Indiana Business Magazine articles from March 2004

Indiana Business Magazine archives from March 2004

New numbers look brighter; according to new data, recession-related job declines essentially stopped in spring 2002.(Indiana Indicators)
March 1, 2004... INDIANA'S ECONOMIC picture came into better focus with the recent release of revised employment figures for the state and its major cities by the Department of Workforce Development. The new data tell us that the state economy largely avoided...

Is this a lark? Billboards appear across South Bend.(Around Indiana)
March 1, 2004... THERE'S CERTAINLY nothing odd about seeing a billboard advertising a stylish new car, or a promotion hawking a product as "different... by design." But some two dozen new-car billboards around the South Bend area have been turning heads...

Any relief? Why are Indiana's health-insurance premiums higher than in neighboring states? What can be done?(Cover Story)
March 1, 2004... HEALTH-INSURANCE COSTS are higher in Indiana than other Midwest states. So say government and private statistics, which show Indiana's average family premium above that of surrounding states, and higher than the national average. Mercer Human...

No "silver bullet": it is more important than ever to research all of the options to control health-care costs.(Advice Health Care)
March 1, 2004... AS HEALTH-CARE COSTS continue to increase at record levels, many employers are struggling to keep pace. Some have shifted costs to their employees through reduced benefits or increased contributions, while others have been forced to eliminate...

At the top of their craft: winners of BKD Build Indiana Awards.(Real Estate & Construction)
March 1, 2004... EACH YEAR THE BKD Build Indiana Awards recognize contractors who perform at the top of their craft. Following are details of the latest BKD Build Indiana Award winners, exemplifying quality, innovation and excellence in project management. ...

Contractor profitability: how daily activities can have a big impact.(Advice Construction)
March 1, 2004... IN THIS ENVIRONMENT of tough competition and demanding customers, profits are sometimes hard to come by. Admittedly, it's not easy to balance all the competing forces and come out on top every time. But the best thing you can do to increase...

Real estate around the state: the latest commercial news and trends from across Indiana.(Real Estate & Construction)
March 1, 2004... Northwest Indiana. Keep a close eye on the new technology park being developed by Purdue Research Foundation, says David Lasser, president of Commercial In-Sites Inc. in Merrillville. Ground has broken on the 400-acre site in Merrillville and...

Combating energy costs: consider concrete to increase heating and cooling efficiency.(Advice Construction)
March 1, 2004... Concerned about energy, costs? It's a worthy concern. Heating and cooling costs represent up to 32 percent of a commercial building's total operating budget, which makes energy efficiency one of new construction's highest priorities....

Wealth management: who are Indiana's major players?(Financial Services)
March 1, 2004... BUILDING WEALTH, managing wealth, giving it away. They're all components of a comprehensive set of services that banks and other financial-advisory firms are packaging for their affluent clients. Competition for business is brisk, so along with...

Office design update: trends in products and furnishings.(Office Design & Technology)
March 1, 2004... "THE WALLS ARE COMING down. Where there are still cubicles, the walls are lower to enable communication within a group," says Carol Payne, vice president of design and customer care for Indianapolis-based Business Furniture Corp. The...

Eastern Indiana update: the region's top business stories.(Regional Report East)
March 1, 2004... Getting a foothold. A new incubator that's already attracted two Japanese companies could prove to be a source for growing new businesses, reports Jim Hizer, president of the Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County. The group co-ventured the...

Metaldyne Corp.: new owner has big plans for the massive New Castle Machinery and Forge plant.(Regional Report East)
March 1, 2004... One of the world's newest automotive giants is standing a little taller. Metaldyne Corp.'s year-end deal giving it full ownership of New Castle Machining and Forge, the former DaimlerChrysler operations in Henry County, boosts its holdings...

Indiana stocks.(Illustration)
March 1, 2004... TICKER COMPANY PRICE 2003 2004 1/30/04 YEAR CHANGE END (%) AMFC AMB FINANCIAL CORP. ...

More than a band-aid: a cure for rising health-care costs needs a change in behavior.(Viewpoint)
March 1, 2004... WE HAVE MORE FAST FOOD restaurants per capita in the state of Indiana than any other state in the union. We have the largest cardiology practice in the country domiciled here. These two points are connected. The cardiologists are here...