ANGOLA, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — Employees of an Ohio steel company will have access to educational opportunities and more professional development through an agreement with Trine University. Trine says North Star BlueScope Steel will create customized courses for team members using open educational resources to eliminate textbook and material costs.
The university says NSBSL employees enrolled in Trine’s online education platform will have 24/7 access to academic services and will be able to transfer up to 90 credit hours and job training experience toward a bachelor’s degree. Trine also will offer free access to job postings and recruitment opportunities along with being able to use Trine innovation 1, which offers marketing strategies and help with new products and processes.
“The partnership with Trine gives our team members another option when they’re completing their education. We’re excited about the course offerings and the flexibility Trine is extending to our team,” said NSBSL President Douglas Lange.
Click here to learn more.
INDIANAPOLIS (Inside INdiana Business) — Indianapolis-based Elevate Ventures has named five winners of the second annual Elevate Nexus Statewide Pitch Competition. The winners, located in Indianapolis, Bloomington and South Bend, received a total of $320,000 in pre-seed and seed funding.
A total of 55 companies submitted pitches, and the five winners were picked from among 10 finalist startups. Three received pre-seed funding and the other two received seed funding.
“It was an honor to be a judge at this year’s competition. I was thoroughly impressed with the finalists and their companies. It truly is entrepreneurship at its best and exemplifies why it is so important to support these endeavors in Indiana,” said Barbie Wentworth, president and chief executive officer of Miller Brooks and Elevate Ventures’ board member.
The winners include:
Pre-Seed -$40,000 investment
- Menstrual Mates, Bloomington: An inclusive period care company delivering the best menstrual cup for beginners.
- NearWave Corp., South Bend: A medical device company changing the way breast cancer imaging is done.
- Sleep Easy Technology, South Bend: A medical device startup developing a novel oxygen pillow for oxygen therapy.
Seed – $100,000 investment
- Adipo Therapeutics, Indianapolis: A biotech startup developing a breakthrough technology platform that converts energy storing white fat into energy burning brown fat as a potential treatment for type 2 diabetes.
- Atlas Solutions, Bloomington: A grant management platform supporting non-profit organizations.
PLAINFIELD, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) has chosen four Indiana properties for its 2021 Site Readiness Program to prepare the parcels of land for development. The utility says the four properties are located in Carrol, Clark, Posey and Tippecanoe counties.
Duke Energy Indiana President Stan Pinegar says the program identifies high-potential sites and partners to develop strategy to prepare the land for various industrial projects. Duke works with Banning Engineering and Site Selection Group to find the sites and then collaborates with local leaders. Each site will receive up to a $10,000 grant to help attract projects.
“Attracting jobs and private-sector investment in the communities we serve is a high priority for Duke Energy. We’re excited to partner with local and regional leaders in Carroll, Clark, Posey and Tippecanoe counties to help them gain a competitive edge by preparing shovel-ready sites for prospective employers,” said Pinegar.
The four sites:
- Carroll County – JNT Industrial Site – The JNT Industrial Site is situated on approximately 90 acres of rail-served property located in the geographical center of Carroll County. This site has adjacent municipal utilities and provides access to State Road 218.
- Clark County – River Ridge Commerce Center – Charlestown H2 Property – The River Ridge Commerce Center business park is located in the Louisville metro area and adjacent to the Port of Indiana on the Ohio River in Jeffersonville, Indiana. The 6,000-acre park can accommodate projects ranging from 3 acres to 1,500 acres with rail options.
- Posey County – Poseyville 50 Property – Posey County is becoming a center for advanced manufacturing, including plastics and plastics derivatives, bio and life sciences, and advanced logistics in southwest Indiana. The Poseyville 50-acre property is located off Interstate 64 and just miles from Interstate 69, with frontage road access along State Road 165. The property currently has utilities on site, including electric, natural gas, water and sewer, and is an attractive site for light industrial manufacturers.
- Tippecanoe County – Purdue Research Park Aerospace District – The Purdue Aerospace District of West Lafayette is ideally situated for high-tech aerospace companies to grow their businesses and collaborate on research and opportunities with Purdue University. The 150-acre site is one of few in the country that resides next to a world-class research institution and houses an active airport adjoining property that can support public and private aerospace research facilities.
So far, Duke has worked to help establish 38 properties that won 11 major projects since the program began in 2013.
FISHERS, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — Fishers High School students will be competing in a tournament-style science, technology, engineering, arts and math competition for the next two months. The school is partnering with Duke Energy Midwest and POWER Engineers on the competition, which calls for student teams to design a mock transmission line that runs through the campus.
The tournament begins with a two-day workshop Tuesday and Wednesday where students work with Duke and POWER experts to learn each discipline. Students then collaborate with their teams over the following eight weeks to find solutions, and once proof of concept has been performed, students will make presentations using drone photography, 3D printing and virtual reality.
“Despite last year’s COVID challenges, students stepped up and found creative solutions for collaboration. We need smart people with a diversity of perspectives and experiences to help find solutions to the energy industry’s biggest challenges, so we hope some of these students will be inspired to pursue energy-related careers,” said Holger Peller, POWER executive vice president.
The event culminates on Nov. 18 at Fishers High School where the teams will have 30 minutes to make their final solution presentations to a panel of experts.
INDIANAPOLIS (Inside INdiana Business) — Governor Eric Holcomb has announced several appointments to various state boards and commissions. They include the Fire Prevention & Building Safety Commission, Indiana Wetlands Task Force and the State Fair Commission.
Department of Financial Institutions Board of Directors
The governor made two reappointments to the board, who will serve until August 31, 2025:
- Benjamin Bochnowski (Munster), president and CEO of Peoples Bank
- Richard Rice (Indianapolis), former president and CEO of TCU
Electric Vehicle Product Commission
The governor made six appointments to the new commission, who will serve until August 31, 2025:
- David Dukes (Kokomo), director of operations with Stellantis
- Danny Ernstes (Fairland), CAP coordinator for Indiana and retiree representative for Indiana for UAW Region 2B
- Craig Kelle (Newburgh), group manager for project planning, chief manufacturing project engineer with Toyota
- Michael Maten (Novi), senior strategist, EV and energy policy with General Motors
- Paul Mitchell (Indianapolis), president and CEO of Energy Systems Network
- Ben Wrightsman (Pendleton), president and CEO of the Battery Innovation Center
Fire Prevention & Building Safety Commission
The governor made five reappointments to the commission, who will serve until August 31, 2025:
- Joseph Heinsman (Mooresville), senior structural engineer with Lynch, Harrison & Brumleve, Inc.
- David Henson (Petersburg), owner of Architectural Design Concepts, LLC
- James Murua (Fort Wayne), assistant chief and fire marshal with the Fort Wayne Fire Department
- Scott Pannicke (Indianapolis), architect with RATIO Architects, Inc.
- Michael Popich (Indianapolis), manager of the Bureau of Construction Services for the City of Indianapolis
The governor also made one new appointment to the commission, who will serve until August 31, 2025:
- John Watson (Indianapolis), VP of operations with Mid-America Elevator Co., Inc.
Indiana Real Estate Commission
The governor made five reappointments to the commission, who will serve until August 31, 2025:
- John Briscoe (Evansville), realtor/broker with F.C. Tucker Emge
- John De Souza (South Bend), president of Cressy & Everett Real Estate
- Pamela Lumley (Sellersburg), owner RE/MAX Ability Plus
- Charlie Shook (West Lafayette), president of Coldwell Banker Shook
- Sahara Williams (Indianapolis), associate with Barnes & Thornburg LLP
The governor also made four new appointments to the commission:
- Troy Helman (Terre Haute), co-owner and president of Coldwell Banker Helman, who will serve until August 31, 2025
- Tracy Hutton (Carmel), president and CEO of Century 21 Scheetz, who will serve until December 31, 2023
- Cheryl Stuckwish (Vallonia), owner and president of South Central Realty-Columbus and -Seymour, who will serve until December 31, 2023
- Brian Thompson (Bloomington), sales manager for FC Tucker/Bloomington, who will serve until December 31, 2023
Indiana Wetlands Task Force
The governor made thirteen appointments to the new task force, who will serve until December 31, 2022:
- The Honorable Zach Beasley (West Lafayette), Tippecanoe County Surveyor
- Will Ditzler (Westfield), president of RiverBirch Executive Advisors, who will also serve as chair of the task force
- Jill Hoffmann (Indianapolis), executive director of the White River Alliance
- Jared Kakasuleff (Cicero), farmer at Kakasuleff Farms
- Jeremy Kieffner (Evansville), environmental permit manager at Lochmueller Group
- Dr. Sara McMillan (West Lafayette), associate professor of Agricultural & Biological Engineering at Purdue University
- Matt Meersman (South Bend), director of the St. Joseph River Basin Commission
- Michael Novotney (Valparaiso), Porter County Engineer and director of engineering
- Commissioner Bruno Pigott, representing the Indiana Department of Environmental Management
- Kyle Rorah (Dexter, MI), regional director of public policy for Ducks Unlimited
- Joe Schmees (Fishers), executive director of the Indiana Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts
- The Honorable Richard Strick, Mayor of Huntington
- Jeff Thomas (Fort Wayne), co-owner and vice president of Oakmont Development, LLC
Midwestern Higher Education Commission
The governor made one new appointment to the commission:
- Ronald Rochon (Newburgh), president of the University of Southern Indiana
State Board of Education
The governor made two reappointments to the board, who will serve until June 30, 2025:
- William Durham (Indianapolis), executive director of 100 Black Men of Indianapolis, Inc.
- Gregory Gastineau (Fishers), teacher and coach at Hamilton Southeastern High School
The governor also made one new appointment to the board, who will serve until June 30, 2023:
- Scott Bess (Danville), head of school for Purdue Polytechnic High School
State Fair Board
The governor made two reappointments to the board, who will serve until September 30, 2025:
- Jeanette Merritt (Peru), director of checkoff programs at Indiana Pork
- Terry Strueh (Lafayette), former vice president for governmental relations at Purdue University
The governor also made one new appointment to the board, who will serve until September 30, 2024:
- Ryan Hilton (DeMotte), swine logistics and livestock relocation professional at Belstra Milling
State Fair Commission
The governor made two new appointments to the commission:
- Mitch Frazier (Westfield), president and CEO of AgriNovus Indiana, who will serve as chair of the commission through September 30, 2022
- Greg Schenkel (Indianapolis), retired former vice president of corporate, community and public relations with Pacers Sports & Entertainment, who will serve through September 30, 2024
Unemployment Insurance Review Board
The governor reappointed Lawrence Dailey (Zionsville) to the full-time board; he will continue his service until August 31, 2024.
The governor also appointed Gabe Paul (Carmel) as chair of the board; he will serve until August 31, 2024.
Worker’s Compensation Board of Indiana
The governor reappointed Daniel Foote (Indianapolis) and Douglas Meagher (Indianapolis) to the board; both will serve until August 31, 2025.
INDIANAPOLIS (Inside INdiana Business) — Nonprofits and mental health treatment institutions will receive over $2 million in grants from the Indianapolis Colts and the Irsay family. The Kicking the Stigma fund was created by the Irsay family to raise awareness about mental health disorders and to remove stigma associated with the illness.
The fund raised $4.5 million during the first virtual fundraiser in May and nonprofits and institutions were invited to apply for funding this fall.
“This first round of recipients have already been on the frontlines of this effort to end the stigma surrounding mental health and to encourage people to seek help, and we’re just thrilled we’re able to support their good work across our city, state and country,” said Colts Vice Chair/owner Kalen Jackson.
The first round of recipients was announced Sunday:
- Bring Change to Mind – Indianapolis. Bring Change to Mind creates multimedia campaigns, curates storytelling movements, and develop youth programs to end the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental illness and encourage diverse cultural conversation around mental health.
- Children’s Bureau, Inc. – Indianapolis. For more than 170 years, the Children’s Bureau’s mission has been to preserve families and protect the future of Indiana’s children. One goal is to expand our ability to provide recovery for families and individuals who are struggling with addiction, mental health, domestic violence and sexual assault.
- Eclectic Soul VOICES Corporation – Indianapolis. Through culturally sustaining education, healing-centered engagement, and workforce development, VOICES provides the relationships, resources, and opportunities for youth to heal, grow, and further their path towards economic self-sufficiency and civically engaged lives.
- HVAF of Indiana – Statewide. HVAF’s mission is to house, support, and advocate for all veterans and their families to achieve a better quality of life and currently serves veterans experiencing homelessness and those at risk of homelessness.
- Indiana Alliance of YMCAs – Statewide. Originally formed by YMCA volunteers, the Alliance is the ongoing effort of YMCAs to work together, and with other partners, on issues that matter most in the lives of Hoosiers. The Alliance is comprised of 42 corporate YMCAs from across Indiana, as well as the YMCA of Greater Louisville, which has two branches in southern Indiana.
- Indiana University. IU will create units and programs designed to focus on five areas relating to mental health and stigma: advancing workforce development in the mental health space; conducting interdisciplinary research; teaching more broadly, so a wider range of students get exposure/training relating to mental health, and addressing students’ mental health needs..
- MLK Center – Indianapolis. Its mission is to create a meaningful impact on the lives of those we serve, through quality, multi-generational programs that build community, invest in youth, empower families, advocate for our neighbors, and provide a peaceful space to connect.
- Mental Health America (MHA) of Indiana – Statewide. MHA of Indiana values the need to work collaboratively with a variety of organizations that can help leverage the communities they serve through promotion of prevention for all, early identification, intervention for those at risk, integrated health and behavioral health care for those who need it and recovery as a goal.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Greater Indianapolis. NAMI Greater Indianapolis is a grass-roots family, friend and consumer organization working with NAMI Indiana and NAMI National to improve the lives of persons and families affected by mental illness through education, support and advocacy.
- NAMI Indiana – Statewide. NAMI Indiana is dedicated to the improvement of the quality of life for persons who are affected by mental illnesses, by providing education, support, advocacy and research. The state organization supports and develops local affiliates and represents the needs of the membership.
- On Our Sleeves: The Movement for Children’s Mental Health – Statewide. On Our Sleeves is the movement to break stigmas around children’s mental health. Its mission is to provide free mental health educational resources to every community in America to educate families and empower advocates.
- Overdose Lifeline – Indianapolis. Its mission is to carry the message of hope to individuals, families, and communities affected by the disease of addiction and to work toward its vision that there will be a time when the chronic disease of addiction receives the same care and attention as any other chronic disease.
- Project Healthy Minds – National. Project Healthy Minds is a millennial-driven organization that builds anti-stigma campaigns that change attitudes, technology that makes it easier and faster to discover help, and programs and partnerships that expand access to care.
- Public Advocates in Community Re-Entry (PACE) – Indianapolis. Its mission is to provide a variety of services to incarcerated and previously incarcerated individuals and their families to lead productive and responsible lives in their community.
- Reach for Youth – Indianapolis. Reach For Youth’s mission is to provide second chances for young people through prevention, intervention and counseling.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — A ceremony will be held Saturday to commemorate two attorneys who fought for racial justice in Indiana. The Indiana Historical Bureau will unveil a new marker in South Bend on the site of where African American attorneys J. Chester and Elizabeth Allen established a law firm in 1939 to fight for equal housing and fair employment.
The bureau says the marker will list accomplishments of the Allen’s, including Elizabeth founding a local Red Cross nurse’s aid and placement program for Black women in the early ’40’s and details how she worked to desegregate schools. The marker also includes information about J. Chester’s election as a state representative in 1938 and 1940 and how he introduced bills banning discrimination in employment and the judicial system, eventually helping to desegregate Engman Public Natatorium in 1950.
The Indiana Historical Bureau says the marker will be the state’s 24th to be installed in St. Joseph County and the first state marker commemorating African American history in downtown South Bend. Find a listing of all other St. Joseph County markers here.
The dedication ceremony will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday at 115 South Lafayette Boulevard in South Bend.
GARY, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — Greenwood-based Indiana American Water (IAW) and parent company American Water (NYSE: AWK) have announced fully remote, customer service job openings for Gary and northwest Indiana residents. IAW is working with Gary Mayor Jerome Prince on the initiative.
The utility says it is looking to hire approximately 20 workers who live within two hours of its Gary office.
“By recruiting Gary residents to train and work in these customer service positions, they are not just offering jobs, but the opportunity to build careers in a growing field and with a growing company,” said Prince.
Indiana American Water President Matt Prine says the customer service job initiative is an investment in the community.
“Our commitment to customers and the communities we serve goes beyond the delivery of safe, reliable water and wastewater service – it also includes helping to make communities better because we are there, and this is a perfect example of that,” said Prine.
Click here to learn more about the job opportunities.
INDIANAPOLIS (Insie INdiana Business) — Indianapolis-based Allison Transmission has signed an asset purchase agreement to buy portions of India-based AVTEC Ltd.’s off-highway business and the company’s component machining business. Allison says it will pay approximately $27 million in cash for AVTEC’s off-highway transmission portfolio and MEPZ off-highway machining assets.
Allison says AVTEC is headquartered in New Delhi and is part of the CK Birla Group.
“The acquisition of the transmission portfolio of AVTEC’s off-highway business and associated IP will accelerate Allison’s pursuit of additional opportunities in these segments in India and global markets with purpose-built products that deliver performance and productivity to our customers,” said John Coll, senior vice president, Global Marketing, Sales and Service at Allison Transmission.
Allison says it will also integrate AVTEC’s maching operations currently located in the company’s Chennai, India facility into Allison’s Chennai manufacturing plant to produce housings for off-highway transmissions.
“This acquisition supports our overarching sourcing and operations strategies,” said Mike Dick, senior vice president of Operations and Global Purchasing at Allison Transmission.
Allison says the transaction is subject to certain conditions and is expected to close by the end of the year.
INDIANAPOLIS (Inside INdiana Business) — Twenty-one Hoosier senior citizens were recognized Wednesday as 2021 Golden Hoosier Award winners. The award began in 2008 and annually honors senior citizens for years of service to their communities.
“So many of our strong nonprofits rely on the generosity of volunteers, and we are fortunate to have great senior citizens who answer the call to give their time, lend a hand and make considerable contributions to their communities. These humble leaders make positive impacts on the lives of others and improve the overall well-being of our state. Thank you for your service and answering the call to give back,” Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch said.
This year’s Golden Hoosier Award recipients include:
- Jan Bronnenberg – Anderson
- Edna Cox – Centerville
- Jerry Decker – Coatesville
- Mary Deering – Union Mills
- Toni Dickover – Noblesville
- Charlotte Hastings – Aurora
- Art Hennig – Fishers
- Julius Huffman – Lawrenceburg
- Paul Hughes – Newburgh
- Debbie Kluemper – Milroy
- Stephen Kovecsi – Griffith
- Pastor Robert A. Lee – Kokomo
- Marlene Lu – Terre Haute
- Jean McMahan – Sullivan
- Linda Morris – Parker City
- Robert Napier – Liberty
- Ralph Richards – Fishers
- William Rumbaugh – Morgantown
- Paul Sinders – Clay City
- Dave Withey – Indianapolis
Lt. Governor Crouch says Phyllis Menke of Huntingburg also received the Indiana Golden Hoosier Humanitarian Award, which is a special recognition for an individual seeking to promote the welfare of others.
Since 2008, more than 260 Hoosiers have received the Golden Hoosier Award.