COLUMBUS (WISH) — A home in Bartholomew County was damaged Friday morning after a 22 year-old intoxicated driver allegedly drove his pickup truck into it, according to the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.

A caller reported an that a vehicle ran into a residence and that the driver had allegedly been drinking alcohol, according to police.

Police say after an investigation, Noah Rutan, 22, of Columbus was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangerment.

The residents in the 4300 block of N 200 W were not home at the time.

COLUMBUS, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — Columbus-based Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) is making changes to its top leadership, the company announced Thursday. Tom Linebarger will step down as chief executive officer on August 1, while Jennifer Rumsey, who currently serves as president and chief operating officer, will be promoted to president and CEO. Rumsey will become the first woman to lead the company in its more than 100-year history.

Linebarger will continue in his role as chairman of the Cummins Board of Directors, as well as executive chairman.

“Jen is a once in a generation talent and the right leader for Cummins at this important time in our history,” Linebarger said in written remarks. “Jen uniquely understands our customers and business, having worked in many different parts of the business during her more than 20-year career, and in every role, she has consistently delivered results.”

Rumsey joined Cummins as a technical advisor in 2000 and was named president and COO in March 2021 after serving as vice president and president of Cummins’ components segment. She also previously held the role of chief technical officer.

Rumsey was elected to the Cummins Board of Directors in February and the company says she will maintain her seat on the board.

“Growing up in Columbus, Indiana, where Cummins was founded, and spending most of my career here makes this announcement incredibly meaningful,” said Rumsey. “I am grateful to Tom for his support and mentorship over the years and to the Board for their confidence in my leadership. My technical background, business experience and focus on people, purpose, and impact have prepared me for this moment.

Linebarger began his career at Cummins as an intern before joining the company full-time in 1993. He has held numerous executive positions at the company, including serving as president and COO from 2008 to 2011.

In a news release, Cummins Lead Director Tom Lynch thanked Linebarger for his work over the last three decades.

“His leadership has grown Cummins’ global business, positioned the company to lead in zero- and low-carbon solutions, and developed a highly capable and diverse management team to lead us through the technology transition,” said Lynch. “We look forward to his continued contributions as Executive Chairman.”

The leadership change comes two months after Cummins shareholders rejected a proposal to split the duties of chairman and chief executive officer. At the time, the board said in a proxy statement that it believed “it is in the best interests of our company for the roles of our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer to be combined.”

Cummins did not provide a timeline for naming a successor to Rumsey as COO.

In a March 2021 interview on Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick, Rumsey discussed women executives operating in what has traditionally been male-dominated space and how she broke the glass ceiling.

You can watch the full interview by clicking here.

COLUMBUS, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — Columbus-based Toyota Material Handling on Thursday announced its acquisition of Pennsylvania-based forklift dealership PennWest Toyota Lift. While financial terms of the deal are not being disclosed, TMH says the dealership will continue to operate under its current name with no changes to staffing.

TMH says the current executive and management teams will continue to operate the business for the foreseeable future.

“Toyota is the perfect match for our company,” PennWest President Mark Gaier said in written remarks. “Toyota’s philosophy to place a high value on quality products, customer service and associates mirrors our values. The transition will be seamless, and our customers will see business operating as usual.”

PennWest was founded in the late 1960s and has locations in Mount Pleasant, Pittsburgh, and Erie, Pennsylvania.

Toyota Material Handling manufactures forklifts, pallet jacks, container handlers and other material handling products. The company opened its Columbus operations in 1990 and employs some 1,500 workers in the Bartholomew County city.

COLUMBUS, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — Governor Eric Holcomb says nearly half of the grant funding awarded through the Indiana Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative are set to be designated for projects and programs in 10 regions by the end of July.

The state approved $500 million in READI grants for all 17 regions of the state in December.

“This transformative program is funding projects that lean into a region’s strengths while building community gathering places, inclusive parks for kids, performing arts center and trails that will have generational impact across each region and every person who visits our great state,” Holcomb said in written remarks. “In Indiana, there is no greater priority for us as leaders than to work together closely to improve Indiana’s standing as the best location to live, work and thrive.”

Holcomb joined Indiana Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers on Thursday to announce the first round of projects are moving forward during an event at the site of Nexus Park in Columbus, which is one of the projects proposed by the South Central Indiana Talent Region.

The Indiana Economic Development Corp. says the remaining $300 million is expected to be designated by the end of the year. The state says the full READI funding is expected to generate nearly $10 billion in total investment from the public, private and nonprofit sectors.

To date, 12 of the 17 regions have finalized grant agreements with the IEDC and plan to move forward with 53 projects and programs outlined in their regional development plans.

The state says the projects and programs include efforts to increase housing, trails, community amenities, childcare, health and wellness, tourism, and workforce development.

You can view some of the projects highlighted by the state by clicking here.

COLUMBUS, Ind. (Inside INdiana Businses) — Governor Eric Holcomb and Indiana Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers will Thursday provide updates on the progress of the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative. The state approved $500 million in READI grants to 17 regions last December.

The announcement will take place at the location of the Nexus Park project in Columbus, which is one of the projects proposed by the South Central Indiana Talent Region. The region received $30 million in READI funding.

The Nexus Park project involves the redevelopment of a mostly-vacant, 400,000-square-foot mall into a health, wellness, sports and fitness facility.

Officials from the South Central Indiana Talent Region will be on hand for the announcement, which is slated for 10:30 a.m. on Thursday.

We’ll have more on the update in Thursday afternoon’s INside Edge e-newsletter.

COLUMBUS, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — Columbus-based Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) is getting out of its mask-making operations the company launched during the pandemic. The powertrain maker says it has sold the equipment to Team Cruiser, a Black-owned supply company in Indianapolis.

Cummins started manufacturing its own masks two years ago to provide the personal protective equipment to its workers around the globe, making more than 10 million during that time.

“With the pandemic seeming to wind down in the United States as more people get vaccinated, and with a healthy surplus of masks at the ready if needed in the U.S., the time was right for the company to think about selling the U.S. operations in Columbus, Indiana,” said Cummins Partnership Strategy Manager Tarek Elharis. “The company never intended to produce masks beyond the pandemic.”

Team Cruiser says it plans on creating a disability-friendly workplace to produce masks beyond the immediate response to the pandemic.

“We were very interested, for two specific reasons,” said Team Cruiser Owner Christopher Barney. “The first reason is the ability to learn and grow from a manufacturing perspective with a global manufacturing company like Cummins. The second reason is that it provides us the opportunity to impact and serve the communities that we live in by providing jobs and supplying a quality American-made personal protective equipment mask.”

Barney says he hopes to offer masks for sale to the public later this year. He says the company is working with several veterans’ groups and organizations serving people with disabilities to create a safe workspace with career opportunities.

COLUMBUS, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — Columbus-based Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) is looking to spin off its filtration business into its own publicly-held company. The manufacturer says it has confidentially filed for a proposed Initial Public Offering for the business with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Last summer, Cummins said it was exploring alternatives for its filtration business, including a potential separation of the business into a standalone company.

According to our partners at the Indianapolis Business Journal, Cummins Filtration provides filtration products for trucks, off-highway industrial equipment and power generation systems. The business reported $1.4 billion in revenue in 2021, up 17% from the previous year.

Cummins says the number of shares to be offered and the price range for the IPO have not been determined.

“The IPO is expected to commence after the completion of the SEC review process, subject to market and other conditions,” the company said in a news release Thursday.

Inside INdiana Business reached out to Cummins for more information but has not received a response.

COLUMBUS, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — The board of directors for Columbus-based Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) has suspended all commercial operations in Russia as a result of the country’s invasion of Ukraine. The company says it is currently taking steps to “wind down operations expeditiously.”

In a statement Friday, the company said, “We strongly condemn the actions of the Russian government, which is putting millions of innocent people at risk and turning millions of Ukrainian citizens into refugees. That concern also extends to our 700 employees and thousands of end-user customers in Russia and the impact on citizens who are not participants in this invasion.”

Our partners at the Indianapolis Business Journal report Cummins manufactures products in Russia as part of a joint venture with Russian vehicle-maker KAMAZ Inc. that was signed in 2006. However, the companies have had a business relationship dating back to the 1980s.

“This decision is very difficult for our employees affected in Russia, our company, our communities, and our customers,” the company said. “We have deep care and concern for our employees and are making every effort to minimize the impact on them. We are evaluating the best ways to support our employees during this difficult time in accordance with local laws and regulations.”

Cummins says it is providing $250,000 in fast-tracked grants to provide immediate assistance for short-term emergency refugee needs. The company adds it is working with community organizations, especially in Romania and Poland, to determine the best way to assist refugees.

COLUMBUS, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — Columbus-based Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) says it has entered into an agreement to acquire Meritor Inc. (NYSE: MTOR) in Michigan in a deal valued at $3.7 billion. Meritor is a supplier of drivetrain, mobility, braking, aftermarket and electric powertrain products for the commercial vehicle and industrial markets. Cummins CEO Tom Linebarger calls the acquisition an important milestone for the company as it works to develop more zero carbon products.

During a media conference call this morning, Linebarger said the deal accelerates Cummins’ ability to address climate change.

“Our customers need economically-viable zero carbon solutions for commercial vehicle and industrial applications,” said Linebarger. “Decarbonization is a global imperative and a growth opportunity for Cummins and Meritor together. The acquisition of Meritor is a unique opportunity to build out our capabilities in the transition and to provide alternative propulsion in a scalable and financially disciplined manner.”

Meritor, which has been in business for more than 110 years, employs more than 9,600 people around the world. Linebarger says acquiring Meritor fit Cummins’ strategy to find ways to grow in its core business by adding components that could be used within its footprint, such as eAxles.

“What we add is, in addition to the overall system, the brains of the operation and the battery, we now bring the eAxle and traction section to the electric powertrain,” he said. “That allows Cummins to think about whole systems and components much in the same way as we’ve been thinking about it from an engine point of view. We can provide now to OEMs a full range.”

Linebarger says through the acquisition, Cummins expects to accelerate growth in two of Meritor’s key businesses and create additional synergies.

“We think Meritor’s traditional core axle and brake business fits into our components business well,” he said. “We have strong footprints, both of us, but Cummins is in some places that Meritor isn’t and in bigger ways, and we think by bringing Meritor into the places we are, that we can grow their core business. And, of course, our components business more powertrain agnostic over time, providing us a more sustainable source of revenue and profit over a longer period of time.”

Additionally, Linebarger says the cultures of the two companies are very similar and operating the two companies will come at a lower cost.

The Meritor Board of Directors has unanimously approved the acquisition. The deal remains subject to regulatory and Meritor shareholder approvals, as well as customary closing conditions.

“The two companies are largely complementary,” said Linebarger. “Almost everything that Meritor’s been working on, Cummins has not been working on and vice versa. And, the two companies are going to combine investments to provide much more economically-viable solutions.”

The acquisition is expected to close by the end of the year.

COLUMBUS, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — Columbus-based Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) says it has agreed to purchase the remaining share of its joint venture with Westport Fuel Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: WPRT) in Canada. The joint venture, which ended on December 31, was created for the development of natural gas engines.

Per the terms of the agreement, Cummins will acquire Westport’s sake in the joint venture, as well as the intellectual property developed by the venture for $20 million.

The joint venture called for the design, engineering and marketing of mid-range, on-road, spark-ignited natural gas engines based on Cummins diesel engines manufactured in Cummins facilities.

Cummins says it will continue to operate the business as the sole owner.