Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser

News and Views

September, 2010

Inside This Issue

North Dakota Center of Excellence

Steuben County Economic Development

Terre Haute Incubator

New TPMA Web site

We're Here to Help

Client of the Month
We welcome new client, Northern Kentucky Area Development District

Dear Friends,

It's been a while since we've provided you with an update of some of our recent activities and projects, and we thought that a monthly newsletter would provide a timely and effective vehicle to communicate our news and views. We still value and recognize the importance of personal communications, so please call or email us if you think we can be of any help to you in any way.

North Dakota Centers of Excellence Study under Review by Legislature:

Senior Vice President Jim Wheeler recently presented the results of a "Best Practices" review of the North Dakota Centers of Excellence Program to the North Dakota State Legislature.

The report offered 14 recommendations for the state legislators for the program, which is set to expire next year. The state has approved to consider $60 million for the program since its inception in 2005.

One recommendation called for COE program to become more focused in technology-based economic development; another suggestion called for the small business community to become more involved in the COE program. Another recommendation called for the creation of Eminent Scholars program in targeted priority areas of economic potential for the state.

New Economic Development Plan for Steuben County

The Steuben County (Indiana) Economic Development Corporation has unanimously approved a new economic development strategic plan developed by Thomas P. Miller and Associates. The ambitious agenda, which was approved on July 20, calls for the development of the county as a Center of Excellence in Biomedical Engineering, the promotion of entrepreneurship, and a diversification of the county's automobile-manufacturing base. A public event was held on August 19 to formally roll out of the plan to the community. Click here for the full report

Business Incubator and Accelerator Study Complete in Terre Haute region

TPMA recently concluded a feasibility study on behalf of the Rural Health Innovation Collaborative (RHIC) in West Central Indiana in establishing a rural healthcare and life science business incubator and accelerator.

The RHIC was formally established in 2008 to address the challenge of healthcare provider shortages, particularly in rural areas. Partners include Union Hospital and its Richard G. Lugar Center for Rural Health, Indiana University School of Medicine at Terre Haute, Indiana State University, Ivy Tech Community College, the Terre Haute Economic Development Corp. and the City of Terre Haute. In addition to its work on the incubator/accelerator project, the collaborative will assess workforce needs and address neighborhood revitalization and other economic development issues.

New TPMA Web site

If you have not recently visited our web site, please take a look. Our Web site now reflects a new look, with new and updated content, and what we think is a more effective description of our products and services. Take a look here

Project Green Website

Speaking of web sites, if you are into the growing Green movement, you might be interested in Project GREEN (Growing a Regional Energy Employment Network) and its web site. click here to access website

Project Green grew out of the WIRED Initiative in Southwest Indiana, and is an attempt to build on that region's long-standing history of energy resources. The region is poised to transition into the next generation of energy production, becoming a major player in the nation's quest for energy independence. The Grow Southwest Indiana Regional Workforce Board (RWB) launched Project GREEN to create economic growth in the nine-county region by identifying and promoting opportunities in both the traditional and emerging energy sectors. We've been fortunate to work with the WIRED initiative, Project Green, and we also serve as the Regional Operator for the Grow Southwest Indiana Regional Workforce Board.