A vehicle engine management and climate control systems company is planning to move its headquarters from Fishers to Anderson’s Flagship Enterprise Center. Keihin North America intends to employ up to 175 at the facility by the middle of the year. Flagship Chief Executive Officer Chuck Staley says recent deals with Keihin and Greenville Technology Inc. show Anderson can “compete in a global forum and win.”

(Anderson, Ind.) – Over the next five months, Keihin North America (KNA) will bring between 130 to 175 management, engineering and development jobs to Anderson’s Flagship Enterprise Center –enhancing the collaborative research, development, and creative environment between Anderson University, Purdue University, students, faculty, and Flagship’s technology companies.

During a special Anderson Redevelopment Commission meeting held January 15, Greg S. Young, Vice President Keihin North America, shared with Commission members, elected officials, and members of the public, the company’s plans to relocate its North American Headquarters operation, including research, development, engineering, and management, from their current Fishers Indiana location to Anderson’s Flagship Enterprise Center.

“We see this as a unique opportunity to consolidate our management, research, engineering, and development teams at a great location supporting our ongoing manufacturing, sales, and logistical operations in North America, while becoming part of a dynamic and creative technology campus,” said Greg S. Young in his presentation to the Commissioners.

“The addition of the management, research, engineering, and development services of a technology company such as Keihin will provide an expanded role for the Flagship, as we seek to provide internships, grow technology companies, and launch those companies into the greater market place,” said Chuck Staley, President and CEO, Flagship, after sharing his vision in Flagship’s expanding role in Anderson and its continued mission to create a “Technology Center of Excellence.” Flagship plans to achieve this goal by combining its ongoing support of technology startups with academic support from Anderson and Purdue University along with commercialization through companies like Keihin.

Greg Winkler, Interim Economic Development Director, noted that this is an opportunity that dates back to the previous Smith administration, as the City, Flagship, and CED have continued to court this company over the past six years.

“Great multi-national companies, such as Keihin, are very thoughtful in their decision making. Requiring our economic development team to play the beginning, middle, and end games to the very best of our ability to win opportunities such as this,” said Winkler. “It is our belief that with their headquarters located in Anderson, other Keihin related opportunities will follow in the years to come.”

Winkler has asked members of the Redevelopment Commission to support the Flagship by contributing up to $1.3 million in available TIF funds to assist with tenant improvements and to assist in abating the first two years of Keihin’s six year lease.

“We are very grateful to welcome Keihin to Anderson,” Mayor Kevin S. Smith said. “Anderson’s ability to attract global companies continues to build our city’s reputation as an important engineering center across the State and Nation – and as the right place for new jobs and investment.”

Stan Elser, Executive Vice President, Lee & Associates Commercial Real Estate Services represented Keihin in the transaction.

Source: City of Anderson

A renewable energy company says all 125 turbines are now operating as part of the first phase of a massive wind farm project in Madison and Tipton counties. E.ON Climate & Renewables says the turbines are producing more than 200 megawatts of power at the Wildcat I Wind Farm, which started commercial operation last month.

CHICAGO, — E.ON Climate & Renewables (EC&R) North America announced today it has more than 2,700 megawatts (MW) of nameplate capacity in operation across its 18 wind farms located in 5 states.

The company completed construction on three projects in Texas and Indiana in 2012,
totaling approximately 500 MW:

–Magic Valley Wind Farm, located approximately 5 miles east of Raymondville, Texas, and the first wind energy project in Willacy County, is powered by 112 Vestas 1.8 MW turbines providing more than 200 MW of power. Magic Valley Wind Farm began commercial operation in September.

–Anacacho Wind Farm, located in Kinney County, Texas, is located approximately 14 miles southeast of Brackettville and consists of 55 Vestas 1.8 MW turbines providing 100 MW of power. Anacacho Wind Farm began commercial operation in December.

–Wildcat I Wind Farm, located in Tipton and Madison counties, is EC&R’s first wind energy project in Indiana. One hundred twenty-five GE 1.6 MW turbines provide more than 200 MW of power. Wildcat Wind Farm began commercial operation in December.

Combined these three projects generate enough clean power to provide electricity to more than 150,000 households.

“We could not have accomplished this milestone without a great deal of support from our construction and turbine supply partners, as well as our landowners and local officials who have been very supportive over the last few years,” said Steve Trenholm , CEO, EC&R North America. “Their help, along with our outstanding EC&R team, has allowed us to install more than 2.5 gigawatts (GW) of clean, affordable, homegrown energy in just over five years.”

About EC&R
E.ON Climate & Renewables (EC&R) is responsible for the E.ON group’s large-scale renewable energy activities around the world. Tapping renewable energy sources offers enormous alternatives, both from a business perspective and for the environment. E.ON
Climate & Renewables has already invested €8 billion in renewable energy projects and will continue to expand the share of renewable energy in E.ON’s power generation portfolio. E.ON has thus taken a leading role in developing renewable energy sources worldwide. For more information, please visit www.eon.com/renewables.

Source: E.ON Climate & Renewables

An industrial products manufacturer in Fishers intends to relocate operations to Anderson and add jobs. Hy-
Pro Filtration currently employs more than 50 in Hamilton County. The company plans to invest $10.5
million over the next three years to build a new Madison County headquarters and double its work force.

ANDERSON, Ind. – Representatives of HY-PRO FILTRATION , a family-owned industrial filtration research, design and manufacturing operation, will join Mayor Kevin S. Smith and the City of Anderson Economic Development team in announcing plans to relocate and expand their Indiana operations to the City of Anderson and building in an area just North of the Flagship Technology Park. The announcement will be made in the City Hall lobby at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
Over the next three (3) years Hy-Pro Filtration will invest $10.5 Million as the company builds a new manufacturing and headquarter facility in Anderson and is committed to employing 107 at an average hourly wage of $21.00 plus benefits. “Anderson is thankful that another business new to Anderson has found a home. Hy-Pro
offers high quality products and affords good employment opportunities for our community,” says Mayor Kevin S. Smith. “Hy-Pro is number nine (9) in our new job announcements this year, demonstrating that Anderson is a growing and successful city.”
Hy-Pro, which is currently located in Fishers Indiana, chose to locate in Anderson after an extensive search of communities in Washington and Indiana. A number of the company’s current employees are Anderson residents and the company is excited by the skills, talents and work ethic in the Anderson area workforce.
The company will purchase approximately 17 acres of land and build a 122,500 square foot manufacturing, assembly, and warehouse facility to accommodate the ongoing expansion of the company’s business. Hy-Pro Filtration produces a wide range of filtration products for hydraulic & lubricating oils and diesel fuel for heavy equipment and industrial customers around the world and maintains ongoing research and development
as part of the services offered to customers. Hy-Pro, which currently employs 52 at the Fishers headquarters, will begin construction in the spring of 2013 and production is scheduled to begin later in the year. Interested
candidates can send their resume to Hy-Pro Filtration 12955 Ford Drive Fishers, Indiana 46038.
“We are excited to be part of the economic development that is happening in Anderson. We talked to several communities about relocating our operation and I can confidently say that Anderson understands what it takes to create an environment where manufacturers can flourish. We also appreciate the strong manufacturing heritage of
Anderson and look forward to having access to a highly skilled and hard- working local labor force!” says Hy-Pro President, Larry Hoeg. “We are going to build a state of the art manufacturing facility, and we look forward to a shoulder to shoulder partnership with the community of Anderson.”
The City of Anderson has offered the company $1.9 Million in tax increment financing (TIF) based on the Company’s property investment and employment numbers. “This is a great company with cutting edge products, research and development and a flexible manufacturing process that will enable future growth and expansion. In addition they treat their employees like family this will be a great place to work!” said Greg Winkler,
Interim Director of Economic Development.

Hy-Pro Filtration
For more information, please visit https://www.hyprofiltration.com/

Source: The City of Anderson

ANDERSON, Ind. – The Small Business Administration recently recognized the Flagship Enterprise Center (FEC) as the top microloan lender in Indiana. Since its inception as a microloan mediator in July of 2010, the Flagship has approved 30 microloans. In the 2012 fiscal year, 74 percent of all microloans in the state of Indiana originated from the FEC. The FEC increased its lending capacity by nearly 400 percent from 2011 to 2012,
and anticipates continued growth in the coming year. Since the program’s inception, approximately $330,000 has been dispersed to start-up companies and early-stage small businesses in a 10-county region in central Indiana.
Microloans range between $1,000 and $50,000 and are available to any for-profit small business. The SBA microloan program bridges the lending gap which exists for small businesses unable to secure financing from a traditional bank due to lack of credit, collateral, or length of time in business. In addition to funding, the FEC provides borrowers with business development services including bookkeeping, marketing, and
business planning. FEC Microloan Manager Adam Hoeksema explained that microlenders outside of
Indiana are lending millions of dollars a year to hundreds of companies which create and retain thousands of jobs. His goal is for the Flagship’s Microloan Program to reach that level of impact in central Indiana. Hoeksema said “the growth of the FEC’s microloan program over the last couple of years has been great, but we still have plenty of room for expansion.”
FEC’s President and CEO Chuck Staley acknowledged former Executive Director Dewayne Landwehr for his early leadership in establishing the program and Hoeksema’s continued development and growth of the program. Staley stated, “Adam has done a tremendous job of leading the SBA Microloan Program. Nearly 70 percent of all loans
have been made to minority, women, or veteran owned businesses. This program represents another tangible way the Flagship Enterprise Center is serving our community and central Indiana.”
Microloan Success Stories: Seemingly small and insignificant loans can play an important role in the growth of an early stage business as demonstrated by two of the FEC’s Microloan borrowers: Fathom Voice and Scout & Zoe’s.
“In a rapidly expanding company cash flow is always the hang up. A microloan can help cover those inflection points when growing becomes GROWING,” said Fathom Voice Co -Founder, Bracken Fields.
Cindy Dunston Quirk, Founder of Scout & Zoe’s stated that, “Scout & Zoe’s utilized a microloan to purchase a large quantity of raw product that was essential for our business. By obtaining a larger quantity at a better price, we were able to grow our dog chew business rapidly.” Cindy explained that the loan helped the company fulfill orders from retail stores around the globe.
As the top microlender in the state, the Flagship intends to expand the microloan program to support many more early stage small businesses in 2013 and in the years to come.
Flagship Enterprise Center Created through a partnership between the city of Anderson and Anderson University,
the Flagship Enterprise Center is a technology-based business incubator and SBA microlender in Anderson, Indiana. To apply for a microloan, potential borrowers may contact Adam Hoeksema at (765) 622-7960 or adam@flagshipenterprise.org.

Source: Flagship Enterprise Center

Switzerland-based Nestlé is considering adding production at its operation in Anderson. The move would be a $166 million investment and could create more than 100 jobs at the plant. City Economic Development Director Greg Winkler says the company is deciding whether it will expand in Anderson or another U.S. city.

The Anderson City Council also has to grant final approval to a $14 million tax abatement request, which is scheduled to be voted on next month. Members have voted unanimously for initial approval, based on the job creation plans and the $14 million in property taxes the expansion would pump into the area over two
decades.

Winkler says Nestlé has invested more than $580 million in the Indiana operation over the years and currently employs around 600.

Source: Inside INdiana Business Report

ANDERSON, Ind. (July 24, 2012) – Governor Mitch Daniels joined executives from Greenville
Technology, Inc. (GTI), one of Honda’s largest suppliers of plastics components in North America, today
to announce the company’s plans to locate its first Indiana facility here, creating up to 325 new jobs by
2016.
GTI, which designs and manufactures a variety of interior and exterior components for the automobile
industry, will invest $21.37 million to construct and equip an injection molding and assembly facility on a
25-acre parcel in Anderson’s Flagship Certified Technology Park. The company expects to start
construction on the 150,000 square-foot plant this month and plans to begin production in January 2013.
The new facility is projected to produce 500,000 finished goods by the end of its first year of operations.
“We knew that Honda coming to Indiana would trigger a host of other new jobs and today is the latest of
many examples,” said Daniels.
The company, which currently has 840 employees in Ohio, has already begun the process to hire
management, technical and operator associates for the Anderson facility. Interested candidates can
send their resumes to hr_employment@gtioh.com.
“This new plant is needed due to capacity limitations and a tight labor market in Greenville, Ohio,” said
Bill LaFramboise, executive vice president of GTI. “It will also provide us with improved efficiencies and
flexibilities to meet our customer’s needs. We chose Indiana, and specifically Anderson, because of the
availability of a good site, cooperative government and a plentiful workforce.”
GTI, which will celebrate 25 years of operations on July 28, is based in Greenville, Ohio where it
produces more than 2 million automobile components a month primarily for the Honda Accord, CRV,
Civic and Acura. The company is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Moriroku Technology, a 350-year old
Japanese plastics manufacturer and supplier with operations around the world, including Japan, China,
India, Philippines and North America.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Greenville Technology, Inc. up to $1,725,000
in conditional tax credits and up to $100,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation
plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not
eligible to claim incentives. The city of Anderson has granted additional financial incentives.
“We welcome Moriroku Technology to Anderson,” said Anderson Mayor Kevin S. Smith. “Moriroku and
GTI manufacture superior products for motorized vehicles. Anderson has found a new global friendship.”
As the state with the second largest motor vehicle industry in the country, Indiana continues to be a
place where automotive companies find the talent and resources they need for success. Just last week,
Honda Manufacturing of Indiana announced plans to invest $40 million to increase production capacity
at its Greensburg plant, adding approximately 300 new associates later this year.

About Greenville Technology, Inc.
GTI has been in operation since 1987 and is one of Honda’s largest suppliers of plastic components in
North America. It designs and manufactures a variety of interior parts such as consoles and instrument
panel components, and exterior parts such as front grilles, rear spoilers and side body panels. GTI’s is
headquartered in Greenville, Ohio with a sales and technical office in Marysville, Ohio, along with
affiliated plants in Listowel, Ontario and Rainsville, Alabama. GTI is part of Moriroku Technology, a
global Japanese manufacturer with operations in Japan, China, India, Philippines, as well as North
America.

About IEDC
Created by Governor Mitch Daniels in 2005 to replace the former Department of Commerce, the Indiana
Economic Development Corporation is governed by a 12-member board chaired by Governor Daniels.
Dan Hasler serves as the chief executive officer of the IEDC.

Contacts:

Roy Budd – 765.254.1420

rbudd@energize-eci.org

Tom Farris – 765.254.1420

tfarris@energize-eci.org

Marlene Pulley – 765.254.1420

mpulley@energize-eci.org

Energize-ECI EB-5 Visa Regional Center, LLC

Receives Approval from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to Establish an
EB-5 Visa Regional Center in East Central Indiana

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has approved the application of Energize-ECI EB-5 Visa Regional Center, LLC. The new Regional Center hopes to bring millions of dollars in foreign investment and thousands of new jobs to East Central Indiana during the next five years. Energize-ECI EB-5 Visa Regional Center, LLC, is a government sanctioned investment zone that provides eligible foreign investors a faster path to U.S. Citizenship in exchange for employment based visa rules by Regional Center is organized by the USCIS, which is a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and is commonly known as the EB-5 immigrant investor program. The Regional Center acts as a facilitator bringing the project developers and foreign investors together, reviewing and evaluating proposed business plans for projects and placing qualifying projects before interested investors.   

Congress created fifth employment based preference (EB-5) immigrant visa category in 1990 for qualified foreigners seeking to invest in a business that will benefit the U.S. economy and create or save at least 10 full-time jobs for American workers. The basic amount required to invest is $1 million, although that amount is reduced to $500,000 if the investment is made in a rural or high unemployment area (call a Targeted Employment Area – TEA). Of the approximately 10,000 EB-5 green cards available each year, 3,000 are reserved for foreign nationals who invest in a Targeted Employment Area *TEA) through a Regional Center such as Energize-ECI EB-5 Visa Regional Center, LLC.

EB-5 investors may be eligible for an EB-5 immigrant visa if they have invested – or are actively in the process of investing – the required amount of capital into one of the following for-profit business types:

• A new commercial enterprise
• An enterprise which will expand to 140% of pre-investment

             Net worth or number of employees, or:

• A troubled business in which jobs will be preserved

To encourage foreign EB-5 investment in the U.S. economy, Congress created an EB-5 pilot program in 1992.  By doing so, Congress permitted the USCIS to designate qualified applicants as Regional Centers.  A Regional Center is a private enterprise or or governmental entity with a targeted investment program within a defined geographic region.  Over 98 per cent of immigration investment is conducted through USCIS approved Regional Centers. 

The EB-5 Visa program provides qualifying investors a temporary green card in exchange for their capital infusion from $500,000 to $1 million to a new or existing business and the creation or saving of at least10 new jobs for American workers.  After two years, the investor/applicant may petition the USCIS to remove the initial restrictions from their visas.  The defined geographic business investment development area authorized by the USCIS for the Energize-ECI

EB-5 Regional Center, LLC includes: Blackford, Delaware, Fayette, Grant, Henry, Jay, Madison, Randolph and Rush counties in East Central Indiana – a region hit especially hard by the domestic auto industry downturn and the lingering recession.  All of the nine ECI counties offer some $500,000 investment level opportunities, with Delaware and Madison counties, along with the City of Marion, also having $1 million investment areas.

The Regional Center will focus on offering EB-5 compliant investment opportunities in new  or qualifying existing commercial enterprises in the following six target industry USCIS approved economic categories: (1) Agriculture, food processing, forestry, fishing and hunting; (2) Construction; (3) Manufacturing and advanced technologies; (4) Information technologies; (5) Transportation, warehousing, distribution and logistics; and (6) Manufacturing and processing – green technologies and recycling.  The Energize-ECI EB-5 Visa Regional Center, LLC is the first Indiana owned and operated EB-5 Regional Center in the state.  The Regional Center is currently consulting with two active prospects who could bring about $500 million of capital investment and more than 2,000 new jobs. 

 There are four steps to becoming a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) through the EB-5 program.

1. USCIS form I-526 immigrant petition approval.
2. Application for an immigrant visa either through adjustment of status (form I-485) in the United States with USCIS, or through an application for immigrant visa (form DS-230) with the Department of State (DOS).
3. Upon approval of the form I-485 or admission on an EB-5 immigrant visa, the alien is granted two-years of conditional permanent resident status.
4. A form I-829 petition to remove the conditions on the LPR status must be filed at the end of the two-year conditional period.  If the alien has fulfilled the EB-5 requirements, then the conditions will be removed and the alien will be an unconditional LPR.

Roy Budd, Energize-ECI EB-5 Regional Center, LLC principal, advised, “This is a prime example of economic development regionalism at its best.  The local economic development directors and mayors of the communities in nine ECI counties have been very supportive and helpful in this endeavor.  Typical EB-5 projects utilize traditional forms of financing along with the EB-5 investments – as each EB-5 investor amount must result in the creation or saving of 10 new jobs for Americans.  This is a great new tool to accelerate economic development and momentum in East Central Indiana.  We expect to begin generating great interest here in Indiana – and around the world.”

Tom Farris, also a principal in the new Regional Center, added, “The application process resulting in approval has taken over 17 months of USCIS review and about one year of research and planning prior to submitting our application.  I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the special efforts of the office of Congressman Mike pence and Senator Richard Lugar, assisting by the offices of Senator Dan Coats and Congressman Dan Burton and our legal counsel.  The Indiana Economic Development Corporation also provided great support – and we worked together to help them establish a state protocol for reviewing EB-5 Targeted Employment Area matters. It was truly a team effort.  We are establishing our evaluation criteria for reviewing business plans which may be appropriate for financing by EB-5 investors, and we’ll be making that information public within the next 30 days.  We have a lot of work to do in launching our Regional Center now that approval has been received – plus many people to contact about the development and investment opportunities offered by the EB-5 program.”  Marlene Pulley, Regional Center principal will serve as Director of Compliance for the Regional Center.  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 ORGANIZATION / ADDRESS

      Energize-ECI EB-5 Visa Regional Center, LLC

      P.O. Box 1912, Muncie, IN 47308-1912

      Phone: (765) 254.1420 / Fax: (765) 254.1450

      Email: info@energize-eci.org

USCIS APPROVED TARGET INDUSTRIES

(1) Agriculture, food processing, forestry, fishing and hunting

(2) Construction

(3) Manufacturing and advanced technologies

(4) Information technologies

(5) Transportation, warehousing, distribution and logistics

(6) Manufacturing and processing – green technologies and recycling

GEOGRAPHIC AREA – PARTICIPATING COUNTIES FOR IMMIGRANT INVESTOR EB-5 VISA REGIONAL CENTER, LLC IN EAST CENTRAL INDIANA

COUNTY                 POPULATION           COUNTY SEAT

Blackford                      13,189                    Hartford City

Delaware                     115,419                   Muncie

Fayette                          24,273                   Connersville

Grant                             68,847                    Marion

Henry                            47,181                    New Castle

Jay                                  21,514                    Portland

Madison                      131,312                   Anderson

Randolph                     25,859                   Winchester

Rush                              17,494                    Rushville

By Abbey DoyleThe Herald Bulletin

ORESTES, Ind. — Red Gold is planning to invest $3.5 million to convert Elwood’s
former Oakland Elementary School into the company’s corporate office,
company officials said Wednesday.
“It promises to be a win-win for the entire community and the company,
allowing us to continue our excellent local partnership in Madison County,
and especially the town of Elwood,” Red Gold President and CEO Brian
Reichart said. “Having all of our corporate office employees in one
building in this new Elwood location will be tremendous for all of our
employees and will improve our continuous improvement initiatives.”
Red Gold will reconfigure the school to be a state-of-the-art corporate
headquarters, said Tim Ingle, director of human resources at Red Gold. The
existing structure will remain intact; however, the classrooms will be
retro-fitted into office space.
“The office will be more modern and Brian (Reichart) will put a lot of
thought into the layout to improve the flow and efficiency within the
corporate office,” Ingle said.
Elwood Community Schools Superintendent Glen Nelson said the one-story
structure — built in phases beginning in 1956 — was recently sold during
an auction for $550,000 to Red Gold.
“We are very pleased,” Nelson said. “We were pleased we were able to sell
the school and even more pleased that a company like Red Gold elected to
invest in the school and, even more importantly, in the community here.
Red Gold has always been a great supporter of Elwood.”
The fact that the school brought more than half a million dollars to the
school corporation — which will be used to help pay down debt — was
amazing in a time where other schools in Madison and Delaware counties
aren’t able to be sold at all or are selling for less than $40,000, Nelson
said.
He pointed out that not only does Reichart live in the Elwood community
but he also attended Oakland, which Nelson thinks played a big factor in
his decision to invest in the school and community.
The structure is nearly 7,000 square feet and sits on a little more than
10 acres of land. After the initial construction there were additions in
1961 and 2003 and several renovations before closing last year.
“Red Gold continually re-invests in our facilities, equipment, technology
and our employees … and that is what we have always done,” Reichart
said. “Our new Red Gold corporate office is only a part of a multi-year
plan to position the company for additional future growth.”
The move is expected to happen sometime within the next year. The
additional office space will allow the company to reconfigure interior
space at its Orestes plant location to allow for future manufacturing
growth, according to a press release from the company.
Bill Savage, Elwood economic development director, said the announcement
is great for the city. Not only will it put the property back on the tax
rolls, it is great for the city’s growth in general.
“This is going to bring the corporate headquarters right into Elwood,”
Savage said. “It means we will have 200 professional Red Gold staff
members now located in the city. That should be a huge boost for the local
economy with people eating lunch here, spending money here and possibly
even getting some of the staff to build houses here in areas like our new
Cattail Estates development.”
Last year, Red Gold invested more than $20 million to keep pace with the
company’s growing demand, Reichart said, including an investment in the
Orestes plant with a new high-speed canned tomato line and additional
equipment to increase the entire plant’s output. Red Gold’s Elwood plant
is currently midway through a major addition of its production and
packaging equipment, including an additional state-of-the-art, high-speed
ketchup bottling line that will be ready for production in mid-August.
Ingle said the company’s full-time employment has nearly doubled and as
surpassed 1,300 employees with diverse careers and opportunities in
advanced food manufacturing.