-foot additionand boosted employment by 38 to 280.

Technology product distributor Defender Direct in Indianapolis is adding 300 jobs to its current 230. "It's a great story" says Jeb Conrad, director of Indianapolis Economic Development. "It's one of those started-in-the-living-room entrepreneurial stories."

Manufacturing news. Franklin is the site for the first U.S. operations of a joint venture between Toyota Industries Corp. and Nishina Industrial Co. Ltd., known as Indiana Hydraulic Equipment Corp., says Cheryl Morphew, executive director of Johnson County Development Corp. It recently began operations in a $12 million plant that will employ 35, making hydraulic valves for Toyota, which manufactures material handling equipment, auto air-conditioning compressors and textile machinery.

She also reports newcomer Nestle Waters North America Inc. is up and running in its $32 million building in Greenwood; it employs 62.

Dennis Maloy, executive director of Hancock Economic Development Council, reports that Massachusetts-based Hardigg Industries, which makes industrial transportation cases, has opened its first North American manufacturing operations near Greenfield. The company made a $4.3 million investment and employs 75.

At the same location, the Mount Comfort Industrial Park, Freije Treatment Systems spent $2.9 million for its new headquarters, housing research, engineering and sales operations. Currently employing 25, the company expects to add another 175 by 2010. It makes water-treatment systems, an alternative to traditional water softeners, that use electronic technology to neutralize mineral charges in water so they don't bond to cause hard water.

Biomedical testing company Beckman Coulter Inc. is moving its California manufacturing operations to Indianapolis this year, where it already operates its discovery and automation unit. It's investing $6.3 million and will hire 212.

Pennsylvania-based Triumph Controls LLC is doubling its Shelbyville facility to 100,000 square feet and has increased employment from 63 to 100, with more to come. The company makes mechanical and electro-mechanical control systems for aircraft, vessels, military vehicles, nuclear power stations and industrial plants.

In Boone County, glass fabricator ASI Limited left Marion County for Anson in February; it will increase employment from 190 to 276. Its work can be seen on the Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium.

Another Indianapolis transplant will bring SMC Corp. of America to Noblesville, where the pneumatic system manufacturer breaks ground this spring on a $45 million, 630,000-square-foot building, says Ben Bontrager, assistant economic development director for the city of Noblesville. The company employs 458 and will hire another 275 over the next five years. It supplies the semiconductor, automotive, medical and petroleum markets.

New headquarters grow. The North American operations of Sunrise Medical HHG Inc., once in Tennessee, Florida and Massachusetts, has been consolidated in a $3 million Plainfield facility. The company makes wheelchairs, crutches and walkers.

Indianapolis is welcoming Veolia Water's U.S. headquarters and 100 new jobs - a move from Texas - to a $3.2 million downtown site now being renovated. The Paris-based company oversees water service in 600 North American communities, including Indianapolis.

Downtown Indianapolis got another boost from AT&T, which moved its customer service operations from Chicago last summer. It will employ 427 when fully staffed.

Delco Pizza Products Inc. chose Anson for its new headquarters, where it will employ 75 at its $6 million, 100,000-square-foot facility.

Gaylor Electric moved north of Indianapolis. It broke ground this spring on a 50,000-square-foot facility in Noblesville, and by summer's end hopes to bring several current sites under one roof. The electrical contractor employs 235; it will add another 130 over the next five years. "It's a convenient location to all major highways, a growing location and a great community," Michael Ford, chief values officer, says of Noblesville.

Two Indianapolis service firms are expanding: Allegiant Global Services, an environmental management consulting firm launched in 2000, is increasing employment from today's 60 to 123 by 2010, and ExactTarget, an email marketing software provider, is hiring 90 to bring its workforce to more than 300.

Gaming, motorsports. The $100 million Indiana Live! racino - a casino at a race track - at Indiana Downs is under way. When it opens in January 2009, the 233,000-square-foot casino will employ 800 and offer 2,000 slot machines and electronic games around the clock. A temporary pavilion opens in May. The facility will include NASCAR Sports Grille, Makers Mark Steakhouse, Live! Market and Angel's Rock Bar.

David Powers Motorsports, a top-fuel drag racing team that had been in Houston, has built a $3 million, 30,000-square-foot team headquarters, garage and testing facility employing 42 in Brownsburg, joining numerous otherteams in the "Drag Racing Capital of the World."

Ground has been broken for a new $37 million residential/retail complex in downtown Indianapolis called the Cosmopolitan on the Canal.

Martinsville will lose about 500 jobs with the shuttering of Harman/Becker Automotive Systems Inc., which makes automotive stereo speakers. "Theirphase-out starts in April, and they'll be closed by January 2009," says John Taylor, executive director of the Morgan County Economic Development Corporation.

Despite the loss, Taylor is hopeful the new Interstate 69 will attract industry to the area. "Things are going to happen. It's just going to take a while."