Wind Energy in Northeast Indiana

A fairly recent renewed concern for the environment has prompted the prioritization of alternative fuel innovations. And with unpredictable fuel prices and a contracting economy, right now is prime time for these new fuel options to make their case.

The United States ranks second in the world for wind power capacity, so it is not surprising that this industry is one of the fastest growing energy industries in the last decade. According to the Energy Information Administration, the amount of electricity generated from wind in 2006 was 2 1/2 times greater than the amount produced in 2002.

Leading turbine manufacturers have not been slowed by the economy and are establishing U.S. assembly factories nationwide. They expect America's demand for wind energy to soar in the coming years because of its cleaner quality and less expensive fuel costs. New and improved tax breaks have also been implemented, encouraging the pursuance of renewable energy production facilities.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the highest wind resources in Indiana are found across the northern half of the state. As companies clamor to establish supply chains in the United States, northeast Indiana is in a prime position to take advantage of the demand for growing industry. Not only does northeast Indiana provide the advanced manufacturing capabilities to produce the supplies needed by wind-turbine companies, but the region is also suitable for the establishment of new wind farms.

The Indiana Office of Energy Development and the Northeast Indiana Green Build Coalition are collaborating to host a Wind Supply Chain Workshop in Fort Wayne, IN on Wednesday, April 22. This Workshop will be an all-day event informing regional suppliers and manufacturers of opportunities available in the growing wind energy market as well as potential "green collar" job creation in the region associated with renewable energy.

If you are interested in attending this session and becoming more involved and informed about this growing trend, follow this link to register online

Northeast Indiana Receives $20 Million Economic Boost

An unprecedented regional collaboration in northeast Indiana has resulted in the attainment of $20 million dollars, allocated to significantly support the alignment of northeast Indiana’s workforce and talent resources. Funded through a grant from the Lilly Foundation in Indianapolis, grant funds will be utilized in the creation of a regionally inclusive initiative: Talent Opportunity Success (TOpS) 2015.

The Northeast Indiana Foundation , a supporting organization of the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, will provide management for the program with governing and oversight provided by Community Partnerships, Inc.

During the past two years, a broad coalition of regional partners, comprised of business, economic development and government leaders, northeast Indiana community foundations and representatives from K-12 and higher educational systems came together to create a compelling case for enhancing northeast Indiana’s strategic alignment of area workforce and talent. Diverse interests collaborated to produce a program which will transform the regional economy, providing economic growth opportunities and promoting high quality jobs in northeast Indiana.

TOpS 2015 includes significant and targeted educational and workforce programs for the aerospace, defense and advanced manufacturing industries. Though the defense/aerospace industry will be impacted the most in the short-term, many of the project’s initiatives will have positive impacts across other regional target industries. Adapting to the world economy’s gradual shift from industrial-based to knowledge-based markets, the effects of this broad-spectrum, skill enhancement effort will highlight the value northeast Indiana places on economic growth, innovation, life-long learning and global competitiveness.


Click here to view the entire Press Release
View the TOpS 2015 Fact sheet
View the TOpS 2015 Goal Tree

Site Selection Expert Bob Ady & The Importance of Site Readiness

This year’s Spring Investor Board meeting featured its customary expert site selector keynote speaker. Bob Ady, president of Ady International, had the opportunity to visit sites in LaGrange, Steuben, DeKalb and Whitley counties before speaking. Ady shared valuable information regarding the necessity of site readiness and his impressions of the region to the Partnership’s investors.

Ady noted Indiana’s competitive cost of doing business advantage compared to its neighboring states and the region’s strategic location and proximity to major metropolitan areas in the Midwest, which serve as fundamental site selection attraction tools. Beyond the initial attraction phase, having available properties to complement Indiana’s business environment was strongly emphasized. This requires adaptation to the relevant needs of today’s new and expanding businesses. One trend especially applicable to northeast Indiana is the necessity of high ceilings. Mass square footage is now subordinate to the need for storage racking space to accommodate the integrated assembly lines and stacked goods common in modern production facilities.

Once an area is chosen for a site visit by a site selector, Ady emphasized that it is vitally important for the site to be ready to go and shovel ready. Benefits of this preparation are two-fold: certified sites lessen the risks entailed for companies and they serve the client’s immediate needs. With everything sufficiently complete prior to purchase, there is no chance that a promise of action will go unfulfilled and that expectations will not be met. Fully prepared sites stand the best chance of moving forward in the site location process and generate more site visits.

Ady’s remarks emphasize the importance of site readiness. Providing and fulfilling a clear standard for what truly constitutes a ready site will set northeast Indiana apart from the plethora of sites available across the country. Site readiness allows the marketing of sites that meet a minimum standard level which significantly reduces the risk and time required for evaluation and development.

In 2008, the Partnership began evaluating best practices for increasing the inventory of development-ready sites in northeast Indiana. Following research and the selection of Mark Williams and the Strategic Development Group as lead consultant , the Partnership launched an aggressive site certification initiative in January 2009. Sites certified by Strategic Development Group as part of the Partnership’s program will have appropriate control, planning/engineering and infrastructure in place to ensure fast, efficient and risk-free development.

The Regional Partnership’s development programs and strategies have been ongoing for nearly two years and the site certification program will help ensure northeast Indiana is ready to win competitive projects.

Fort Wayne Enters OuterSpace

NASA recently launched a new weather satellite into orbit in February. Since then, a piece of Fort Wayne, IN can now be found floating in the vacuum of outer space. NOAA-19 is a weather satellite and is the last of the Television Infrared Observation Satellite series, which has been collecting weather data since 1960.

Fort Wayne's ITT Space Systems Division designed and build the satellite's high-resolution infrared sounder and its advanced high-resolution radiometer. Data on ozone levels, surface radiance, cloud height and coverage and ocean surface temperatures will be captured as the satellite flies over the north and south poles.

ITT's expertise in the satellite's key instruments are a testament to the capacity that northeast Indiana holds in math and science talent. Northeast Indiana is home to over 160 defense/aerospace prime contractors and suppliers in addition to educational systems that provide the industry with a specialized and high-quality workforce. During 2005 and 2006 the six largest firms in this sector received a total of $2 billion in prime contracts from the Department of Defense.

Read more about the region's initiative to develop regional talent in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics

Learn more about northeast Indiana's defense industry

Northeast Indiana Companies Presented with 2009 Best Places To Work Honor

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce has released its 2009 list of the Best Places to Work in Indiana awards. Determined through employee surveys and employer reports, those businesses honored by this distinction represent companies that value respect, communication, opportunity and teamwork. Cultivating a postive work environment not only benefits the employees, but this priority also has a direct effect on the success of the company.

Northeast Indiana claims 4 of this year's winners:

1)Fort Wayne Metals Research Products Corporation

2)Ash Brokerage Corporation

3)Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company

4)Design Collaborative

According to the Indiana Chamber of Commerce website, these companies, along with the remaining 66 honorees and other companies that participated in this year's program, will receive an in-depth evaluation identifying strengths and weaknesses according to their employees. This information will prove useful as employee retention and recruitment programs are developed, assessed and enhanced in the coming year.

Congratulations to this year's Best Places to Work award winners. The Hoosier state and northeast Indiana is proud to be home to outstanding employers.

Visit ChooseNEIndiana.com to learn more about northeast Indiana's companies and core industries.