economic development at Muncie Free Press - Delaware County Indiana | News and Information
Damn the dam on White River protest draws a crowd
By Rick Yencer
DALEVILLE, IN - A lazy jaunt by canoe down White River on Saturday illustrated the natural, unobstructed beauty of eastern Indiana's greatest natural resource.
Muncie, IN could see $100 million in investment this summer
By Rick Yencer
MUNCIE, IN - With a new retail center and student housing in the University Village, look for hundreds of more construction jobs to be created as the community could see up to $100 million in investment to bolster local government and schools.
"It is a very exciting time in the city," said Mayor Dennis Tyler.
Anderson Fast Forward crashes at the starting line
By Rick Yencer
MUNCIE, IN - Overwhelming opposition killed Mayor Kevin Smith's ambitious growth as Anderson City Council decided Thursday not move further down Interstate 69.
Actually, the five weeks after council tabled fiscal plans that would start the process to add 4,000 people, 21 square miles of land and $3 million in tax and utility revenue gave the Lapel Town Council time to accept a voluntary annexation from land owners who wanted no part of Anderson and its taxes.
Anderson Fast Forward stuck in neutral
By Rick Yencer
ANDERSON, IN - A bold and daring growth plan not seen in this community for a half century got stuck in neutral Thursday when Anderson City Council faced dozens of protesters.
Called Anderson Fast Forward, Mayor Kevin Smith is making a dash to the Hamilton County line near Lapel to shore up Interstate 69 economic development hopes while bringing in the Killbuck neighborhood to the north to have a stake in the ongoing Killbuck Landfill controversy.
The only problem with bringing in 4,000 more people, raising another $3 million in tax and utility revenue besides 21 square miles of land in five Madison County townships is that many people don't want city governors or the taxes that go along with them.
Council President David Eicks told the overflow crowd that council was likely to table the fiscal plans for the growth after the mayor made his presentation. A handful of people, mostly emotional and objecting, spoke and council then put the plan on hold until March.
New roundabout joins Muncie, Yorktown and Delaware County IN
By Rick Yencer
MUNCIE, IN - A westside intersection prime for development down the road will be a third traffic roundabout, bringing local government together to share the cost.
Within two years, the intersection of Jackson Street and Nebo Road will join the Jackson-Morrison Road crossing where vehicles no longer stop.
Keihin North American headquarters comes to Anderson IN.
By Rick Yencer
ANDERSON, IN - Keihin North American is bring its headquarters to the popular Flagship Enterprise Center in collaboration with Anderson and Purdue universities and the nearly 175 development, engineering and management jobs that go with it.
Sue Errington offers traditional education, jobs agenda
Eliminating voter polls at schools also on the list
By Rick Yencer
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Looking to promote jobs and education, Rep. Sue Errington, D-Muncie, also wants to eliminate polling places from public schools with her agenda before the Indiana General Assembly.
Errington expressed confidence this week that she could work with the new Republican super majorities in the House and Senate along with Republican Gov.-elect Mike Pence when he named Muncie businessman Victor Smith as the new Indiana Department of Commerce.
The bottom line for Errington along with other Democrats in the Legislature will be to get Republican sponsors for their bills.
The former state senator should not have any problem with local Republican lawmakers supporting a bill to add more tax incentives to develop and occupy the former Borg Warner Automotive plant on Kilgore Avenue in Muncie.
"This bill is about job creation," said Errington.
Xerox here to stay in Anderson IN
By Rick Yencer
ANDERSON, IN - The community's talented workforce and incentives will keep Xerox Corp. and its call center around for another five years.
Given Xerox employs more than 700 people with a $16 million payroll, Mayor Kevin Smith had no problem committing $298,594 in county food and beverage tax funds toward a lease negotiation with the employer and First Realty LLC that made $400,000 in improvements to the Xerox office facility.
Lanane: Public wants cease fire at Indiana Statehouse
By Rick Yencer
MUNCIE, IN - What Hoosiers want their lawmakers to do is not what Republican legislative leaders intend as the Indiana Senate minority leader called for a cease fire from ongoing political conflict.
"People want a cease fire from contentious issues," said Sen. Tim Lanane, D-Anderson, who represents Muncie.
Reps. Kevin Mahan, R-Hartford City and Bill Davis, R-Portland, agreed that both parties had work together for the betterment of Hoosiers as Mahan referred to the Senate was the "House of Lords" while the House was more "Animal House."
About 70 people gathered for breakfast at Meridian Health Services to get a preview of the upcoming Legislature that will consider a new 2-year state budget besides hundreds of other ideas.
Lawmakers, including new state Rep. Sue Errington, D-Muncie, touched on a Hoosier survey released Thursday by the Bowen Center for Public Affairs at Ball State University along with WISH TV Channel 8.
Christmas tax breaks for Sallie Mae, Delaware Dynamics = more jobs for Muncie IN.
By Rick Yencer
MUNCIE, IN - Muncie City Council was generous this week, granting more than $800,000 in tax breaks on the guarantee of more jobs at call center giant Sallie Mae, and the phoenix Delaware Dynamics that rose from the ashes of Delaware Machine.
