The year started with a sense that slowly—not fast enough for anyone’s liking—but steadily, Indiana’s economy was coming back. But then a spike in gas prices and the never-ending sovereign debt crisis in Europe created a summer of setbacks.
Eli Lilly and Co. lost patent protection on its $5-billion-a-year best-seller Zyprexa in October, plunging the company into the long-awaited zone of uncertainty that it calls “Years YZ.”
IndyCar Series CEO Randy Bernard racked up a number of accomplishments early in 2011 but was buffeted by challenges late in the year—most notably a crash at a Las Vegas race in October that left one driver dead and the future of the series mired in uncertainty.
The $275 million Indiana Convention Center expansion was completed in January, and the 1,005-room JW Marriott opened the following month.
The aircraft-engine maker will occupy Eli Lilly and Co.’s former Faris Campus on South Meridian Street, which is being renamed the Rolls-Royce Meridian Center.
The highest-profile Hoosier initial public offering was staged by Angie’s List Inc., the online provider of consumer reviews. The Indianapolis-based company raised $76 million by selling new shares, and existing stockholders raked in another $31 million by selling some of their holdings.
It was another rough year for the real estate sector in 2011, as the homebuilder Estridge filed for bankruptcy, strip-center specialist Broadbent struggled to hold onto its headquarters, and Centre Properties faced a $43 million foreclosure suit.
There’s a pitched battle under way in K-12 education as reform advocates and charter schools challenge traditional institutions such as teachers’ unions and education schools.
This year saw the most sweeping changes to public education since the approval of teachers’ unions in 1973.
Supporters of Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels were disappointed when he announced May 22 that he would not seek the Republican nomination for president.
Advancement of right-to-work legislation during this year’s legislative session caused Indiana House Democrats to flee to Urbana, Ill., where they remained for 36 days in what became the longest walkout in Indiana history.
Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee CEO Allison Melangton began 2011 with a trip to Dallas to see firsthand how the NFL pulls off its big game.
Nordstrom, which opened with the mall in 1995, left a gaping 210,000-square-foot hole in Circle Centre mall. It is a particularly tough space to fill since department stores have seen their market share decline more than half in 20 years and need less space.
The Indianapolis Colts won their first game of the 2011 season on Dec. 18—nearly an entire year after they racked up their last victory.
The administration of Mayor Greg Ballard found its stride in the final year of its first four-year term, at least when it comes to major publicly supported real estate projects.
Simon Property Group Inc. signed an employment agreement with CEO David Simon that will keep him as head of the Indianapolis-based company the next eight years.
Jasper-based Kimball International Inc operates two divisions—electronic manufacturing services and furniture manufacturing.
A contentious battle for Indianapolis mayor culminated in a second term for Republican Mayor Greg Ballard, who won the race with 51 percent of the vote. His Democratic challenger, Melina Kennedy, garnered 47 percent.
