Tag Archives: elkhart

Is LaGrange County Getting Short-Changed in the Stimulus Plan?

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The lead story on the Huffington Post Thursday morning (although authored by ProPublica) was a critical analysis of where stimulus funds are going. According to the article, some counties — including at least one in Indiana — might be getting the short end of the stick based on need.

Since the economic stimulus bill passed nearly six months ago, the Obama administration has repeatedly pledged that the money would reach middle America, seeping into the communities hardest hit by the recession.

But analysis of the most comprehensive list of stimulus spending to date found no relationship between where the money is going and unemployment and poverty.

Stimulus spending is literally all over the map, according to ProPublica’s analysis, which examined nearly all the contracts, grants and loans the government has reported awarding. Some battered counties are hauling in large amounts, while others that are just as hard hit have received little.

Take Trigg County, Ky., where unemployment was 15.8 percent in June after the auto industry crisis rippled among suppliers. The stimulus has chipped in $1 million toward a biofuels facility and $30 million for a road project. According to the data, the county has been awarded $2,419 per resident.

But LaGrange County, Ind., hasn’t fared so well. Despite having the identical unemployment rate, it has received only $33 a person. The community is still trying to recover after recreational vehicle plants shuttered last fall. Yet the stimulus has provided little more than the education and rural housing money that every county is scheduled to receive.

LaGrange County, of course, is just east of Elkhart, home of Wednesday’s announcement from President Obama about grants coming to the state. To find out what each state is receiving, click here.

McCormick Motors Offering “Green for Greening” to Staff

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The July/August 2009 edition of BizVoice magazine will feature a piece on McCormick Motors — a trailblazing Chevy dealer up in Nappanee that recently initiated a solar panel into its total energy conservation plan. That plan has featured recycling and waste reduction, lighting and furnace changes, and some serious energy efficiency moves. Gordon Moore, McCormick Motors’ VP, told me they’ve also integrated an employee incentive plan. The company’s web site explains:

In March 2009, McCormick Motors established an energy conservation and efficiency fund for every full time employee that is a home owner. At the beginning of each calendar year, up to $500 of matching funds will be available to participating employees. This money is available to offset expenditures made by an employee based on $.25 for every $1.00 spent on a home improvement that is directly related to energy conservation or efficiency. Funds may be drawn at any time provided the following criteria are met.

  • Participating employees must complete a home energy audit before funds will be distributed. The audit is the annual enrollment form for the program.
  • Projects must demonstrate that they will directly contribute to energy conservation or efficiency.
  • Paid receipts for completion of the project must be presented when reimbursement is requested. Paid receipts more than six months old are not eligible for reimbursement.
  • Projects related to new construction or home expansions are not eligible for reimbursement.
  • Reimbursement is only for materials and/or contracted labor. There is no reimbursement for individual employee labor on the project.

The policy reinforces McCormick Motors’ commitment to reduce energy consumption and minimize the environmental impact by encouraging our employees to follow our lead in reducing our energy consumption. Additionally, the program has the potential to inject $60,000 into the local economy.

Food for thought as a way to build staff rapport and protect the environment as well.

Elkhart Has Some Good Stories to Tell, Too

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Elkhart has found its way into the national spotlight, primaily due to the economic struggles of the recreational vehicle industry. But, as always, there is good news out there with a growing company recently celebrating its second anniversary.

Excel Electronics provides customers in a variety of industries with design, assembly and test services. Beyond the RV and automotive fields, it works with clients in the areas of commercial appliances, environmental controls and mobility products.

Company president Chip Estep, who previously owned and operated a contract manufacturing company for 18 years, says the intention is simple. "Our goal is to be your preferred supplier and production partner. We are growing our business with that goal in mind."

The reason for the success? Excel can help businesses innovate to remain competitive. Digitally controlled assembly equipment and more than 100 years of combined electronics experience are just two of the key factors for Excel.

Let’s hope Excel keeps excelling — both for its own growth and the assistance it provides to others.