Home Blog Page 5588

Woman-Owned Tech Company Creating 140 Jobs in Indianapolis

0

Indianapolis – Torchlite, a digital marketing service provider, announced plans today to expand its operations here, creating up to 140 new jobs by 2019.
“Here in the state’s capital city, the technology sector is growing at a rate more than triple the national average and creating a growing number of high-skill, high-wage Hoosier jobs,” said Governor Mike Pence. “Indiana’s innovative workforce and continued focus on cutting costs and taxes has been a driving force behind attracting jobs and top talent to the state, further solidifying Indianapolis’s footprint as a leading national tech hub.”

The woman-owned company will invest $514,086 to triple its Indianapolis office space, moving into a 5,500-square-foot space on the second floor of 342 Massachusetts Ave. Torchlite is currently on the fourth floor of the building and expects to complete the move this summer. The expansion includes the creation of collaborative break-out areas in addition to investment in information technology hardware infrastructure. The company, which was established in 2015, secured $1 million in recurring annual revenue within its first 40 days and has doubled its revenue every month since then.

Torchlite, which currently employs 16 Hoosiers, is currently hiring for sales and development (JavaScript and Postgres) positions. These new jobs are expected to pay average salaries more than 2.5 times higher than the state’s average wage. Interested applicants may apply by emailing jobs@torchlite.com or by visiting www.torchlite.com/careers.

“Torchlite is in a high-growth mode as we’re getting ready to finalize another round of funding,” said Susan Marshall, chief executive officer and co-founder of Torchlite. “The tech community in Indianapolis has been unbelievably supportive of our venture and has played an integral role in our success as a company.”

Torchlite, which was nominated for TechPoint’s Start-up of the Year award, was founded just last year by Susan Marshall, a former Apple employee and executive at ExactTarget and Salesforce. The firm helps marketers and other businesses keep up with online marketing activities through its customized and collaborative platform, which combines technology and talent to enable businesses to plan, execute and analyze digital marketing campaigns from a simple, unified dashboard. Torchlite’s largest clients are headquartered in Delaware, Florida and Georgia.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) offered Torchlite Technologies Inc. up to $2,825,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $100,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. These incentives are performance based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. Torchlite is seeking additional funding from the Indiana Seed Fund, which accelerates the deployment of investment capital and is managed by Elevate Ventures in partnership with the IEDC. The city of Indianapolis supports the project in partnership with Develop Indy, a business unit of the Indy Chamber.

“This announcement further solidifies Indianapolis’ place as a hub for the tech industry,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “From our historic neighborhoods to our flourishing downtown, companies continue to grow in Indianapolis because of the amenities our city affords as well as the growing pool of new talent. Indianapolis is proud to welcome these 140 new tech jobs to our great city.”

According to TechPoint, Indiana’s technology initiative, computer and IT jobs in Central Indiana grew by 17 percent – at a rate more than double the growth rate of all occupations – from 2009-2014, creating more than 5,000 jobs and exceeding the national growth rate of tech jobs of 5.7 percent. The Indianapolis area ranks No. 2 in the nation for tech grads (DataFox), No. 5 in the nation for women in tech (Fast Company) and No. 6 in the nation for tech jobs (Fast Company).

Beekeeping for Beginners with Dr. John Scott Foster

1
Willard Library

Illinois-Based Firefighting Equipment Manufacturer Relocating to Indiana

0

Valparaiso – AMKUS Rescue Systems, a manufacturer of fire and rescue equipment, announced today that it has relocated its operations from Downers Grove, Illinois, to Valparaiso, Indiana. Valparaiso-based Task Force Tips acquired the company earlier this year, and with this relocation, now plans to create up to 20 new Indiana jobs.

“With a short move from Illinois, AMKUS Rescue Systems will quickly understand the full benefits of growing a business in Indiana,” said Governor Mike Pence. “Here in the home of lower taxes, less regulation and the nation’s strongest manufacturing workforce, Indiana helps companies like AMKUS Rescue Systems save money, which they can then reinvest into their operations to put more Hoosiers to work. With the help of Task Force Tips – a homegrown company helping save lives around the world – today AMKUS Rescue Systems is joining a long line of Illinois companies making the smart decision to relocate to Indiana.”

Task Force Tips invested $2.6 million to renovate a 50,000-square-foot facility at 4201 Montdale Park Drive in the Montdale Business Park in Valparaiso, which will serve as the new home for its direct subsidiary AMKUS Rescue Tools. Located less than one mile from Task Force Tips’ 168,000-square-foot facility, both companies will improve their research and development activities by operating in close proximity and will provide higher-quality products to emergency responders worldwide.

AMKUS Rescue Tools completed its relocation just last month and now bases all of its operations in Indiana. While AMKUS Rescue Systems will maintain its own unique identity, distribution network, field managers and marketing message, it will share Task Force Tips’ extensive research, development and new product innovation resources. With their growth, both companies share a commitment to providing world-class service and support to emergency service professionals around the globe.

“Indiana is a great place to do business and the state has been a strong partner for Task Force Tips as we have grown,” said Martin Sonnenberg, president and chief operating officer of Task Force Tips. “Northwest Indiana specifically has a wealth of talented people that make us successful. We believe that AMKUS will benefit greatly from being located in Indiana going forward.”

Task Force Tips currently employs 225 Indiana employees, which now includes 10 team members previously based at AMKUS Rescue Tools’ facility in Illinois. To reach its goal of creating 20 new Indiana-based jobs, AMKUS will add an additional 10 jobs and is currently hiring for production, assembly and shipping positions. These positions are expected on average to pay 25 percent more than the state average wage. Interested applicants may search for open opportunities atwww.tft.com.

Founded in 1971, Task Force Tips got its start when Clyde McMillan, a local fire chief in Gary, Indiana, sketched a design for a new automatic fire nozzle on a paper napkin. From there, Task Force Tips grew from the family’s basement into a worldwide leader in manufacturing equipment for the firefighting industry. The company has since diversified to also produce ice control nozzles for the airline industry, allowing for quicker deicing of aircraft in difficult weather conditions. With its acquisition of AMKUS Rescue Tools, Task Force Tips is adding the production of extrication tools into its product offerings for the firefighting industry.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Task Force Tips Inc. up to $200,000 in conditional tax credits 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 Valparaiso will consider additional incentives.

Companies like Task Force Tips and AMKUS Rescue Tools continue to choose Indiana for their manufacturing growth, creating more jobs in a state that is home to the largest concentration of manufacturing jobs in the nation. Indiana has added 92,000 manufacturing jobs since July 2009 and is growing manufacturing employment at a rate of 21.5 percent, which is the second highest growth rate for manufacturing jobs in the nation.

“Task Force Tips has been part of the Valparaiso community since the early 1970s and a leader in civic engagement and philanthropy,” said Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas. “Their success is a product of good management and a strong commitment to innovation. We are very happy that AMKUS and its employees will be joining Task Force Tips and calling Valparaiso home.”

As home to the Midwest’s top business climate, AMKUS Rescue Tools joins a long line of Illinois companies relocating their operations to Indiana. Since 2013, more than 20 Illinois companies have announced that they plan to create 2,800 new jobs in the Hoosier state. This includes Hoist Liftruck, formerly based in Bedford Park, Illinois, which welcomed Governor Pence in March to help cut the ribbon on its new manufacturing facility in East Chicago, where it plans to create up to 500 new jobs by 2022.

 

Vanderburgh County Commissioners June 7th, 2016 Meeting Agenda

0

AGENDA

Vanderburgh County

Board of Commissioners

June 7, 2016

4:00 pm, Room 301

  1. Call to Order
  2. Attendance
  3. Pledge of Allegiance
  4. Invocation
  5. Action Items
    1. Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana Report
    2. Resolution CO. R-06-16-010 Area Plan Commission: Evansville-Vanderburgh County Comprehensive Plan 2015-2035
    3. First Reading of Ordinance CO.06-16-008: Jail Booking Fee
    4. Final Reading of Ordinance CO. 06-16-005: County Transfer Fee
    5. Final Reading of Ordinance CO.06-16-006: Adopting Minimum County Internal Control Standards and Procedures
    6. Final Reading of Ordinance CO. 06-16-007: County Claim Payment
    7. Contracts, Agreements and Leases
      1. Commissioners:  Inter-Local Agreement Between the County and the City Regarding a Land Bank
      2. Health Department:
        1. Agreement with Oswald Marketing for Website Design
        2. Memorandum of Understanding with EVSC, St. Mary’s & ECHO for Back to School Blitz
      3. Sheriff’s Office:
        1. Inter-local Agreement with Pike County to House Vanderburgh County DOC Ineligible Inmates
        2. Inter-local Agreement with Daviess County to House Vanderburgh County DOC Ineligible Inmates
        3. Independent Service Agreement with Don Stock for IT Services
        4. Vending Services Contract with Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services
        5. GPS & Drug/Alcohol Offender Monitoring Service Provider Agreement with ABK Tracking
  6. Department Head Reports
  7. New Business
  8. Old Business
  9. Public Comment
  10. Consent Items
    1. Approval of May 24, 2016 Meeting Minutes
    2. Employment Changes
    3. Soil & Water Conservation District: May 2016 Meeting Minutes
    4. Auditor: Approval of the May 2016 A/P Vouchers
    5. County Clerk: April 2016 Monthly Report
    6. County Treasurer: April 2016 Monthly Report
    1. Superintendent of County Buildings:
      1. Energy Assessment and Quote for County Highway Garage Lighting Replacement
      2. Energy Assessment and Quote for EMA Warehouse and Classroom Lighting Replacement at West Heights Facility
      3. Coliseum Gutter Repair Quote- Architectural Renovators
      4. Old Courthouse Gutter Repair Quote- Architectural Renovators
    2. Evansville Rescue Mission Letter
    3. Health Department: Health Officer Update a
    4. Engineering: Department Head Report
    5. Evansville Metropolitan Planning Organization: ONEP Fee Waiver for the Federal Highway Administration Training & Workshop
    6. Sheriff’s Office: Request to Surplus a Vehicle
  1. Rezoning
    1. First Reading of Rezoning Ordinance: VC-4-2016

Petitioner: Haas Development, Inc.

Address: N. Eickhoff Road 8323,8333 & 8343 Blessing Way

Request: Change from Ag to R-3

    1. First Reading of Rezoning Ordinance:VC-5-2016

Petitioner: Mohan Reddyreddy

Address: 1 S. Red Bank Rd.

Request: Change from Ag to C-2 with UDC

  1. Adjournment

Convicted Sex Offender Arrested for Sexual Misconduct with Minor

0
On Monday, June 06, 2016 the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office arrested a convicted sex offender on new charges related to his sexual misconduct with a minor.

Mr. Johnathon Charles Johnson was taken into custody this afternoon after a 14-year-old victim came forward and described having an ongoing sexual relationship with him.  Mr. Johnson first met the victim while he was performing construction work at her home. Mr. Johnson contacted and then began conversing with the victim through various social media apps, which eventually led to him picking the victim up in his vehicle.

Mr. Johnson is alleged to have had a series of sexual encounters with the victim, both in his vehicle and at the victim’s residence. Mr. Johnson allegedly informed the victim not to tell anyone or he would go to jail.

Sheriff Dave Wedding stated, “Social media apps like Facebook and Snapchat are used by millions of kids every day. Sexual predators know this and are able to exploit the open nature of these platforms in order to entice minors.” Sheriff Wedding added, “In an age where anyone’s contact information is just a click away, parents must take steps to monitor and if necessary limit their children’s online activity.”

Mr. Johnson has a previous conviction for Sexual Battery as a Class A Misdemeanor, which required him to register as a sex offender for 10 years beginning in February of 2013. He is currently lodged at the Vanderburgh County Jail without bond.

ARRESTED:

Johnathon Charles Johnson, 27, of Evansville. Sexual Misconduct with a Minor as a Level 4 Felony (3 counts).

 

Vanderburgh County Recent Booking Records

0

http://www.vanderburghsheriff.com/recent-booking-records.aspx

TUESDAY “READERS FORUM”

26

WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND TODAY?

FOOTNOTES: Our next “IS IT TRUE” will be posted on this coming Wednesday

Todays READERS POLL question is: If the election for Governor was held today who would you vote for?

Please take time and read our newest feature articles entitled “HOT JOBS” and “LOCAL SPORTS” posted in our sections.

If you would like to advertise in the CCO please contact us City-County Observer@live.com.

Copyright 2015 City County Observer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed

GREGG CAMPAIGN RESPONDS TO PENCE NEGATIVE ATTACK AD

2

GREGG CAMPAIGN RESPONDS TO PENCE NEGATIVE ATTACK AD

The 30-second ad, which does not provide a single citation or source for any of the accusations, is running statewide.

“Mike Pence has failed as governor. His record is one that has brought scorn and embarrassment to Hoosiers, hurt our economy and set us all back,” said Tim Henderson, Gregg for Governor campaign manager. “Now, he’s not even man enough to put his own name on this attack.”

Please find a fact check on Mike Pence’s ad below.

Charge: “…helped turn a $2 billion surplus into a massive deficit”

Facts: Brian Bosma and John Gregg shared Governing Magazine’s 2002 Public Official of the Year Award. [Governing, 2002]

Bosma: “I think John (Gregg) and I both realize that while political position certainly plays a part in the legislative process, responsible adults have to bring the process to a responsible close for the benefit of those who are governed.”  “The final product didn’t please anyone entirely, perhaps least of all Gregg and Bosma, who both voted ‘no.’ But the pair was able to work together to pool what votes were needed to pass a bill that modernized a badly outmoded tax code. The two hugged emotionally when the vote was over. ‘I think John and I both realize,’ Bosma says, ‘that while political position certainly plays a part in the legislative process, responsible adults have to bring the process to a responsible close for the benefit of those who are governed.’” [Governing, 2002]

Indianapolis Star Editorial: “Lawmakers put aside personal and political agendas to pass a needed tax and budget bill.”

“Lawmakers put aside personal and political agendas to pass a needed tax and budget bill. Painful but necessary. In passing HB 1001 this weekend, the Indiana General Assembly has protected Hoosiers from a coming tax-and-budget explosion. With time running out on their special session, lawmakers did what needed to be done to keep property taxes low, boost Indiana’s economy and close a $1 billion budget gap. The bill passed Saturday wasn’t perfect, but it was a good deal better than earlier versions and it contained necessary ingredients to address the state’s most serious economic issues, which included an imminent spike in property taxes in 2003 following reassessment, the increasingly hostile tax environment facing Indiana businesses and red ink that was threatening deep cuts in essential human services and education.” [Indianapolis Star, 6/24/02]

Charge: “…supported higher taxes on Indiana families and business…”  Facts: In the 2002 restructuring, “the legislature provided approximately $1 billion in property tax relief for homeowners.”

“The 2002 reassessment was based on 1999 market values and the first time the market value-in-use system of assessment was used. Many homeowners experienced dramatic property tax increases, especially those with well-maintained older homes that had been under-assessed for many years. The prior system failed to take into account remodeling and rehabilitation of older properties. In response to the increase in residential taxes, the legislature provided approximately $1 billion in property tax relief for homeowners. However, property tax relief continued to be a growing expense for the state. In 2007, to assist in balancing the state budget, the General Assembly capped property tax relief to homeowners for the first time at approximately $2 billion.” [IACED, January 2008]

The 2002 restructuring deal began the elimination of the inventory tax by offering a 100 percent deduction.
“This is the beginning of the end of Indiana’s inventory tax. Starting with inventories assessed in 2006, for taxes payable in 2007, there will be a 100% deduction applied to the assessed values of inventories. Inventories will be assessed, but they won’t be taxed. Until then a more generous exemption will be applied to certain types of inventories. Counties can decide to impose an income tax, and use the revenue to end the inventory tax sooner. The $37,500 credit was an earlier inventory tax break that will be obsolete now that inventories won’t be taxed.” [Purdue Agriculture Economy, As Accessed 5/15/2016]

Charge: “…did side work for scandal-ridden Enron….

Fact: John Gregg did zoning work to construct a power plant.
“I had represented a company in Knox County that had built a power plan. An attorney doing legal work out of Louisville had called and asked me if I’d help him do some of the zoning. I do a lot of zoning work; it’s a large percentage of my income from the Vincennes law office. The company would pay me but I worked with their independent attorney, who was a great guy to work with. I didn’t think anything of it. I did stuff for them off and on for a year and a half, on their power plant and related issues. The company—well, you’d recognize the name, it was known as Enron—sadly went in the tank.” [“From Sandborn to the Statehouse,” pp 132-133]

WHERE’S THE STIMULUS FUNDING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE?

1

By Susan Stamper Brown

While traveling across the country with your kids this summer, be sure to buckle-up and do your best to overlook all the potholes and crumbling bridges out there. Even if funding was available, things will probably remain in disrepair until your kids are grown, thanks to big government regulations and red tape.

Former Obama administration’s U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray Lahood told CNN’s Rene Marsh during a recent four-part investigative report that America is “like a Third World country” when it comes to infrastructure and said, “The reason we have 57,000 deficient bridges is because we have not made the investment as a national government.”

Apparently Mr. LaHood forgot about all the money taxpayers were forced to “invest” when the $831 billion Stimulus Bill was passed in 2009. We were told it would quickly lower unemployment with the creation of “shovel-ready” construction jobs intended to repair failing infrastructure across the country.
In fact, the promise of “shovel-ready” jobs was the big selling point President Obama used to urge Congress to pass the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 [ARRA]. Of course, he later admitted, “Shovel-ready was not as shovel-ready as we expected.”

Apparently, shovel-ready jobs weren’t shovel-ready because government couldn’t get out of its own way, thanks to its own regulations and red tape. (Yet another reason why this blond columnist is a fan of small government.)

While the White House’s final report to Congress in 2014 stated the stimulus “initiated more than 15,000 transportation projects,” they obviously weren’t completed, given the numbers in Table 8 on page 34 of the report reflects just $30 billion, or around 3 percent, was spent on infrastructure.
In her CNN report, Ms. Marsh said the Memorial Bridge near the nation’s capital “will be shut down in five years if it doesn’t get the $250 million needed for repairs.” So why wasn’t it fixed with stimulus funds?
Where’s the $105.3 billion the ARRA allotted for infrastructure investment, with approximately $48.1 billion earmarked for transportation?

We do know that the Clintons reportedly received a slice of the stimulus pie. According to the Wall Street Journal, Bill Clinton’s presidential center received $2.5 million in federal stimulus money to build a “historic bridge.” We also know that $1.3 million was wasted on all those annoying ARRA signs the Obama administration planted on roads and highways across the country.

Another $3 million was “invested” for a turtle tunnel in north Florida, the Los Angeles Times reports.
The Washington Free Beacon reported some of the “most outrageous” ARRA spending included: $152,000 to prepare lesbians for adoptive parenthood; $600,000 to plant trees in rich neighborhoods; $384,949 to study duck penises; $1.2 million to study erectile dysfunction in overweight men; $100,000 for anti-capitalism puppet shows and $535 million on the now famously defunct solar company, Solyndra.
In fact, the Washington Times reports: “Taxpayers are on the hook for more than $2.2 billion in expected costs from the federal government’s energy loan guarantee programs.”
Moreover, Obama’s original stimulus bill envisioned several high-speed trains bulleting across the country, but only California bit the boondoggle bait, finally breaking ground last year. Californians forged ahead despite losing public support because they wanted to avoid returning billions in stimulus money. So they began the first segment in the middle; essentially building “a train from nowhere to nowhere, ridden by almost no one,” National Review reports.

So here we are, America’s infrastructure is Third World-ish with roads jarred by potholes, crumbling bridges, antiquated railways and subpar airports. And as always, Washington’s big government red-tape political elites delight in spending hard-earned taxpayer dollars like drunken sailors on liberty, funding pet projects like studying duck penises and building Clinton bridges, turtle tunnels and trains to nowhere.

Warrant Accountability Event

1

When/where: Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon located in the Civic Center downtown in Room 110

What is it?
It’s an event to allow Vanderburgh County residents to turn themselves in (without being arrested) and have their warrant lifted. A new court date will be scheduled.

Why?
Currently there are more than 12,000 warrants in Vanderburgh County. This offers an opportunity for citizens who have missed a court date to have a new one set and to make a fresh start.

Instructions:
Warrants must be for misdemeanor, Level 5 and Level 6 felony charges only.
Stop by room 110 during the designated hours and a judge will schedule a future court date.
Have a form of ID available.

If you have questions about your case, you can visit mycase.in.gov.
For questions about the event, call 812-435-5688.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
This is not a way for participants to be cleared of any crimes! It is a two-hour window for people to avoid being arrested in the future for a warrant.

1...5,5875,5885,589...7,345Page 5,588 of 7,345