Your company can enter a foursome, have a Corporate Sponsor sign and receive recognition as a Corporate Sponsor in the official program and in all press releases and the newsletter for one low cost of $550. If you want to take advantage of this sponsorship option or are interested in Hole-Sponsorship

or maybe just the opportunity to play golf, contact the Chamber at (765) 675-7533 for more information. Don’t delay as registration is limited to 40 foursomes! Registrations will be accepted through Monday, July 15

There are many opportunities to network with other business professionals and companies while play for cash and hole prizes during this popular event. If your company would like to donate a door prize, goodie bag items or you need additional information, contact the Chamber at (765) 675-7533 or Tipton County EDC at (765) 675-7417.

The Tipton County Chamber of Commerce website has a fresh new look and a variety of information on the Tipton County area on its website at www.tiptontel.com/~tipcham.

TAKE A LOOK!! A new link has been added that allows internet users the ability to view the minutes of state and local government and not-for-profit group meetings. This service will enable viewers to become better

informed of these groups actions within the community and how it will affect the community and/or the services provided by these entities.

If your governing board or group wish to participate in this program, contact the Chamber at (765) 675-7533 or by e-mail to ditimm@tiptontel.com.

Tipton County will soon have a wonderful new community educational resource. The Education Center of Tipton County will open its doors during the month of July. The Education Center will be located at 239 Ash Street (State Road 19 north of Bouquet Barn) in Tipton. This educational outreach program is intended to help raise the educational level of all Tipton County residents. Enhancing workforce and K-12 teacher skills, providing lifelong learning opportunities, and enabling students to take college classes are all initiatives of the Center.

Participants can achieve customized education for personal development, certification of technical achievement, continuing or post-secondary educational skill enhancement, and bachelor and masters degree college credit courses using the Indiana College Network.

The Center is equipped with the latest in educational technology. Included are laptop and desktop computer workstations, a permanent high-speed Internet line, two-way video conferencing, and satellite-delivered instruction. A computer projector is available in a classroom for meetings and classes.

Monty is a graduate of the Purdue School of Agriculture and a Liberty Township farmer representing northern Tipton County on the TCEDC board. He also serves the community as the Liberty Township Trustee and as a volunteer fireman.

During the six plus years that I have worked with Monty, he has done an admirable job of articulating the issues impacting northern Tipton County. He shares the ag point of view on any number of local issues and works with the board to ensure that ag concerns are considered.

Monty addressed those gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of TCEDC at the C.W. Mount Community Center. Through this brief speech he continued sharing his insights. He told those attending the annual meeting that Liberty Township personal property tax returns for 2002 included one business (a recent addition that was assisted by TCEDC) that reported more personal property, based on assessed valuation, than did 28 of the township’s 31 farm returns combined. This solitary business provides more funding to the township, the school, and the county than all but three of the township farms combined do. The presence of this business eases the tax burden on farmers, homeowners, and other businesses in the entire county.

Monty Henderson understood this economic fact of life long before he became either the TCEDC Board Chair or a Township Trustee. A vibrant and expanding local economy is beneficial to all participants. A stagnant local economy is a drag upon every person, business and institution operating within its influence.

The local units of government of Tipton County have done a remarkable job of keeping our tax rate down by managing the expense side of the equation. However, there is only so much in the way of “fat” that can be squeezed from any budget. Eventually revenues must increase just to keep pace with expenses. There are some expenses that County Council or City Council can control. There are many others that are beyond control of any local entity.

If the County (or City) never hire another person, never grant a pay raise to any current employee, and never purchase another piece of capital equipment, the cost to continue operations will escalate. These increases are the result of costs that are beyond our control. Nevertheless they must be borne by the tax base. There are only two ways in which this can happen; either the tax rate will be increased, or the tax base must be expanded.

TCEDC efforts over the past fifteen years have supported the investment of more than $50,000,000 of private capital. More than 500 jobs have been created or retained and wages have increased significantly due to the strategy of attracting employers with high-skill and high-wage jobs. Six years ago the average wage in Tipton County was about $9.00 per hour. Today it is $13.30 per hour, an increase of more than 47% during a period when annual inflation ran at 3%.

The jobs that TCEDC worked to create or retain help to keep property taxes as low as they are. The County Adjusted Gross Income Tax (CAGIT) is a payroll tax that funds the Property Tax Replacement Credit (PTR). The PTR has averaged about 17% and benefits all Tipton County property owners.

The board of directors and staff of the Tipton County Economic Development Corporation celebrated its 15th Annual Meeting on Monday, June 3 at the C.W. Mount Community Center in Tipton.

Jeff Drozda, Republican candidate for State Senate District 21 was the guest speaker for the event. Drozda urged audience members to be activists for their community. “Without widespread activism, political minorities can sometimes drown out the wishes of the majority,” Drozda said.

During the course of the evening, outgoing Chairman Monty Henderson and Executive Director William Konyha addressed those in attendance.

Awards of appreciation were presented to five and ten-year contributors of the Tipton County EDC.
Five-year supporters recognized included Murray’s Body Shop, Package Right Corporation and Roberts & Dybdahl, Inc. Ten-year supporters included: Campbell Seed Inc., Doversberger Farms, Inc., First Farmers Bank & Trust, Maxey Home Construction, and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Schram.

In addition, several awards were presented to individuals and businesses who were recognized for their support to the community. They included:

Ida Matthews Award for Corporate Citizenship—Maxey Home Construction

Young-Nichols Business of the Year Award—BRS Mechanical

Donald F. See Leadership Award—C.W. Mount Community Center Board

TCEDC Entrepreneur of the Year—Baumgartner Asphalt Services

TCEDC directors James Ashley, Chris Kelley, Pat Logan, Nancy Poer, Ted Tetrick, Dave Voris and Ron Warren were re-elected to serve additional two-year terms through June 2004. Thomas Dolezal was elected to serve replacing Leon Ratcliff who is relocating to Illinois. Clinton Rockey did not wish to serve an additional two-year term due to his work schedule.

The following officers were elected to serve one-year terms: Joe VanBibber, Chairperson; Don S. Havens, First Vice Chair; James Ashley, Second Vice Chair; Nancy Poer, Secretary; Pat Logan, Treasurer; and Ronald Warren, Assistant Secretary.

In April, Steel Parts Corp. formed a new holding company, TransVision Technologies Corporation, to facilitate the Company’s future growth plans. TransVision will engineer and market parts while Steel Parts serves as manufacturer. The company has begun shifting its focus to engineering, fabricating and stamping auto parts, rather than stamping parts designed mainly by automakers.

Steel Parts stamps separator plates and other transmission parts for automatic transmissions on Ford cars and trucks. The company is producing at an unusually precise rate of six defects per million parts, lower than the automotive stamping industry’s average of 25 defects per million parts.

“As we have grown the business we have taken it from being just a stamper to a full-service stamper. We are very pleased with the formation of TransVision Technologies and the confidence that our investors have placed in our ability to further build upon the strong business model that has enabled Steel Parts Corporation to become a leading automotive OEM supplier,” said Dennis French, President and CEO of both Steel Parts and TransVision Technologies.

“As we strive to move the company to the next level, this vehicle enables our entire management team to become more focused and directly incentivized to maximize customer satisfaction, both in the daily delivery of best class services and products, and through continual productivity improvement and creative cost reduction programs. Equally important, we will now have the financial support and strategic guidance to seek opportunities to further build our world-class capabilities in the automotive OEM market.”

French concluded, “We believe there are numerous strategic opportunities in which we can leverage our competitive position as a high-quality low-cost producer. The success of our proven manufacturing processes, our technical know-how and our first-rate customer service is exemplified by our more than forty-year partnership with Ford Motor Company. The TransVision Board of Directors has given us the green light to focus on growing the Company and further enhancing our competitive position in the automotive arena, building upon the excellent relationships we currently share with our customers.”

Abstracters - Moore Title & Escrow Co., Title Guaranty & Abstract Co., Inc.; Accountants & CPAs - Opal A. Graham, P.A., Patrick N. Logan, C.P.A., Marlene Van Sickle, McNeal & Co., C.P.A., Max McNeal, McNeal & Co., C.P.A.s, PC; Animal Care - Four Hounds Haven & Cattery, Humane Society of Tipton County; Apartments/Mobile Home Parks - Tipton Terrace Apartments; Architects & Building Services - EES Home Design; Associations - American Red Cross Tipton & Howard Charter, Indiana Blood Center, Kelley Historical Agricultural Museum, Tipton County Economic Development Corp., Tipton County Foundation, Tipton County Historical Society & Tipton County Heritage Center, Welcome Wagon (GETKO GROUP); Attorneys - Ben Hobbs—Hobbs & Pottenger, Julie Pottenger—Hobbs & Pottenger, Thomas R. Lett—Pearce, Lett, Rich & Clouser, Jay Rich—Pearce, Lett, Rich & Clouser, David Langolf Smith, Attorney at Law, David B. Quigley—Quigley & Quigley, Matthew Quigley—Quigley & Quigley; Automobile Dealers/Service Stations/Parts Sales & Service - Allen’s Auto Sales & Service, Bob-A-Lu’s Marathon & Bob’s Standard Station, Clifton Tire Service, Dan Young Tipton, LLC, NAPA Auto Parts / Tipton Automotive Supply, Murray’s Body Shop LLC, Tipton Ford Mercury, Inc.; Banks/Credit Unions/Mortgage Company/Financial Institutions - First Farmers Bank & Trust, First National Bank & Trust, Lundin & Associates, Inc.-Noblesville, Lundin & Associates-Kokomo, National City Bank of Indiana, Star Financial Bank, Steel Parts Federal Credit Union; Building & Home Contractors/Concrete/Asphalt/Heating & Cooling - Ashley Construction, Baker Concrete, Baumgartner & Co. Asphalt Services, Bob Richardson Builders, Inc., BRS Mechanical Inc., Gaiser Heating & Cooling, Inc., Irving Materials, Inc., Maxey Home Construction, McMahon Custom Homes, Inc., Pottenger Electric Co., Smith Building, Inc., TenBrook Sales Heating & Cooling, Tragesser Concrete Forms, Inc; Caterers - Class Act Catering; Child Care - ABC & ME Child Care St. John’s Day Care Ministry; Churches & Monasteries - Cicero Seventh Day Adventist Church and The Tipton Living Center, Heartland Ministries, Sisters of St. Joseph of Tipton, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church; Dentists - Dr. Valerie Bastin, DDS PC, Hulen Family Dentistry - Doctors Chris & Lisa Hulen; Smith Family Dentistry-Dr. Mike Smith; Doctors - Dr. Vincent Delumpa, Northern Surgical Consultants, Dr. Destry Lambert. Family Doctor, Dr. William M. Stone, OB / GYN; Engineers / Land Surveyors - Engineer Associates Wyatt Johnson, P.E., L.S.; Exercise/Physical Fitness - Curves for Women; Eye Doctors / Optometrists - Dr. Jeffrey L. Tweedy, OD, Tipton Eye Care Associates; Family & Children & Welfare Services - Div. of Family & Children Services/Carey Services; Florists - Jean’s Flowers & Gifts; Funeral Directors / Monument Companies - Caldwell Monument Co., Young Nichols Funeral Home, Inc.; Furniture / Wicker Furniture - Schoolhouse of Educated Wicker; Grocery Stores - Marsh Supermarkets, LLC; Government Offices - SEE LIST BELOW; Hardware Stores - Tipton ACE Hardware; Hotels / Motels - East Street Inn, Flamingo Motel; Individuals - Dallas & Dorothy Ressler, Oak Grove Farms, Mrs. Phil Hobbs, Robert & Elizabeth Schram, Unique Sewing, P. J. Ryan; Insurance - American Family Insurance, Country Corner Insurance Market, Everett Hughes Insurance, Inc., Farm Bureau Insurance of Tipton County, Farmers Mutual Insurance Co., Holland Insurance Services; Investors - Edward D. Jones Investments; Industrial / Agricultural Related - Campbell Seed Inc., Cargill AgHorizons, Dow Agroscience, IMPACT COOP, Legg Seeds—Hillcrest Farms, Inc., Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., Ray Bros. & Noble Canning Co., Schoettmer Prime Pork Farm Inc.; Industrial - Acra-Line Products, Inc., DC Coaters, Inc., High Performance Alloys, Midwest Sheets, Package Right Corporation, Roberts & Dybdahl, Inc., Steel Parts Corporation, Terry Products, Wabash Alloys, LLC; Landscaping - Lee Landscaping; Library - Tipton County Public Library; Medical Facilities - Bona Vista Programs Inc., Community VNA Home Care, Miller’s Merry Manor, Rural Metro Ambulance Service, Tipton At Home, Tipton County Memorial Hospital, Autumnwood Extended Care Facility, Autumnwood Village Assisted Living; Medical / Rehabilitation / Developmental - Janus Developmental Services, Inc.; Newspaper  - Kokomo Tribune—chnimedia, Tipton County Tribune—Elwood Publishing Co.; Office Products / Computers /Computer Programs / Electronics / Satellite Sales - Miller & Miller Information Management Systems, Ramsay Business Solutions, Shirley Computers / Radio Shack; Personnel Services - Staffing Resources Inc.—Kokomo, Workforce Development Strategies, Inc.-Peru; Pharmacy - The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy; Photographers - B.A. Hirtzel—Free Lance Photography By Beck, Inc., Photography By Gregory; Publications / Printers / Specialty Items - Apple Group, Inc., B.A.T. Signs & Graphics, Community Graphics, Inc., McCormack Printing Impressions, Inc., McLeod USA Publishing Co., Stearnes Quality Printing, The Sign Shop; Realtors - Coldwell Banker Havens Realty Co., Coverdale Realty, Heron Real Estate, Regional Assoc. of Central Indiana, ReMax All Stars, Tipton Realty & Speer Appraising Services, LLC; Recycling / Waste Removal - Paper Trail Recycling, Inc., Wabash Valley Refuse Removal; Restaurants - Burger King—KD Development, Inc., Dairy Queen Restaurant, HollyTre Cafe, Jim Dandy Restaurant, Pizza King–Cardini’s, Inc., Pizza Shack, Taco Bell / Kentucky Fried Chicken—KIRTAC, Inc.; Retail Stores - Alco Discount Store #287, Gifts Plus—Clemons Variety, Moser Jewelers, Inc., The House of Glass, Inc., Wellinger’s Flooring; Schools/ Colleges - Ivy Tech State College—Kokomo, Northern Community Corporation & Schools, St. John the Baptist Parochial School, Tipton Community Corporation & Schools; Telephone Companies / Satellite Sales & Service & Internet Service - TDS TELECOM; Television/At Home & Internet Services - CITV (Central Indiana Television), Insight Communications , NuPOINT.NET; Travel Agency - Tipton Travel Co., Inc.; Trophies & Engraving - Columbia Trophy & Engraving; Utility Services - Tipton Municipal Utilities, Vectren Services; Water Conditioning & Appliances - Rabb/Kinetico Water Systems, Young’s Water Conditioning; CITY OFFICES - Tipton Mayor’s Office, Tipton Clerk-Treasurer, Tipton Court, Tipton Garage, Tipton Light Dept., Tipton Police Dept., Tipton Street Dept., Tipton Park & Pool, Tipton Waste Water Plant, Tipton Water Dept.; COUNTY OFFICES - County Twp. Assessor, County Assessor, County Auditor, County Commissioners, County Extension Office, County Health Dept., County Jail, County Landfill, County Plan Commission, County Probation, County Recorder, County Road Supt., County Sheriff Dept., County Surveyor, County Treasurer, County Veteran Service, Circuit Court

The “Comprehensive Plan” in use in Tipton County was authored in 1962. The plan has had some minor modifications since it was originally authored. The plan as it exists is most definitely not a forward-looking document. At best it is a snapshot of Tipton County Circa 1968.

Plan Commission Chairperson Carl Colbert, and Commissioner Paul Julius report that they intend to conduct public meetings to gather input from residents of each township. This is one of the most critical components of the plan. The process must be publicly lead and the people of Tipton County must provide input before the document is drafted. Public ownership of the plan is essential if it is to effectively guide the decisions of the Plan Commission and the Commissioners.

Workforce Supply: Labor force is declining, aging, and diversifying:  The six counties of the North Central Indiana region represent a population of 234,024, according to the 2000 census. This population is growing very slowly at 3.5%, while the labor force participation is shrinking. The 20-34 year old population has declined significantly, leaving over half of the population at 35 or older. Half of the region’s counties had substantial growth in the Hispanic population during the past 10 years. The overall workforce is strongly connected to the region, with over 90% of people living and working inside the region.

So what does this mean? Policymakers who understand this workforce can focus strategies on slow-growing yet stable labor force populations. Some challenges may be: filling entry-level positions, replacing retirees, developing strategies to make effective use of older workers, and overcoming language barriers with a diversifying population.

Workforce Demand: Manufacturing dominates employment base in the region:   For decades, manufacturing has continued to dominate overall employment in the region, totaling 31% of total employment in 1999. The service sector has seen growth in total number of jobs, but still lags far behind the statewide average in earnings. Howard County, with its high concentration of high-end manufacturing jobs, exceeds the average wages of the five other counties by nearly 60%, reflecting two economies within the region. Employers are increasingly aware of the global marketplace in which they must compete. They struggle to find qualified workers with higher-end skills, and seek creative methods to recruit and retain those they have. The health care industry specifically is growing rapidly, but there are not enough qualified workers in the area to fill these jobs. The top jobs in the region are increasingly requiring post-high school learning and complex skills.

So what does this mean? The region is faced with several opportunities: focusing our attention on advanced manufacturing, attracting high-end service sector jobs, and expanding community-based training opportunities.

Education and Training: Region lacks an integrated career learning system:   Enrollments in area public schools declined in five of the six counties in the past ten years, while vocational education increased in the majority of school corporations. ISTEP scores and graduation rates in the region are generally at or above the statewide average, yet the educational system lacks clear career pathways. Employers and educators lack agreement on the uniformity of credentials and skills tests. In addition, career opportunities and workforce trends in the region are not communicated to educators or students, and many times students are being prepared for jobs outside the region due to this lack of information.

Higher education also saw declining enrollments across the region by as much as 16% in the last decade, with a significant decline in students 25 and older at Indiana University Kokomo. However, with their programs covering the entire North Central Indiana region, both IUK and Ivy Tech State College have the potential to become regional leaders and catalysts for development.

As our leaders ponder the future of North Central Indiana, they will need to consider the future workforce and mobilize resources in new and effective ways that will result in sustained workforce excellence as well as economic success for all residents and employers within the region.

The report suggests eight opportunities to be considered as we look to the future.