Hamilton County Alliance energy series
the Hamilton County (Indiana) Alliance will be hosting the first in a series of sessions on the subject of key energy challenges and opportunities facing Indiana. The half-day session will be held on November 4, 2010 beginning at 7:30 a.m. at the Community Health Pavilion Saxony, 13121 Olio Road, Fishers, which is located just south of Exit 10 on I-69. Speakers include Jim Wheeler, Senior Vice President of Thomas P. Miller and Associates, Paul Mitchell, President and CEO of Energy Systems Network, and Vince Griffin, Vice President of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. To attend, please call the Hamilton County Alliance offices at 317-573-4950 or email at sciotto@hcalliance.com.
Steuben County economic plan moving forward
A key element in an economic development strategic plan for Steuben County (Indiana) is moving forward, as Steuben County Commissioners have approved a resolution that provides up to $2 million for fiber optics infrastructure through the Indiana Metropolitan Area Network, or iMAN. The fiber optics infrastructure will add to an existing 10 miles and complement another 12 miles that is being installed in Fremont; ultimately, the plan will encompass 75 miles throughout the county.
The proposal was a key component of one of the eight recommendations developed by TPMA earlier this fall as part of the county's long term strategic economic development plan. The fiber optics proposal was part of a recommendation calling for infrastructure improvements to promote the immediate development of available sites. Other elements of the plan are being pursued by the County Commissioners, Trine University, the private sector and other partners. For more details on the plan, go here.
Second TPMA Webinar held by Indianapolis Municipal Power Agency
A webinar developed by Thomas P. Miller and Associates and partner Lewellen Progress Strategies provided members of the Indianapolis Municipal Power Agency with information on the basics of workforce development and trends taking place in Indiana.
The webinar was held on October 7 and provided information on such topics as the aging of Indiana's workforce, implications of technology on the workforce, and other critical issues for employers and economic developers. An earlier webinar was held on asset-based economic development, and more are planned for 2011.
Energy news in Indiana
Southwest Indiana utility workers recently began a training program that provides a comprehensive understanding of controllable and non-controllable energy losses within power plant production. In a partnership between Vincennes University, the Grow Southwest Indiana Regional Workforce Board, and the Department of Workforce Development, approximately 400 individuals will participate in the training program over the next two years through a grant provided by the Department of Labor. TPMA has been involved in this activity on numerous fronts, as Senior Vice President Jim Wheeler sat on the statewide planning committee. In addition, TPMA is the regional operator of the Grow Southwest Indiana Regional Workforce Board.
These efforts are part of an ongoing effort by Southwest Indiana to leverage its unique assets in both the traditional and emerging energy technologies to create an energy business cluster that provides economic growth for the region and energy independence for the nation. The nine county region has identified four key areas to build their strategies: energy efficiency, energy manufacturing, energy workforce training and advanced coal technologies.
New Eastern Carolina State of the Workforce Report
The Eastern Carolina Workforce Development Board has published a new "State of the Workforce Report 2010" prepared by Thomas P. Miller and Associates. The report updates an earlier report from 2006 and allows local workforce officials and policy-makers to reflect on the changes that have occurred in the region's workforce and industry composition. The report also helps anticipate and prepare plans for future growth and development. TPMA also prepared a comprehensive data scan for the report. Data collection and analysis was provided by Dr. Jim Kleckley and his staff at the Bureau of Business Research (BBR) of East Carolina University's College of Business.
