BEDC News http://bedc.posterous.com Bloomington Economic Development Corporation posterous.com Fri, 04 May 2012 07:54:35 -0700 Bloomington Start-up Announces Revolutionary Garden Tower http://bedc.posterous.com/bloomington-start-up-announces-revolutionary http://bedc.posterous.com/bloomington-start-up-announces-revolutionary A new company in Bloomington, Indiana calling itself the Garden Tower Project has created a revolutionary vertical container garden called the Garden Tower. Unlike any other container garden, the Garden Tower generates its own organic fertilizer with kitchen scraps thrown into a central “vermicomposting” tube, and grows fifty-plus plants in a four square food area.

With their Garden Tower they hope to open up gardening possibilities--and thus increased food security--for urban gardeners, community food programs, people living in “food deserts”, and anyone who wishes to boost their own gardening output easily and affordably. A socially-responsible company with a mission, the Garden Tower Project is committed to locally-grown, sustainable, and organic food production.

The Garden Tower’s great innovation is the central vermicomposting tube. Vermicomposting, the creation of organic, nutrient-rich worm compost, occurs within this tube continuously as the gardener throws in plant material kitchen scraps (worms are added to the Tower when it is first planted). The tube runs the length of the 3 foot body and has 40 holes that allow the worms to travel freely throughout the Tower, distributing castings and aerating the soil.

According to Garden Tower inventor Colin Cudmore, this feature, along with several other design features, allows for rapid, healthy, and abundant growth. Vegetables, flowers, and herbs grow readily in the Tower, with little maintenance and no external inputs such as electricity or special nutrient solutions, such as are typically found in hydroponic systems.

Cudmore, Master Gardeners, and novice gardeners in the Bloomington area have been testing the Garden Tower prototype for two years, with impressive results. Says Advanced Master Gardener Michael Simmons, "I planted a fall garden in 2011 in two prototypes of the Garden Tower. Crops included kale, collards, cabbage, broccoli, spinach, arugula, leaf lettuces, chives, garlic chives, sage, marjoram, and parsley. The results were astounding. In March, I still have kale, collards, and herbs that overwintered in the units and continue to flourish.”

The Garden Tower Project’s next step is to raise the considerable sum needed to make injection molds for mass production of the Tower. Hoping to bypass the Wall St./big bank nexus, they have gone on Kickstarter to present their project directly to those who will be most interested in the Garden Tower and who will want to support them financially. According to Cudmore, this will allow the company to maintain the greatest control of its business practices and remain committed to its mission of bringing the Tower to as many people who need it, as affordably as possible.

The terracotta-colored, next-generation model is a big improvement on a prototype that already works wonderfully, says co-founder Joel Grant. It will be rotatable to allow equal access to light on all sides, and will have an easy-to-use removable catch basin that allows the gardener to collect run-off “compost tea” and worm castings to return to the system. The Tower’s simplicity, ease-of-use, and self-replenishing design are distinctive qualities of the Tower, says Grant. “Anybody can use this--beginning gardeners, seniors, children, those with physical restrictions--it’s really that easy. Once you have the soil, worms, and plants in there, you just water and watch it grow.”

The Garden Tower Project is currently on Kickstarter until June 18. Patrons can pledge any amount, but to receive a new generation Tower later this summer the pledge rate is $245, which includes shipping. Cudmore says he is talking to several Indiana plastics manufacturing plants to be sure that production is up and running as soon as possible. He also stresses that the plastic used is food-grade, and that he is looking at plant-based plastics to minimize the Tower’s carbon footprint.

In all, it’s an impressive product with an already impressive track record. The next generation model will be a fine addition to porches, balconies, and rooftops everywhere, and, more importantly, could really make a difference to the diets of those in gardening-challenged areas. The website, www.gardentowerproject, also does an impressive job of presenting the product, the mission, and the story of the Garden Tower Project.

For more information, visit www.gardentowerproject.com.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/661606/bedc_icon.gif http://posterous.com/users/4wPuyw660Io1 Bloomington Economic Development Corporation BEDC Bloomington Economic Development Corporation Wed, 02 May 2012 08:25:24 -0700 Cigital Hosts Open House Event to Launch New Bloomington Office http://bedc.posterous.com/cigital-hosts-open-house-event-to-launch-new http://bedc.posterous.com/cigital-hosts-open-house-event-to-launch-new Cigital Hosts Open House Event to Launch New Bloomington Office

Launch Event will feature a fireside chat with Cigital Chief Technology Officer Gary McGraw, Ph.D., and Visa International Chief Security Officer Gary Warzala

Cigital, Inc., an industry leader in software security consulting, will host an open house to launch its new office in Bloomington, Indiana, on May 3, 2012. The Bloomington office, located at 100 S. College Ave, is the newest addition to Cigital’s global locations, including Washington DC, New York, Santa Clara, Boston, London, and Amsterdam.

The launch event will feature a fireside chat with security guru, IU alum, and Cigital CTO Dr. Gary McGraw and Visa International CSO Gary Warzala. They will introduce Cigital to the Bloomington community and discuss its impact on the growth of software security as a field. The evening will include live music, drinks, and hors d'ouvres.

The Bloomington office will house the company’s first assessment center outside of its Dulles, Va, headquarters and will be led by Randy Moore, Assessment Center Manager.  The new location will provide Cigital with extended capacity to perform remote Application Security Assessments for its Fortune 250 client base. Cigital, which has approximately 200 employees internationally, has already begun hiring new software security consultants.

"Our extensive search for a Midwest nexus ranged from Austin to Ann Arbor.  We picked Bloomington for its superior combination of a growing technical employee base, a very strong Informatics program with an emphasis on security, and an absolutely top notch quality of life," said, Brian Mizelle, VP, Operations, Cigital.  "Our welcome to Indiana and to the Bloomington business community has been great.  We're looking forward to putting down roots and becoming part of Indiana business."

The event, co-sponsored by the Bloomington Technology Partnership, is by invitation only. It will begin at 6:30pm on May 3rd, with the fireside chat starting promptly at 7:00pm.  If you are interested in attending, please contact Brian Mizelle at bmizelle@cigital.com.

About Cigital
Cigital, Inc. is the leading software security consulting firm in the world. Established in 1992, Cigital plans and implements initiatives that help organizations ensure their applications are secure and reliable while also improving how they build and deploy software. Our recognized experts apply a combination of proven methodologies, tools, and best practices to meet each client’s unique requirements. Cigital is headquartered outside Washington, D.C. with regional offices in the U.S., Europe, and India. For more information visit: http://www.cigital.com.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/661606/bedc_icon.gif http://posterous.com/users/4wPuyw660Io1 Bloomington Economic Development Corporation BEDC Bloomington Economic Development Corporation Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:27:44 -0700 Monroe County, Indiana Ranks No. 2 in the U.S. in the Fourth Economy Community Index http://bedc.posterous.com/monroe-county-indiana-ranks-no-2-in-the-us-in http://bedc.posterous.com/monroe-county-indiana-ranks-no-2-in-the-us-in

Bloomington, Ind. (April 12, 2012)- The Bloomington Economic Development Corporation (BEDC) announced today that Fourth Economy Consulting released the new “Fourth Economy Community Index” and named Monroe County, Indiana as the #2 small-sized county in the nation. The index category features counties with 100,000 to 150,000 residents that are ideally positioned to attract modern investment and managed economic growth. Monroe County received an "A" in innovation capacity.

“The ‘fourth economy’ defines our nation’s current economy, reflecting a combination of the previous three: agrarian, industrial, and technological,” said Rich Overmoyer, Fourth Economy President and CEO. “This new index is intended to serve as a dashboard for community stakeholders to gauge their capacity to attract and retain modern investment.”  

“Our community has approached economic vitality as synonymous with quality of life,” said Ron Walker, President of the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation. “We have nationally recognized industry expertise and have been noted as the number one small MSA in the United States for medical device production, as well as number three for pharmaceutical development,” Walker adds. 

Other features of Monroe County highlighted were the retention and investment of General Electric, Indiana University and Ivy Tech Community College-Bloomington, state and local investments in infrastructure, including public water and sewer, state highways, and alternative and public transportation, a thriving arts scene, a historic downtown square, trails, parks and various other assets.

The FEC Index (www.fourtheconomyindex.com) considers several county-level measures within five areas: 1) Investment, 2) Talent, 3) Sustainability, 4) Place, and 5) Diversity. These five areas serve as a foundation for future economic success to include wage and employment growth, education levels, drive times, home values, minority business ownership, agricultural capacity and population density. The measures are weighted based on the level of influence they have on both internal and external investment decisions.

Among other communities were Clarke County, Georgia, Johnson County, Iowa, and Tompkins County, New York. For the full Fourth Economy Index report, click here.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/661606/bedc_icon.gif http://posterous.com/users/4wPuyw660Io1 Bloomington Economic Development Corporation BEDC Bloomington Economic Development Corporation Tue, 10 Apr 2012 05:36:00 -0700 The Solution Lab Announces New Services and Membership Offerings http://bedc.posterous.com/the-solution-lab-bloomingtons-new-collaborati http://bedc.posterous.com/the-solution-lab-bloomingtons-new-collaborati

Bloomington, Indiana (April 9, 2012)– Bloomington-based collaborative workspace, The Solution Lab, announced today a range of new membership options for established businesses that need temporary space for one for more employees.


A state-of-the-art facility for small businesses and entrepreneurs, The Solution Lab offers a variety of collaborative, private, and semi-private office space to accommodate the dynamic needs of growing enterprises. Memberships include conference room space, copier and fax capabilities, wireless Internet, a toll-free phone number with voicemail, an onsite workout center and a business library, among other amenities, with flexible lease terms ranging from one month to one year.


As part of the new membership options, The Solution Lab proudly announces the grand opening of Btown Gym, The Solution Lab’s on-site workout center with state-of-the art exercise equipment, exercise coaches, and nutrition counselors. Btown Gym’s motto is “helping you help yourself,” and requires measurable progress of its members in order to renew a membership with Btown Gym. Membership to Btown Gym is free for all Solution Lab tenants.


“This a good example of the thriving small business environment we have in this part of the state - Bloomington entrepreneurs have stepped forward to fill a need for low cost, flexible space for other entrepreneurs and existing businesses,” stated Ron Walker, President of the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation. “As we see businesses maximize their use of real estate, we expect The Solution Lab to be a resource for small, growing companies as well as start-ups needing a professional presence,” explained Walker.


The Solution Lab has the capacity to host companies and individuals in 25 offices and 25 dedicated desks, as well as up to 25 collaborative work spaces. Other unique aspects of The Solution Lab include its cozy loveseats and impressive local artwork.


“The Solution Lab offers a variety of options in terms of office space: dedicated private offices with locking doors, dedicated desks, and workstations open for use on a first-come, first-served basis,” explains Troy Phelps, Operations Director of The Solution Lab. “We have options for everyone, whether it is a multi-employee company that needs a combination of offices and desk space or a single-person startup company that needs sporadic access to a workspace.” The Solution Lab is currently accepting applications for membership. For more information, email info@bloomingtonoffice.com or call 888.758.2678.


About The Solution Lab
The Solution Lab offers office space that is divided into two workspaces: the collaborative workcenter and the dedicated workcenter. The former functions as a first come first served environment with single person tables, couches, and more, and the latter provides a more traditional workspace with desks and allocated offices. The Solution Lab seeks to provide members with the tools they need to succeed as small businesses and entrepreneurs. For more information visit http://www.bloomingtonoffice.com/.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/661606/bedc_icon.gif http://posterous.com/users/4wPuyw660Io1 Bloomington Economic Development Corporation BEDC Bloomington Economic Development Corporation Wed, 28 Mar 2012 07:48:00 -0700 Employment Plus Grows Bloomington Headquarters, Adds Jobs Across State http://bedc.posterous.com/employment-plus-grows-bloomington-headquarter http://bedc.posterous.com/employment-plus-grows-bloomington-headquarter

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (March 28, 2012) – Employment Plus, Inc., an Indiana-based full-service staffing, recruiting and human resources provider with more than 100 locations in 17 states, announced plans today to expand its Bloomington headquarters and add additional branches across the state, creating up to 307 new jobs by 2015.

Founded in 1993, the Hoosier firm offers staffing services to more than 1,000 customers in the light manufacturing, transportation, construction, healthcare and call center industries. As part of an initiative to grow and expand throughout Indiana, Employment Plus will invest $1.18 million to lease and equip a 21,400 square-foot facility as its new headquarters at 1801 S. Liberty Dr., Suite 300 in Bloomington. The company moved to the new location on March 2. 

“It’s a great day when Indiana can not only welcome hundreds of new jobs, but also celebrate the continued growth of an existing, home-grown Hoosier firm,” said Governor Mitch Daniels. “Employment Plus is proof of the strength of our state’s business climate and workforce and we are so proud to see them expand at record pace.”

Employment Plus recently opened several new branches in Indiana as part of its expansion, including locations in Elkhart, Fort Wayne, Goshen and Lafayette. 

“For over 19 years, Indiana has provided a sustainable environment that has helped Employment Plus to succeed; the labor availability, workforce development programs and economy have been tremendous in helping us to grow,” said Jack Dill, chief financial officer of Employment Plus. “We’re excited for the opportunity to continue our state-wide expansion, increase the number of available jobs to local Hoosiers, and help businesses to fill needed positions by utilizing our exclusive Plus Process.” 

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Employment Plus up to $1,350,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $200,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The city of Bloomington will consider additional property tax abatement at the request of the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation.

The company, which currently employs 171 full-time team members at its 20 Indiana locations, has already begun hiring additional headquarter and support positions in Bloomington and across the state. For a list of available positions, interested candidates can visit www.employmentplus.com.

“Our community is immensely proud of Employment Plus’ success and glad they have chosen to expand their headquarters and centralize key multi-state operations in Bloomington,” said Ron Walker, president of the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation. “Employment Plus is a home-grown Bloomington company and a leader in a rapidly changing field; we’re excited that our location and workforce will help them reach even greater success and productivity in the coming years.”

Employment Plus joins the growing list of more than 179 companies that have committed to locating or growing their headquarters in the Hoosier State since 2005, accounting for more than 28,100 projected new headquarters and operations jobs and more than $2.1 billion in investment.

About Employment Plus
Founded in 1993, Employment Plus is one of the fastest-growing US staffing firms, operating from over 100 branch and on-site partner locations throughout nation. The company provides award-winning staffing, professional and technical recruiting, managed services support and innovative contingent workforce solutions. Employment Plus drives business results in industrial / light manufacturing, office, call center, transportation, healthcare and construction industry sectors. By combining its local branch teams, exclusive Plus Process™, centralized corporate resources and difference maker culture, Employment Plus creates lasting partnerships with clients and cost-effectively fills temporary, temp-to-hire, contract and direct-hire positions. For more information, contact Thomas Hume, VP of Marketing at:  THume@EmploymentPlus.com, (812) 961-5055, or visit us online at www.EmploymentPlus.com.

About IEDC
Created by Governor Mitch Daniels in 2005 to replace the former Department of Commerce, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation is governed by a 12-member board chaired by Governor Daniels. Dan Hasler serves as the chief executive officer of the IEDC.

The IEDC oversees programs enacted by the General Assembly including tax credits, workforce training grants and public infrastructure assistance. All tax credits are performance-based. Therefore, companies must first invest in Indiana through job creation or capital investment before incentives are paid. A company who does not meet its full projections only receives a percentage of the incentives proportional to its actual investment. For more information about IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/661606/bedc_icon.gif http://posterous.com/users/4wPuyw660Io1 Bloomington Economic Development Corporation BEDC Bloomington Economic Development Corporation Mon, 26 Mar 2012 10:21:00 -0700 City of Bloomington selected as “Google Summer of Code” participant http://bedc.posterous.com/city-of-bloomington-selected-as-google-summer http://bedc.posterous.com/city-of-bloomington-selected-as-google-summer

Bloomington, IN – The City of Bloomington has been selected by Google to be the recipient of student programming assistance through the company’s “Summer of Code” program.

Google’s Summer of Code is a global initiative that provides student developers financial support to write code for various open source software projects. Student are paired with a mentor or mentors from participating projects, giving students exposure to real-world software development scenarios and the opportunity for employment in areas related to their academic pursuits. Participating projects benefit employers by allowing them to more easily identify and bring in new developers.

Rick Dietz, the City’s Information and Technology Services Director, said this project aligns well with the City's priorities. "Being included as a Google Summer of Code organization is recognition that Bloomington is a leader in the use and production of open source software to streamline City operations, reduce costs and provide high quality constituent services."

The City is one of few municipal governments invited to participate in this program, providing powerful recognition that Bloomington is a hub of technology and gov2.0 innovation. Other selected organizations include MIT, CERN, Apache Software Foundation, GNU, KDE, Mozilla, Libre Office, Sakai, Samba, Linux Foundation, WikiMedia Foundation and many more.

Proposed City projects for Google Summer of Code include:

  • New features for the GeoReporter App on Apple's iOS platform (iPod, iPhone and iPad)
  • Development of a Google Android platform version of GeoReporter
  • Development of a Kuali Mobility mobile web-based version of GeoReporter

A more detailed description of the projects can be found at http://bloomington.in.gov/documents/viewDocument.php?document_id=6580. Interested students can learn more about the participation opportunities at http://www.google-melange.com/gsoc/homepage/google/gsoc2012. 

GeoReporter and Bloomington iOS apps are available in the Apple Store. Both apps have been launched and are in beta release.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/661606/bedc_icon.gif http://posterous.com/users/4wPuyw660Io1 Bloomington Economic Development Corporation BEDC Bloomington Economic Development Corporation Fri, 16 Mar 2012 08:10:00 -0700 Bloomington Technology Partnership Highlighted for Nurturing Tech Firms http://bedc.posterous.com/bloomington-technology-partnership-highlighte http://bedc.posterous.com/bloomington-technology-partnership-highlighte

The Bloomington Technology Partnership (BTP) was featured in the Indianapolis Business Journal among other organizations that are increasing their technology-focused initiatives in Indiana. The article highlights the BTP's focus on talent attraction, social media and unique ways for technology businesses to come together.

To read more of the article, visit http://www.ibj.com/article/print?articleId=33005.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/661606/bedc_icon.gif http://posterous.com/users/4wPuyw660Io1 Bloomington Economic Development Corporation BEDC Bloomington Economic Development Corporation Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:51:06 -0700 Software Security Consulting Firm Chooses Bloomington For New Facility http://bedc.posterous.com/software-security-consulting-firm-chooses-blo-53820 http://bedc.posterous.com/software-security-consulting-firm-chooses-blo-53820 BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (March 12, 2012) - Cigital, Inc., a software security consulting firm, announced plans today to locate a new facility here, creating up to 25 high-wage jobs by 2014.

The Virginia-based company, which specializes in helping companies design, build and maintain secure software, will invest $352,000 to lease and equip 2,400 square feet of space at 100 S. College Ave. The new facility will house the company's first assessment center outside of its Dulles, Va. headquarters and is slated to be operational in May.

"Innovative companies like Cigital recognize our state's high-growth potential for expanding businesses," said Dan Hasler, Secretary of Commerce and chief executive officer of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. "With our world-class research universities and low-tax policies, we're continuing to bring in more high-wage jobs for Hoosiers."

Cigital, which has approximately 200 employees internationally, has already begun hiring new software security consultants.

"Bloomington and the surrounding area has a growing technology base and we are thrilled to be a part of it," said John Wyatt, chairman and chief executive officer of Cigital. "Our new location is representative of our growing business and we are excited about the talented individuals from the area that we will bring to Cigital."

Cigital was established in 1992 with funding and contracts from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and NASA. The company, which has additional offices in New York, Massachusetts, California, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and India, has been awarded eight patents for its advances in software security.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Cigital, Inc. up to $250,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $8,100 in training grants based on the company's job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The city of Bloomington supports the project through additional incentives at the request of the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation.

"This is a big win in our continuing effort to enhance our growing high tech community," said Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan. "The new jobs that Cigital is bringing mean more opportunities in Bloomington for our local tech workers and for new grads from Indiana University. It also means more reasons for tech workers and other employers around the globe to look at coming to Bloomington to create their own opportunities."

According to TechAmerica Foundation's Cyberstates 2011 report, Indiana's tech sector employs more than 70,000 people, with a total payroll of $4.3 billion. The fastest growing fields in the Hoosier State's high-tech industry are the computer systems design sector and the engineering services sector.

About Cigital
Cigital, Inc. is the leading software security consulting firm in the world. Established in 1992, Cigital plans and implements initiatives that help organizations ensure their applications are secure and reliable while also improving how they build and deploy software. Our recognized experts apply a combination of proven methodologies, tools, and best practices to meet each client's unique requirements. Cigital is headquartered outside Washington, D.C. with regional offices in the U.S., Europe, and India. For more information visit: www.cigital.com.

About IEDC
Created by Governor Mitch Daniels in 2005 to replace the former Department of Commerce, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation is governed by a 12-member board chaired by Governor Daniels. Dan Hasler serves as the chief executive officer of the IEDC.

The IEDC oversees programs enacted by the General Assembly including tax credits, workforce training grants and public infrastructure assistance. All tax credits are performance-based. Therefore, companies must first invest in Indiana through job creation or capital investment before incentives are paid. A company who does not meet its full projections only receives a percentage of the incentives proportional to its actual investment. For more information about IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.

- 30 -

Media Contacts:
Terri Randolph (Cigital) - 703.404.5757 or trandolph@cigital.com  
Katelyn Hancock (IEDC) - 317.234.2294 or kahancock@iedc.in.gov

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/661606/bedc_icon.gif http://posterous.com/users/4wPuyw660Io1 Bloomington Economic Development Corporation BEDC Bloomington Economic Development Corporation Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:20:00 -0800 Bloomington record label celebrates two Grammy wins for one of its bands http://bedc.posterous.com/bloomington-record-label-celebrates-two-gramm http://bedc.posterous.com/bloomington-record-label-celebrates-two-gramm

Bloomington record label JAGJAGUWAR is celebrating two Grammy wins for one of its bands. Wisconsin-based Bon Iver won Best New Artist and Best Alternative Music Album during last night's ceremony in Los Angeles. JAGJAGUWAR represents 27 active musicians. The label was established in 1996.

More information at http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=52174#middle.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/661606/bedc_icon.gif http://posterous.com/users/4wPuyw660Io1 Bloomington Economic Development Corporation BEDC Bloomington Economic Development Corporation Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:13:00 -0800 Bloomington Welcomes New Crane Naval Base Commander http://bedc.posterous.com/bloomington-welcomes-new-crane-naval-base-com http://bedc.posterous.com/bloomington-welcomes-new-crane-naval-base-com

On January 19th, community leaders from Bloomington welcomed Colonel and Mrs. Alan Pratt at a reception in their honor at the Monroe County Convention Center. Indiana University co-hosted the reception with its partner organizations, Ivy Tech-Bloomington, The Greater Bloomington Chamber, the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation and Mr. Lee Marchant, chair of the Growing Crane Committee.  The event was a great opportunity to demonstrate Bloomington’s support for Crane’s national security mission.  The event also serves as a reminder of the number of jobs and innovative work, both on the base and through contractors, that Crane supports in our community.

Read the full story on the Innovate Indiana Blog: http://innovate.indiana.edu/blog/2012/01/bloomington-welcomes-new-crane-naval-base-commander/

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/661606/bedc_icon.gif http://posterous.com/users/4wPuyw660Io1 Bloomington Economic Development Corporation BEDC Bloomington Economic Development Corporation Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:55:00 -0800 Bloomington Launches Tech Talent Attraction Tool http://bedc.posterous.com/bloomington-launches-tech-talent-attraction-t http://bedc.posterous.com/bloomington-launches-tech-talent-attraction-t

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA (February 6, 2012) – The Bloomington Technology Partnership (BTP) announced today the launch of a new web-based social media and talent attraction portal designed to promote Bloomington’s emerging technology community and assist Bloomington technology employers with filling open jobs. The portal development was partially funded by the City of Bloomington and is the top priority of the Bloomington Technology Partnership, a collaborative initiative aimed at growing Bloomington’s technology industry. The portal can be accessed at http://bloomingtontech.com.

The concept for the web portal was created by consulting firm Career Investments, LLC, in response to specific local tech sector needs identified by the BTP and members of Bloomington’s local tech community in areas of defense, eLearning, IT, software development and web-based applications, among others. Studio Cypher, LLC, a Bloomington-based games and web design company, designed and developed the portal.

“The Bloomington Technology Partnership web portal is a milestone for connecting the area’s thriving technology companies with local and regional talent,” said Ron Walker, President of Bloomington Economic Development Corporation. “Our hope is that the web portal will strengthen the local tech community by fostering new relationships and capitalizing on existing networks from the thousands of talented technologists already employed here.”

Features of the portal include a dedicated job board for Bloomington area technology companies, current online conversations between tech firms, profiles of Bloomington technology employers, news posts and videos highlighting the community.

“The BTP website provides a vital resource to our Indiana technology community,” said Ari Vidali, CEO of Envisage Technologies and member of the BTP Advisory Committee. “The site links ideas, talent and innovative companies. With it, we can share experiences, explore ideas and collaborate to strengthen the foundation of our rapidly growing technology sector.”

“Strengthening our local tech sector is the reason the Bloomington Technology Partnership was formed,” said Danise Alano-Martin, the City’s Director of Economic and Sustainable Development, “and the new BTP website does double duty toward meeting that goal. Not only is it an interactive utility for local tech businesses, but it also helps convey the message to the world that Bloomington, Indiana is an exciting place to start and grow technology companies and to have a fulfilling career in technology.”

Technology companies in the Bloomington area and non-tech businesses with technology-related job openings can post their open positions to the site’s job board. More than a dozen companies have taken advantage of the job board and many others have expressed interest. In addition to the portal, the BTP promotes tech events and job openings through a highly active group on LinkedIn and via its Twitter account that has seen a 50% increase in followers in five months.

The web portal also has social media features to kick-start conversation and meetings in the community. An events calendar highlights local tech gatherings and conferences, and a community conversation page allows visitors to view area blogs and a Twitter feed featuring local tech companies. The website also profiles area tech companies with their organization’s history, current location, and contact information.

“I’m gratified to see the depth and breadth of technology businesses and opportunities in Bloomington,” said Deb Allmayer, Human Resources Officer for the Office of the Vice President for Information Technology, Indiana University. “We are always looking for potential partners, and I know we will explore that in the future.” “To compete with other tech centers for top talent, we need to reveal the career opportunities, interesting companies and vital social communities that welcome and nurture technologists in Bloomington,” said Jim McKean, Partner in Career Investments. “By aggregating job openings, company profiles, interesting blogs and the tech-relevant social network conversations in one portal, we can reveal the community for what it really is.’Aggregate and reveal' – that is the strategy behind this portal.”

For more information about the Bloomington Tech Partnership or the web portal, contact info@bloomingtontech.com or visit the website at http://bloomingtontech.com.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/661606/bedc_icon.gif http://posterous.com/users/4wPuyw660Io1 Bloomington Economic Development Corporation BEDC Bloomington Economic Development Corporation Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:35:00 -0800 BioCrossroads Report: From Hearts to Hips - Indiana's Leadership in Medical Devices http://bedc.posterous.com/biocrossroads-report-from-hearts-to-hips-indi http://bedc.posterous.com/biocrossroads-report-from-hearts-to-hips-indi

In a report released by BioCrossroads, the medical devices industry is identified as one of Indiana’s most valuable economic assets employing over 20,000 people, and generating more than $10 billion of annual economic output.  The first of its kind report, From Hearts to Hips: Indiana’s Leadership in Medical Devices was written by BioCrossroads and FaegreBD Consulting to provide an overview of the sector and identify challenges on the horizon. 

Find the report here: http://www.biocrossroads.com/Documents/Reports/2012-Indiana-Medical-Devices-Report.aspx

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/661606/bedc_icon.gif http://posterous.com/users/4wPuyw660Io1 Bloomington Economic Development Corporation BEDC Bloomington Economic Development Corporation Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:56:00 -0800 BEDC Welcomes New Addition to Staff http://bedc.posterous.com/bedc-welcomes-new-addition-to-staff http://bedc.posterous.com/bedc-welcomes-new-addition-to-staff

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA (January 13, 2012) – The Bloomington Economic Development Corporation announced today the hiring of Dana Palazzo as Project Manager for the BEDC, a new position within the organization effective January 3, 2012. 

“We’re thrilled Dana accepted our offer to join us full-time,” expressed Ron Walker, President of the BEDC.  “Dana has impressed us all with her strong work ethic and ability to communicate effectively with multiple constituencies while she worked with us in a part-time role for the past several months,” stated Walker. 

As a project manager, Ms. Palazzo will assist the President and Vice President in carrying out the BEDC’s economic development projects, including site selection responses, prospect information requests, product development, shovel ready designation activities, and coordination of several initiatives aimed at helping Monroe County businesses thrive.

"I think the BEDC is an excellent organization and I am excited to join the staff full-time,” said Palazzo. “Bloomington is such a vibrant city, and I feel passionate about our mission to attract and retain quality jobs in the area," stated Palazzo.

Palazzo, originally from Youngstown, Ohio, graduated from the University of Tampa in 2008 where she received her B.A. in government and world affairs. She has previously held the positions of Membership Coordinator and hYPe Coordinator/Administrative Assistant with the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, respectively.  

About the BEDC

The BEDC is a not-for-profit, public-private partnership dedicated to the retention, development and attraction of quality jobs in Monroe County.  The BEDC is led by a partnership of private industry leaders, the City of Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana University and Ivy Tech Community College–Bloomington.  For more information click here www.comparebloomington.us.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/661606/bedc_icon.gif http://posterous.com/users/4wPuyw660Io1 Bloomington Economic Development Corporation BEDC Bloomington Economic Development Corporation Mon, 05 Dec 2011 10:25:00 -0800 Bloomington Ranks in Top 30 of Smartest Cities http://bedc.posterous.com/bloomington-ranks-in-top-30-of-smartest-citie http://bedc.posterous.com/bloomington-ranks-in-top-30-of-smartest-citie

Bloomington ranked 29th out of 483 medium size cities (cities with a population between 50,000-99,999) in the Brainpower index rankings completed by The Business Journals On Numbers. Other Indiana cities that appeared in the top 100 were Carmel (22nd) and Fishers (39th).

Using the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey data, cities were ranked according to the percentage of adults who had achieved certain educational degrees, including attainment of a high school diploma, associate degree, bachelor’s degree, and graduate and/or professional degree. The point value of each educational level was determined by the relative earning power of people at that level.

According to the US Census Bureau, Bloomington has a high level of educational attainment. Approximately 26% of the City’s population has a bachelor’s degree and 30% has a graduate and/or professional degree. These percentages led to a Brainpower index of 20.958. The top performers, Bethesda, MD and Palo Alto, CA, scored 38.303 and 36.622 respectively.

You can access the main article here.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/661606/bedc_icon.gif http://posterous.com/users/4wPuyw660Io1 Bloomington Economic Development Corporation BEDC Bloomington Economic Development Corporation Tue, 29 Nov 2011 06:38:00 -0800 Indiana named #5 in Area Development’s 2011 Top States For Doing Business http://bedc.posterous.com/indiana-named-5-in-area-developments-2011-top http://bedc.posterous.com/indiana-named-5-in-area-developments-2011-top

Indiana was ranked fifth overall among the top states for doing business, first for its rail and highway accessibility, and second as a leader in economic recovery. 

A “push for speed and certainty” in all aspects of state government is what helps job growth here, according to Mitch Roob, Indiana Secretary of Commerce and CEO of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. 

“When people invest in Indiana, they know their taxes are unlikely to rise due to the certainty fostered by maintaining a balanced budget and a low tax burden,” he says. “Individuals and businesses also receive speedy service on everything from vehicle registration…to environmental licensing…In Indiana, we realize we exist in a world marketplace where prospective [ROI] on personal financial capital must be at world levels. We recognize that we have to become a world-class location where world-class companies will create world-class opportunities for world-class Hoosiers.”

Indiana already is known as the “Crossroads of America” due to its ideal geographic location (within a half-day’s drive of over 20 major metros) and notable transportation assets (eight interstate highways; more than 11,000 highway miles; 4,165 miles of active railway tracks; the world’s second-largest FedEx hub, and more). 

Not to rest on its laurels, in 2005 the state launched an aggressive 10-year, $10 billion transportation plan (“Major Moves”) to significantly improve and expand Indiana’s highway infrastructure. The long-term lease of the Indiana Toll Road provided $2.6 billion of funding for over 200 new construction and 200 major preservation projects. Amazingly, no tax increases are called for to fund the program, already well under way.

Indiana wants to attract more companies in the biotech, automotive, new energy, and defense sectors. State programs recently implemented to foster a pro-business climate include new legislation decreasing corporate income tax from 8.5 to 6.5 percent; a property tax relief program that cut property taxes by one third (and established a constitutional cap on tax rates for all property classes); and an R&D tax credit equal to 15 percent of a company’s first $1 million of qualifying R&D expenditures. 

Not surprisingly, Indiana’s GDP grew 4.6 percent in 2010; well above the national rate of 2.6 percent and at a clip placing it as the state with the third-highest growth rate in the nation (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis). 

Governor Mitch Daniels is clear about what it takes to steer Indiana through these hard economic times, and the message is quite different than what is coming from Washington, D.C. “Government does not create jobs,” he has said, “it only create[s] the conditions that make jobs more or less likely.”

To read the full article, please visit http://bit.ly/rhf48l.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/661606/bedc_icon.gif http://posterous.com/users/4wPuyw660Io1 Bloomington Economic Development Corporation BEDC Bloomington Economic Development Corporation Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:35:25 -0800 Another Monroe County Industrial Site Given "Shovel Ready" Status http://bedc.posterous.com/another-monroe-county-industrial-site-given-s http://bedc.posterous.com/another-monroe-county-industrial-site-given-s

Bloomington (November 21, 2011) – The Bloomington Economic Development Corporation (BEDC) is excited to announce the designation of a new 69-acre shovel ready commercial site in Monroe County, Indiana. The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) approved the BEDC shovel ready application, submitted in September 2011 for the industrial site, which had previously undergone an extensive remediation process to make it eligible for future commercial use.

 

“We were glad the State of Indiana encouraged us to seek a shovel ready designation for a brownfield property,” said Ron Walker, President, BEDC.  “We’ve had great support from Monroe County to encourage infill development and Summit Realty readily assisted us in gathering data about the site so we could document the property’s characteristics for future employment use,”  said Walker.

 

Description of the site:

The County’s new shovel ready site is located at 300 N. Curry Pike in Monroe County’s westside economic development area, a tax increment finance district. The site is zoned General Industrial and is served by the Indiana Rail Road Company.

 

The former ABB site is the third Monroe County property to be designated “Shovel-Ready” by the IEDC.  The BEDC pursued the shovel ready application process with the support of a Community Growth Partnership grant from Duke Energy.  Click Here to see the property on the BEDC’s Sites and Building’s Database.     

 

For additional information about the shovel ready property please contact: 

 

Ron Walker, BEDC, 812-335-7346

Dave Harstad, Summit Realty, 812-822-1123

Mike Heaton, Duke Energy, 317-838-1642

Read the IEDC Press Release Here:  http://www.in.gov/portal/news_events/73244.htm

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/658662/btp_icon__1_.gif http://posterous.com/users/4wPxc7mzoEJH Bloomington Technology Partnership BTP Bloomington Technology Partnership Wed, 16 Nov 2011 10:44:02 -0800 Indiana and Bloomington Restaurants on National List http://bedc.posterous.com/indiana-and-bloomington-restaurants-on-nation http://bedc.posterous.com/indiana-and-bloomington-restaurants-on-nation
Three Indiana eateries are on Open Table Inc.'s list of the top 100 restaurants in the U.S. serving American cuisine. The Diners' Choice Awards went to establishments in Fort Wayne, Westfield and Bloomington. Open Table selected the restaurants based on feedback collected from diners between November 2010 and October 2011. Bloomington's own Restaurant Tallent was one of the three Indiana restaurants to make the list.

Read full story here: http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?id=50824

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/661606/bedc_icon.gif http://posterous.com/users/4wPuyw660Io1 Bloomington Economic Development Corporation BEDC Bloomington Economic Development Corporation Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:11:48 -0800 Indiana's Business Climate Ranks Sixth Best in Nation http://bedc.posterous.com/indianas-business-climate-ranks-sixth-best-in http://bedc.posterous.com/indianas-business-climate-ranks-sixth-best-in

INDIANAPOLIS (Nov. 2, 2011) - For the fourth time in as many years, Indiana's business climate scored a top ten finish nationally in Site Selection magazine's 2011 business climate rankings. Feedback from a survey of national real estate executives and a review of Indiana's economic development record earned the state recognition as the sixth best place for business in the U.S., up two spots from eighth in 2010.

The Site Selection ranking, released this week in the magazine's November 2011 issue, comes a little more than a month after Area Development magazine rated Indiana's business climate best in the Midwest and fifth overall in the U.S., according to a survey of national site selection consultants. The state was also ranked as top in the nation for rail and highway accessibility and was among the consultants' second pick as a state leading in the economic recovery.

"Companies are finding Indiana at record pace this year as our state continues to be a standout choice for companies to locate and thrive," said Dan Hasler, Secretary of Commerce and chief executive officer of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. "The Hoosier State earns its renowned reputation every day by offering a skilled workforce, tremendous transportation infrastructure and friendly space for entrepreneurs to make their visions a reality."  

Site Selection's annual business climate rankings are determined in part by performance of the state in Conway Data's New Plant Database, which tracks new and expanded business facility activity, and also by a survey of corporate site seekers across the country. The survey asked companies to identify the top 10 state business climates, taking into consideration such factors as lack of red tape, financial assistance and government officials' cooperation. Respondents were also asked to rank the factors most important to them when determining a location for a new facility.

Site Selection's business climate survey story, as well as the publication's annual state legislative and incentives update, appear in the November 2011 edition and at http://www.siteselection.com/.

About Site Selection Magazine
Site Selection magazine, published by Conway Data Inc., delivers expansion planning information to 44,000 executives of fast-growing firms. The senior publication in the development field, Site Selection is also available via Site Selection Online (http://www.siteselection.com/). SiteNet Dispatch, a weekly e-mail newsletter, goes to more than 41,000 industry professionals.

About IEDC
Created by Governor Mitch Daniels in 2005 to replace the former Department of Commerce, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation is governed by a 12-member board chaired by Governor Daniels. Dan Hasler serves as the chief executive officer of the IEDC.  For more information about IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/661606/bedc_icon.gif http://posterous.com/users/4wPuyw660Io1 Bloomington Economic Development Corporation BEDC Bloomington Economic Development Corporation Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:11:00 -0700 Bloomington "Sprout" Pocket Tales Wins Global Education Challenge http://bedc.posterous.com/pocket-tales-wins-global-education-challenge http://bedc.posterous.com/pocket-tales-wins-global-education-challenge

Education startup Pocket Tales, originally one of Bloomington IN tech company SproutBox's "sprouts," has been awarded top prize at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's Global Education Challenge. A part of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's Innovation Fund, the challenge aims to bring together innovators to improve education on a global scale. Pocket Tales took first place honors in a field of ideas submitted from 23 countries and 37 states.

In addition to winning the award, Pocket Tales will also receive $125,000 in cash and prizes, including $25,000 in books to be given to a school of the company's choosing. Pocket Tales has also been awarded a distribution partnership with the learning company. To learn more about the Global Education Challenge, head to the official website here.

Pocket Tales is an incentives-based learning platform that encourages reading through rewards and interactions. Now located in Indianapolis, Pocket Tales was originally developed at SproutBox, a venture capital firm for tech startups located in Bloomington. For more information about Pocket Tales, go to their website here. To read more about SproutBox, visit their website here.  

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/658662/btp_icon__1_.gif http://posterous.com/users/4wPxc7mzoEJH Bloomington Technology Partnership BTP Bloomington Technology Partnership Thu, 22 Sep 2011 11:59:00 -0700 Bloomington IN Makes National Retirement List http://bedc.posterous.com/indiana-city-makes-national-retirement-list http://bedc.posterous.com/indiana-city-makes-national-retirement-list

InsideINdianaBusiness.com Report

Bloomington, Indiana has been named one of the 25 Best Places to Retire.  The list by the CNNMoney.com takes into account cost of living, home prices, low taxes and activities for retirees.  Bloomington is the only Indiana city on this year's list.  It is described as a retiree-friendly college town with an eclectic downtown and leafy neighborhoods.  Other cities on this year's list include Danville, Kentucky, Marquette, Michigan and Boise, Idaho. You can view the listings by clicking here.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/661606/bedc_icon.gif http://posterous.com/users/4wPuyw660Io1 Bloomington Economic Development Corporation BEDC Bloomington Economic Development Corporation