Global consumer packaging manufacturer Rexam plans to expand its operations in Franklin, adding nearly 50 jobs by the end of the year.

Bids for one or both of the properties will be accepted from Feb. 17 through March 16 at the Clerk-Treasurer’s Office at 70 E. Monroe St.

Greenwood-based Zimmerman Biotechnologies LLC hopes to become the first company in the United States to make generic insulin, a long-awaited development in diabetes treatment. The Greenwood Common Council on Feb. 1 will consider an $8.4 million deal that would finance construction of an insulin factory, as well as help Zimmerman with FDA-approval and equipment expenses.

Franklin is home to one of the nation's foremost sellers of antique car components, but co-owners Fred Bruner and Max Merritt fear the ride might be slowing.

A proposal to incorporate portions of White River Township into the city of Greenwood passed a major hurdle on Tuesday.

Counties wanting to speed traffic among suburbs are building highways to avoid having to travel into Indianapolis. The result, a 100-mile outer loop beyond Interstate 465, won't be completed for years, and it won't be built to consistent standards, but it might help ease congestion.

Muncie-based First Merchants Corp. said Monday afternoon that loan charge-offs contributed to a loss of $6.4 million in the third quarter.

IndyGo, for all its faults, is the Cadillac of transit systems in the Indianapolis region. Service breaks at county lines and the absence of passenger shelters are among the deficiencies facing transit systems in surrounding counties.

The Johnson County community hopes an economic stimulus grant for transportation will hasten its plans to build an east-west thoroughfare and set the stage for a new Interstate 65 interchange.

The Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority, IndyGo and other Indianapolis-area transit groups are the subject of a study that could result in them being reorganized.

Home-building powerhouse Ryan Homes is marketing lots in 10 subdivisions it has taken over from the defunct local builder CP Morgan Communities.

Cabela's is selling the land on which it had planned to build a store in Greenwood.

The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor is seeking public input on a proposed rate hike by American Water Inc., which has 283,000 customers in the state, including in Noblesville and Greenwood.

An event stretching from Noblesville to Bargersville might be the best opportunity ever to check out wind- and solar-energy projects in one afternoon.

The new city would count more than 80,000 residents. In terms of population, it would zoom past Fishers and Carmel to rank sixth or seventh in the state.

The Phoenix Group, a Greenwood-based supply-chain services company, said yesterday that it has added 15 employees within the past month and plans to hire about 200 more workers by the end of 2010.

Home-sale agreements in the nine-county Indianapolis area dropped 3.1 percent in July over the same month a year ago, according to a report released yesterday by F.C. Tucker Co.

The barter network Tradebank has opened a franchise in Indianapolis with two veterans from Louisville.

Franklin College has a new office that helps Johnson County not-for-profits develop Web sites and recruit volunteers. The Nonprofit Resource Center was sparked in part by the lack of volunteer coordination during the summer floods of 2008.

After working in retail management for four years, Rich and Jodi Scheve decided to take business into their own hands—and their own garage. Passing on business plans for Subway and South Bend Chocolate Co. franchises, the couple skirted heavy franchise fees and started Twisted Wick Candle Co.

Franklin College filed a lawsuit today alleging trademark infringement against Ohio-based Franklin University, which will open a campus in Castleton this fall. The liberal arts college south of Indianapolis said the newcomer's marketing blitz has been too close to Franklin College’s own branding.

Ohio-based Franklin University's move into the Indianapolis market sets up the potential for significant name confusion with Franklin College, the liberal arts school 30 minutes south of Indianapolis.

Tavern owners in Franklin will mothball their ashtrays next month following the passage of a smoking ban May 4. City councilors voted 6-1 to make the ban one of the most restrictive in the state.

Johnson County officials this month approved a 7-percent tax on hotel-room stays.

The menu at Hal's Fabulous Bar & Grille, is ambitious, but doesn't deliver consistently tasty items. Best bet is the lemon pepper chicken with penne.