The Tipton County Chamber, Tipton County EDC and Central Indiana Television will jointly sponsor a series of Spring Candidates Forums to be held prior to the May primary.
The Forum for Sheriff, Prosecuting Attorney, County Treasurer, and Tipton Community School Board candidates will be held on Thursday, April 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the Tipton County Foundation. CITV will broadcast this event on Monday, April 29. The Forum for candidates vying for State Senator, State Representative, County Commissioner, County Council, and Cicero Township Assessor will be held on Monday, April 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Tipton County Foundation. CITV will broadcast this event on Wednesday, May 1. A Forum will be held for the Northern Community School Board candidates on Thursday, April 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Tri-Central High School Auditorium. This Forum will also be sponsored by Northern Community School PTO. CITV will not be televising this event.
The Forums are organized to provide voters the opportunity to become familiar with each candidate and their position on the issues that affect us all as residents of Tipton County. Mark your calendars and plan to join us for these informative events on April 18, 25 and 29!
JOIN US FOR THE 9TH ANNUALGOLF INVITATIONAL
Don’t forget to mark your calendars and register for the Tipton County Chamber & Tipton County EDC 9th Annual Golf Invitational to be held on Friday, July 19, 2002.
The event will be held at the Tipton Municipal Golf Course and will begin at 12 noon. Registration will start at 10 AM and lunch will be served at 11 AM at the Clubhouse. A
$50 registration fee per golfer includes cart / greens fees and a catered lunch.Entry forms are available at the Chamber / TCEDC office or will be sent upon request by calling (765)675-7533. Entry deadline is Friday, July 5. Payment must be made at time of registration.
Corporate and tee sponsorships are available for businesses and professionals. Whether your company sponsors a hole, a putting green, or serves as a corporate sponsor, your name will reach hundreds of people during the Invitational with on-site signage exposure. Sponsorship fees are $350 for Corporate and $100 for a Tee. For sponsorship information, contact the Chamber at 675-7533 or EDC at 675-7417.
Coming to Tipton in July
CROSSROADS OF AMERICA WORKCAMPS
Habitat for Humanity and local churches have joined forces with TeenServe to host two one-week work camps in Tipton, Indiana from July 21-27 and July 28-August 3. Approximately 200 to 250 teens and their adult leaders from around the country will be staying at a local school each week to work on homes that are in need of repairs. The six-person crews (at least one adult and five teens) will spend their days weatherizing, repairing or painting homes for the elderly or others who cannot complete the work themselves. There is no charge to these families for labor or materials.
Who is TeenServe? TeenServe is a division of Cross-Walk Ministries, Inc., a non-profit corporation based in Minnesota. Founded in 1984, the corporation has been involved in numerous ministries involving teens and most recently has begun to sponsor work camps. Through the work camp program, local co-sponsors combine efforts with TeenServe to provide home repairs for elderly, disabled, and low-income residents. Who will do the work? Supported by numerous local volunteers, each work camp week will involve 200 to 250 teens and adult leaders who each pay $295 for the privilege of lending a helping hand in the repair of area homes. The elderly, needy, and those struggling to work and keep up their homes are urged to apply to be a work site. The camp hopes to serve up to 100 individual job sites within a 25-mile radius of the Tipton area, depending upon the scope of the work at each location. How can you help? Anyone can help by becoming a volunteer, making a donation, requesting your home as a worksite or recommend worksites. For more information or if interested, contact Dick Phillipe at Habitat for Humanity of Tipton County at (765) 675-6354. Let us all help our community by becoming a part of this special event!
from the desk of William S. Konyha
Greetings! The past two years have been difficult for economic development efforts throughout the state. We have been mired in one of the most unusual recessions that anyone has ever witnessed. This particular recession seems to have impacted one segment of the economy while others escaped relatively unscathed.
During the past two years the state has lost more than 46,000 manufacturing jobs. These are not jobs lost to Mexico, or to another country with low labor costs and little environmental regulation. These jobs have been lost as a result in a slow down of manufacturing.
Tipton County has been effected by this manufacturing recession. Many who work at Delco or Chrysler have been laid off. Tipton County employers have also shed some jobs during this downturn in the business cycle. During this period we have seen local unemployment rates climb to levels that were considered full employment just a few short years ago.
Last year, for the first time in the past six years, TCEDC staff did not meet the Board approved goals relating to job creation or capital investment. We had several very good proposals placed on hold as a result of the turmoil and uncertainty of the economy. The events of September 11 resulted in the loss of an excellent opportunity when the company with which we were working determined not to proceed with its planned expansion into Tipton.
Prior to September 11 and the subsequent “official” start of the recession, we suffered a loss. TCEDC staff and board discussed project Filter for many months. Frankly, this project was considered the crown jewel of our economic development efforts. The project was to create hundreds of jobs that paid very well and a capital investment of nearly $50 million. It moved along very well at the outset but became mired down in circumstances beyond the control of any individual.
We initially scheduled a public announcement of the project with company officials during an annual meeting. However, on the day of the meeting, Allied Signal Corp., the original entity of Project Filter, announced its takeover of Honeywell Corporation. This acquisition brought a halt to our project while the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) scrutinized the proposed merger.
It took about seven months for the merger to be approved. After approval the Justice Department had to review and sign off on proposed expansions, as they were concerned about issues of market share and potential monopolies. The proposed expansion to Tipton secured verbal approval but we were thrown another curve ball before the written release could be issued.
One fine Thursday quite without warning, a story in the Wall Street Journal indicated that another company was discussing merger with Honeywell (Allied Signal continued to operate as Honeywell after the merger). By the following Sunday, General Electric Company announced that it had acquired Honeywell for $43 billion. We prepared for the regulatory roller coaster again. Unfortunately this time it did not produce the desired results.
The SEC approved the merger but, quite unexpectedly, the European Commission rejected it. Without European Commission approval the project could not proceed. Since the merger failed to gain approval, Honeywell laid off thousands of employees and closed several plants. The two corporate officers with whom we worked left Honeywell to join competitor organizations. All in all, there was a great deal of work with no tangible benefit recognized by TCEDC or the community.
I am happy to report that it appears that the manufacturing recession is ending. Manufacturing capacity is now operating at about 76% up from 74% (88% is considered full capacity). The unemployment rate declined last month, housing starts are robust, and consumer confidence seems to be returning. In Tipton we have already assisted with two expansions and one new project. The combined capital investment of more than $8,200,000.00 exceeds our goal for the year. We have helped to create more than 70 new jobs and retained another 20.
It is too early to say that 2002 will be a very good year. It does appear that it will be a better year than either 2000 or 2001. Let’s hope that we can build upon the momentum generated in the first quarter.
TCEDC Assists
Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
The proposed expansions represent a capital investment of more than $2.5 million. The project will only create two new jobs, but they are jobs that pay wages that are above the county average wage. In addition, seven existing jobs will be retained as a result of the proposed expansion. These jobs would have been lost had Pioneer chosen another location for their expansion.
Bill Konyha, TCEDC Exec. Director stated “there is additional economic justification for the County Council to act favorably towards this project.” The expansion of the bulk storage facility will enable Pioneer to purchase seed corn from an additional 6,000 acres. Seed corn generates $50 to $75 additional income per acre for the farmers who grow it. Therefore there is a potential of $300,000 to $450,000 of new revenue available for Tipton County farmers.
Konyha added, “TCEDC is constantly looking for opportunities to expand agribusiness in Tipton County. It just makes good sense for the community to capitalize upon agriculture, one of the strengths of Tipton County.”
The last agribusiness project that TCEDC was able to assist was MYCOGEN Seed. TCEDC provided them with technical assistance during their site search. MYCOGEN selected a site near Windfall after a search that included Madison and Clinton Counties. The project was originally slated to be located elsewhere. TCEDC was able to intervene in the process and land the project for Tipton County.