| Issue No. 232 Serving the Entire Business Community November 2003 | ||||||
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| WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO HAVE A CERTIFIED TECHNOLOGY PARK IN PLYMOUTH? House Enrolled Act 1001ss, which was passed as part of the 2002 Special Session of the General Assembly, authorized the establishment of certified technology parks in Indiana. The new law, found in Indiana Code 36-7-32, encourages the location of high-technology businesses within areas identified by local redevelopment commissions. The effective date for the statute is January 1, 2003. Establishing a local technology park is a key step to creating high-tech - high paying jobs. The recession has been exceptionally difficult on traditional manufacturing. State Representative Steven M. Heim said “House District 17 has lost thousands of manufacturing jobs because of industry consolidations and foreign competition, and the State of Indiana leads the nation in lost jobs. If we are going to reverse these trends, then we have to make a serious effort in diversifying our local economy. We need to balance our traditional manufacturing jobs with high technology jobs and the technology park model is one of the best ways to accomplish our goal.” The interest in developing a certified technology park in Plymouth is ever increasing. Through the efforts of State Representative Steven M. Heim, on November 6 a group of government officials, educators, business owners and other interested individuals toured Purdue University's Technology Park. The purpose of this tour is to help generate new ideas and the momentum needed in Plymouth's efforts to establish a local technology park. The use of the technology park model is becoming the state wide standard. Purdue is determined to play a significant role in economic development. One of the several State criteria that must be met in developing a certified technology park is a demonstration of significant support from an institution of higher education or a private research-based institute located within, or in the vicinity of, the proposed certified technology park. There are a series of steps and criteria that must be met to have a certified technology park. The process of doing the homework, as with the visit to Purdue, and the cooperation between the Redevelopment Commission, local and State government and community participants will make meeting these steps possible. Certification Benefits After an area receives designation as an Indiana Certified Technology Park, the Redevelopment Commission may adopt a resolution designating the park as an allocation area for the purpose of allocating and distributing taxes into a certified technology park fund. They may do so only after notice is published and a public hearing is held. The State Treasurer establishes an incremental tax fund and on a monthly basis, monies are distributed for deposit into the certified technology park fund. These funds may be used for purposes associated with the operations of the Technology Park. The redevelopment commission may also adopt a resolution that establishes a property tax credit for each taxpayer located within the certified technology park after an allocation area is established. The Indiana Department of Commerce (IDOC) office will maintain a list, including online access, of Indiana Certified Technology Parks. The listing will be provided to prospective companies that are engaged in high-technology activities or have expressed an interest in locating in an area that would fit the description of the certified technology parks. The Indiana Department of Commerce web site is www.indianacommerce.com.   New Name & New LocationChildCare of Marshall County is now Community Coordinated Child Care, Inc., 3606 E. Jefferson Blvd., Ste 215, South Bend, IN 46615; 574-289-7815; www.4csindiana.org Congratulations, Howard's Classy GlassPlymouth; www.howardsclassyglass.com Howard Gibbs of Howard's Classy Glass was awarded one of the merit awards in the Heartland Artists' Regional Juried Art Exhibit. Howard's winning piece was a stained glass lantern entitled “Artifact 15." Congrats, Howard! Java Trail110 LaPorte St., Plymouth; 574-936-5500 A Special Thanks - Ed and Sandi Madden want to extend their sincerest appreciation for the community support they have received. Ed is a cancer survivor of ten years ago. About two weeks ago, Ed noticed a weakness in the femur bone in which he had previously had cancer. He went for a check up at the University of Chicago Hospital last Wednesday, and even though the femur was weakened by the previous years of treatment, he was given a cancer free clean bill of health. The next day, the beautiful weather gave him the opportunity to take a well deserved afternoon off to play golf. His very first shot snapped the femur completely in two. After surgery in Chicago, he is now sporting a 40 centimeter rod and has just recently come home. All during this time Java Trail (Madden's only business) was cared for by family, friends and volunteers who kept the business going. So Java Trail and Ed are both doing fine and will continue to do so with the army of volunteers that have stepped forward to help. What a wonderful community we have! Morrow Insurance Agency112 S. Michigan St., Plymouth; 574-936-2400; www.morrowinsuranceagency.com At 850 E. Jefferson St. on Oct. 30 Morrow Insurance broke ground for their new 4,200 sq. ft. building. The expansion will also help celebrate their 50th year of service to our area community. The new building will accommodate the servicing of their growing customer base. Plymouth Public Library201 N. Center St., Plymouth; 574-936-2324; www.plymouth.lib.in.us The Plymouth Public Library is collecting empty inkjet with printheads only cartridges. The library will receive funds for these empties. Please do not tape over the printheads and please put them in zip lock bags. You may drop these off at the Library - there will be a box. If you wish, you may also drop them off at the Chamber and we will make sure the Library receives them. The cartridges they need are for Hewlett Packard, Canon, Lexmark, Xerox, Compac and Apple. For further information, please call the Library. Thank you for your support. McKesson Title Corp.407 N. Center St., Plymouth; 574-936-2555 McKesson Title Corp. has expanded its office facility at 407 N. Center St. Plymouth, to "enable three escrow land title closings at a time," Jon McKesson, owner, said recently. They have redecorated the upstairs; expanded the lobby and increased parking. Closers for McKesson Title are Lynn Erickson, Linda Boswell and Connie McKesson. The firm, which was founded in 1919, will celebrate its 85th birthday next year making it one of the oldest family-owned title businesses in the state of Indiana. Swan Lake Resort5203 Plymouth-LaPorte Trail, Plymouth; 574-935-5680; www.slresort.com Swan Lake Resort owners, Richard Klingler and Phil Lewallen are pleased to announce the introduction of their new management team: Dave Kemble (Director of Golf), Todd Sampson (Food & Beverage Director), Jeannette Teall (Director of Sales), Kelly Einspahr (Hotel Manager) and John Kindig (Controller). Congratulations, Sam SchlosserPlymouth Foundry, Inc. 523 W. Harrison St., Plymouth; 574-936-2106; www.plymouthfoundry.com Sam was one of three recipients of an Indiana Chamber's 2003 Volunteer of the Year Award. Sam has served the Indiana Chamber in numerous capacities, including active involvement with the Indiana Business for Responsive Government (IBRG) political action committee (PAC). He is also a member of the executive committee and will serve as board vice chairman during 2004 and chairman the following year. New Members
November 2003
November Inserts
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Annual Christmas Basket Promotion 
