I attended as Chairman of MCEDC (Marshall County Economic Development Corporation) along with MCEDC staff, Jennifer Laurent and Derek Spier.  I was pleased that Grant Munroe, Ralph Winters and and Rick Tompos attended on behalf of the Culver Redevelopment Commission and that Mayor Mark Senter and City Attorney Sean Surrisi attended on behalf of the City of Plymouth.  It was unfortunate that there weren’t others from Marshall County able to attend.

The program centered around creative ways communities and economic development corporations were encouraging growth through the use of TIF Districts, shell buildings and virtual computer presentations.   Several different EDC’s presented on their use of these tools to attract development.

Both Culver and Plymouth have TIF Districts in Marshall County and both have used them successfully.  Plymouth has been more creative than Culver, but nowhere near as creative as some of the presentations that were made last week!  In a nutshell, money taken in by the TIF Districts must be spent on capital projects to benefit the TIF District, which allows quite a bit of leeway in interpretation.  One interesting use involved the coordination of a single county wide TIF District coordinating two City Redevelopment Commissions in conjunction with a County Redevelopment Commission.  Can you imagine if Marshall County communities could foster that kind of cooperation!?!  I think it generated quite a few new ideas in the attendees.

The use of shell buildings was discussed.  Plymouth had been considering contracting for a shell building on  PIDCO property on the northwest side of the City.  I’m sure hearing the success of other communities with these ventures helped spur the signing of a letter of intent with Garmong Construction this past Tuesday night.  (WTCA story here.)  This will result in a new, 45,000 sf (expandable to 135,000 sf) tilt-up concrete building being constructed west of Pioneer Seed on Commerce Drive.  In our just-in-time delivery society, it’s common that we’re passed over by site selectors when we don’t have a building that fits their needs ready to go.  The anecdotal evidence presented suggested that having the building there got prospects to the community.  Even when the building didn’t fit their exact requirements, it often got them there to consider other available sites.

During MCEDC’s discussions with Ady-Voltedge, our marketing consultant, we often heard the benefits of virtual site build-outs.  It was presented that by showing what a building looked like on the site, a prospect would find it easier to make the jump to visualizing THEIR building on the site.  An example of this was shown where an existing, dilapidated, empty building was shown with a virtual facelift, new landscaping and cars in the parking lot.  They were able to sell the client on this vision before ever taking them to see the existing building.

I hope the other attendees came back with the new enthusiasm I gained from these presentations.  Indiana should be poised for a leap forward in economic prosperity.  Indiana is a business tax friendly, Right-To-Work State at the crossroads of America.  Marshall County needs to take every opportunity to be part of the leap in renewed growth Indiana is about to experience.

Washington, D.C.

“This is a great victory for the merit shop construction industry, and employers and employees across the country,” said ABC Vice President of Federal Affairs Geoffrey Burr. “The new procedures, which went into effect April 30, made it more difficult for employees to make a fully informed decision concerning union representation. 

“We said all along that the “ambush” elections rule was made in haste without regard or consideration to the proper procedures, and that the rule would have a negative impact on the nation’s small businesses,” Burr said. 

The rule was challenged by the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. 

To view this news release on ABC’s website, click here. 

### 

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) is a national association with 74 chapters representing 22,000 merit shop construction and construction-related firms. Visit us at www.abc.org.

  -  Source Unknown

Many of these programs encourage renovations that will pay savings dividends on their own.  (Green That Saves Green!)  The incentives are there to give the extra kick to encourage implementing them now.   I am planning on researching this further and I will include details here, but if you’re interested in pursuing this, please contact us and we can look into your specific situation now!

As a closing note, please make your vote an informed vote.   Even at this late hour it’s not too late to find out about the candidates and vote responsibly.  If you’re not going to do that, then I retract my opening request.  I should have said, Get out and Vote…  RESPONSIBLY!

The Whispering Pines model to the right is just one of dozens available at their site, ranging in sizes from 36″ to 60″ in diameter.  They can accommodate flat or vaulted ceilings and have both LED and incandescent lighitng options.  They can also customize fixtures to meet the needs of specific applications.

Meyda makes a wide range of other products as well in unique forms.  Check them out!

May the 4th be with you!

Kevin Berger presenting ABC's endorsement and check to Francis Ellert at Coca-Cola Bottling in Plymouth

I had the opportunity to meet with Francis Ellert recently and present him with a check and endorsement from Associated Builders and Contractors of Indiana (ABC).  Easterday Construction has been a member of ABC for nearly three decades and I have served on the organization’s State Board of Directors through four terms.  Francis has attended several ABC events and the organization has found him to be a like-minded individual that will fit well in representing our Free Enterprise cause.  I consider Francis a personal friend and I was pleased to be able to relay our support. 

This is Francis’s second run at the Indiana House District 17 position.  I supported him in his first run (see here) and will do so again this time.  Currently he has a primary challenger, but no Democrats have filed to run for the position in the Fall.  Turnout will still be important in the primary.  Since the Republican candidate  for President has been decided before the Indiana primary, it’s important to  make your voice heard in this local issue.

Lest you think voting isn’t important in the primary, there seems to be a real divide in the campaigning.  I see very few Harman signs in the Culver area where Francis is well represented.  I see mostly Harman signs in the Bremen area where Tim is well known.  Culver in particularly shouldn’t be complacent and assume that Francis has it sewn up!  We need to get out the vote and support him.

I can’t say anything bad about Tim Harman.  From what I know of him, he is a good person, has run a clean campaign and has the best interests of District 17 at heart.  But he’s not the known candidate that Francis is.  Francis ran a hard campaign against Nancy Dembowski in 2010 and I think he benefited from it.  Not only did it help him better define his positions, but it helped him make contacts that will be crucial when he joins the General Assembly next year.  Those contacts are what have garnered the support of the Indiana Chamber, the Indiana Manufacturers Association and the Indiana Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors.

Please consider helping me support Francis in the primary.  In less than a week we’ll be making this choice.  I can’t tell you how much I  look forward to voting for a candidate that I can truly support rather than choosing the lesser of evils.  I don’t think Francis tells election fairy tales.

Kevin

The Culver Kiwanis Club is holding a benefit Raffle with chance to win a cash prize or money towards a new car!  Easterday Construction Co., Inc. is happy to help them in this endeavor.

Good Luck to the Kiwanis on a successful fundraiser and good luck to all who help them out by participating!

Kevin

Taken from the Culver Citizen, April 27, 2012.  Article and Picture by Jeff Kenney.  Thanks Jeff!