Published: October 11, 2008 07:56 pm      

Business Briefs

Small Parks earns state recognition

Small Parts Inc. has received the Half Century Business Award from the State of Indiana.

Gov. Mitch Daniels and Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman presented the award in a ceremony at the Statehouse. The award is given to companies that have operated in Indiana for 50 years or more while demonstrating a high level of community involvement.

Small Parts representatives chairman John E. Barnes, Chief Executive Officer Clay T. Barnes and President Clay E. Jackson accepted the award.

Barnes also received the Sagamore of the Wabash Award during the 50th anniversary celebration for Small Parts at its headquarters in Logansport. The distinction, considered the highest honor a governor can bestow on one of its citizens, was presented by Sen. Tom Weatherwax on behalf of Gov. Daniels.

Barnes was one of the founding shareholders of Small Parts in 1958.



Phone co-op opens computer center

STAR CITY — Pulaski-White Rural Telephone Cooperative now provides a local computer repair center in its Star City office.

Pulaski-White Repair Center will provide various services, including computer diagnostics, tune-ups, virus and spyware removal, hardware upgrades, set-up, business consulting and networking, home networking and program installations.



Man approved for electrician certificate

The Logansport Board of Public Works and Safety approved an electrician certificate for Jonathan Clinton of Lafayette on Oct. 1. He passed an examination given by the examining board of the City of Logansport.



Hospital receives Red Cross award

Logansport Memorial Hospital was recognized by the American Red Cross with the Lifesaver Award at the American Red Cross Blood Services Indiana-Ohio Region annual meeting on Oct. 2 in Fort Wayne. The award recognizes blood drive sponsors that are especially accommodating by replacing canceled blood drives, demonstrating flexibility and hosting last-minute drives.

Stephen McIntyre, Logansport, was also honored with the Outstanding Blood Donor Award for donating 197 units of blood in his lifetime and six times in the past year.



Seminar offered for local veterans

KOKOMO — The Hoosier Heartland Small Business Development Center and Veterans Service Office will present a seminar, Funding Options for Veterans, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Nov. 6 at the Inventrek Technology Park, 700 E. Firmin St., Kokomo.

The Small Business Administration will discuss available options for veterans starting and operating a business including the Patriot Express Loan Packaging.

The workshop is $35 per business. There will be time for questions and answers. To register, log on to www.conf.purdue.edu/sbdc or call toll free at (800) 359-2968 by Nov. 3.

For more information call Kathy Rogers or Ruth Sampson at (765) 454-7922.



Seminar offered for business owners

The Hoosier Heartland Small Business Development Center is offering the workshop “Launching Your Business,” in the following locations from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.:

• Oct. 15 in Inventrek Technology Park, 700 E. Firmin St., Kokomo

• Oct. 21 in Logansport-Cass County Economic Development Foundation office, 310 S. Pearl St., Logansport

The workshop is $35 per business and covers all materials. Questions about licensing, permits, record keeping, marketing and planning will be answered.

To register log on to www.conf.purdue.edu/sbdc or call toll free at (800) 359-2968 at least 24 hours before the scheduled workshop.



Drugmaker settles inquiries in 32 states

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Drugmaker Eli Lilly & Co. announced a $62 million settlement Tuesday involving its antipsychotic medication, Zyprexa.

Lilly agreed to pay Indiana, 31 other states and Washington, D.C., to resolve an investigation into the company’s marketing practices.

Attorneys general from several states had accused Lilly of marketing Zyprexa for off-label uses and inadequately disclosing the drug’s side effects to health care providers, the same claims made in reams of other litigation against the drugmaker.

Lilly was accused of marketing the drug for pediatric care, for use at a high dose and for the treatment of dementia, according to a statement from the Indiana attorney general’s office. Doctors are free to prescribe drugs for uses not approved by the FDA, but drug companies cannot market them for those situations.

The company did not admit wrongdoing in the settlement.



Bendix to expand, creating 46 jobs

HUNTINGTON (AP) — The Indiana Economic Development Corporation says Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems will create 46 jobs in the next three years by expanding its plant in Huntington.

The $8.3 million expansion is expected to be completed by 2011 at the northeastern Indiana plant, which employs 400.

The IEDC and company officials announced the plan Thursday.

The expansion comes after Bendix won contracts with Hagerstown-based garbage truck maker Autocar LLC. The IEDC says Bendix will also increase production of integrated control modules for school bus manufacturer Blue Bird.

Bendix makes safety equipment, air brake charging systems and other equipment for commercial vehicles. It is a subsidiary of German brake system manufacturer Knorr-Bremse Group.

The state offered Bendix nearly $500,000 in incentives based on its job creation plans.