Indiana Business Magazine articles from March 2008

Indiana Business Magazine archives from March 2008

Economics of illegal immigration: workers add perhaps $3.5 billion to our state's economy each year.(INDIANA INDICATORS)
March 1, 2008... FEW ISSUES GARNER AS much vitriol as the debate over illegal immigration. The dimensions of the debate are wide ranging, but as with most aspects of public policy, they are heavily influenced by economic issues. Indiana has embarked on an...

State Chamber's workforce study: the missing job skills of the "troubled quarter".(INDIANA INDICATORS)
March 1, 2008... JUST OVER A HALF century, we have built complex statistical models to explain why regions enjoy different levels of prosperity One critical insight in this extensive body of research is that human capital--the quality of a labor force--yields...

The school referendum debate: trust Hoosiers to make the right local choices.(INDIANA INDICATORS)
March 1, 2008... SHOULD INDIAN'S TAXPAYERS vote on school construction? This seemingly simple question is a vexing issue for the legislature. The debate surrounding referendum is surprisingly misguided and emotional. Let me add a bit of data to the discussion...

Corrections.(INDIANA INDICATORS)(Correction notice)
March 1, 2008... The MBA update in our February issue omitted some programs in the state: Purdue Calumet in Hammond has a fast-track, 42 credit-hour master of business administration for executives (MBAE) program, www.calumet.purdue.edu/mbae Purdue...

Numbers game: crunching sports scores and more with Jeff Sagarin.(AROUND INDIANA)
March 1, 2008... IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN--Daylight Saving Time! So how has it worked out for you so far? Has being in sync with the rest of the country made your life easier, your business more profitable? Has that extra hour of evening light helped you hone your...

Sleep dreams: seven of 10 Americans need better sleep. Sleep disorders are more common--and more dangerous--than many people realize.(Cover story)
March 1, 2008... SLEEP MEDICINE, ONE OF the newest medical subspecialties, is garnering a lot of attention these days. It's no wonder, when, according to the National Sleep Foundation, nearly seven out of every 10 Americans experience frequent sleep problems....

Big deals: yes, deals are still being done in Indiana.(MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS)
March 1, 2008... SEEMS LIKE YOU CAN'T pick up a paper these days without reading about how the credit crunch is spreadINg far beyond subprime mortgages, slowing all kinds of economic activity including corporate mergers and acquisitions. When it comes to...

Indiana's largest mergers and acquisitions of 2007.(MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS)
March 1, 2008... 1 Finish Line*--$1.2 billion Acquirer:The Finish Line Inc., Indianapolis Footwear and appeal retailer Target: Genesco Inc., Nashville, Tenn. Footwear retailer 2 Steel Dynamics/ OmniSource--$888 million Acquirer: Steel Dynamics...

Investing in soybeans: Indiana crop is a substitute for petroleum.(AGRIBUSINESS)
March 1, 2008... "ANYTHING YOU CAN make from petroleum you can theoretically also make with vegetable oil," says Bernie Tao, professor in agricultural and biological engineering at Purdue University He calls soybean farmers oil barons, and they can just call...

Indiana wines: small businesses with a passion.(AGRIBUSINESS)
March 1, 2008... NEARLY A MILLION people visited Indiana's 34 wineries last year, according to the Indiana Wine Grape Council at Purdue University Although the owners and winemakers are often driven by a passion for their work, the state views their industry as...

Building Indiana: commercial real estate development proceeds with caution. Is Indiana in a better position?(REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHILE THE DECLINE IN residential housing continues to dominate much of the real estate headlines, new development of commercial real estate in Indiana is proceeding cautiously. Developers seem to have taken note...

Wellness pays: new state wellness tax credit provides small businesses multiple benefits. Many are unaware of it.(Health & WELLNESS)
March 1, 2008... MORE THAN 50 SMALL Indiana businesses took advantage of the Indiana State Department of Health Certified Wellness Program for 2007. The program gives small businesses (defined as two to 100 employees) that implement a certified wellness program...

Indiana: small: business reference: guide.
March 1, 2008... Business Development GENERAL RESOURCES Bureau of Business Research Miller College of Business Ball State University The Bureau of Business Research is a premier economic policy and forecasting research center housed within the...

Negligent entrustment: do you know the driving record of everyone in your organization that you allow to drive a company or personal vehicle on company business?(indiana: small: business reference: guide)
March 1, 2008... The old adage that "what you don't know won't hurt you"doesn't apply here. What you don't know, but should have known, can and will hurt you. It could certainly jeopardize the financial stability of your firm. Do you know the driving...

Want to strengthen your business? Take the time to find a Certified Public Accountant.(indiana: small: business reference: guide)
March 1, 2008... For small business owners, the services of a Certified Public Accountant can make navigating the straits of profitability and smart business operations a lot easier. Businesses of all sizes rely on CPAs for their financial expertise and...

Employment practices liability: manage your risk.(indiana: small: business reference: guide)
March 1, 2008... A suit was filed by an employee who claimed he was wrongfully terminated due to gender and ethnicity discrimination. The case settled for $170,000 in damages plus defense costs. An overweight employee filed a lawsuit for discrimination...

Understanding the I-9 form: employer obligations and potential penalties.(indiana: small: business reference: guide)
March 1, 2008... Every employer with at least one employee must comply with the federal 1-9 Form for employment eligibility to avoid penalties. The I-9 Form is used to confirm an employee's identity and employment eligibility. The first potion of the form...

Is entrepreneurship for you? Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses.(indiana: small: business reference: guide)
March 1, 2008... In business, there are no guarantees. There is simply no way to eliminate all the risks associated with starting a small business--but you can improve your chances of success with good planning, preparation, and insight. Start by...

Choosing a business structure: proprietorship, partnership or corporation?(indiana: small: business reference: guide)
March 1, 2008... One of the first decisions you need to make when starting a business is what type of entity your new venture will be. There are advantages and disadvantages to each structure and it is important to consider how you expect your business to...

Planning your business: a business plan provides a guide.(indiana: small: business reference: guide)
March 1, 2008... No matter what size business you choose to launch, taking the time to draft a business plan is one of the most important steps. The following outline of a typical business plan can serve as a guide. You can adapt it to your specific business....

Preventive care: the best prescription for business risk management.(indiana: small: business reference: guide)
March 1, 2008... Business owners are aware generally that catastrophes can strike a business. Unfortunately, many business owners think only in terms of motor vehicle accidents, work place injuries, natural disasters, and fires. They fail to perceive that...

Eastern Indiana update: the region's top business storms.(REGIONAL REPORT EAST)
March 1, 2008... FOOD AND AGRICULTURE top the economic news in the seven-county eastern Indiana region, with durable goods manufacturing also welcoming new names and expansions. Shovel-ready and on-the-drawing-board sites are opening the possibilities for more...

Tradition continues: hybrid converter is the latest in Union City's transportation history.(REGIONAL REPORT EAST)(Company overview)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A COMMUNITY WITH A long tradition in transportation is set to add more miles as Productive Concepts Inc. (PCI) adds hybrid school bus conversions to its product and service lineup. The company founded in 1999 by Rob...

How precast concrete can be green: saving time, money, energy and the planet, one panel at a time.(ADVICE CONSTRUCTION)
March 1, 2008... CONSIDERING THE environmental impact of new construction is an issue that continues to become more important. Lawmakers are passing legislation requiring more environmentally friendly buildings. Property owners are becoming more interested in...

A true "safety-net": a fresh approach to federal farm programs.(VIEWPOINT)
March 1, 2008... ATTEMPTS TO REFORM U.S. farm subsidies have continued to fall short because current policy has been sold as a safety net. In fact, the current program has only benefited a select few while leaving the majority of farmers without support in bad...