DECEMBER 7-13, 2009
This week, find out the latest in the Tim Durham saga—a look at how he choses board members for his business enterprises. Also, read about Ford Motor Co.'s plans for its east-side steering plant and see how the Indianapolis Indians fared this year. In A&E, etc., Lou Harry reviews a Bloomington institution that has opened a location in downtown Indianapolis. Yes, Kilroy's is here.
Front PageBack to Top
Revived Marsh Supermarkets goes up for sale
Florida-based Sun Capital has completed the turnaround of Marsh Supermarkets and now is seeking a buyer
for the home-grown chain. CEO Frank Lazaran told IBJ Sun will sell Marsh “when the market is right, financing
is right, and
someone is willing to pay a fair multiple.”
Health reform provision called ‘death sentence’ for doctor-owned hospitals
House and Senate versions of health care reform could halt the trend toward physician-owned hospitals.
Read MoreCity mulls 6 proposals for use of Old City Hall
Visions for the empty historic building
range from offices to a museum. Two developers propose a boutique hotel on an adjacent parking
lot. Video bonus: Tour the landmark’s interior.
Top StoriesBack to Top
Durham enlisted directors with personal, financial ties
Carl Brizzi’s short stint as a Fair Finance director reflects a larger pattern in Tim Durham’s business dealings.
Read MoreBaseball meetings let leaders tout Indianapolis to influential audience
Indianapolis was up against Dallas, Las Vegas, Orlando, Atlanta and New Orleans to host baseball’s Winter
Meetings, which
will draw more than 200 media members from the nation’s top 30 markets.
$75M investment in ExactTarget may be Indianapolis record
The amount raised since October is in addition to the $69.9 million it received in May from three venture
firms on the coasts, in what was the third-largest venture deal in the nation during the second quarter,
according to the National Venture Capital Association.
Carroll Award winner Dodson helps less fortunate weather adversity
Entrepreneur earmarks 10 percent of profits for charity, honors well-run not-for-profits.
Read MoreFord delay extends life of east-side steering plant
A Ford Motor Co. subsidiary will start cutting its local work force next year, but won’t close its east-side plant
for good until late 2011.
Indianapolis Indians take big revenue hit, but team still profitable
Team profits declined from $1.23 million in 2008 to $459,603 this year. Despite
that, the team’s board voted unanimously to pay a dividend.
Duke Energy wants ratepayers to fund carbon dioxide storage site study
The state’s utility consumer agency is opposing Duke Energy’s request to have customers pay $121 million to
study where to inject underground the carbon dioxide to be produced by its Edwardsport plant.
FocusBack to Top
Some area manufacturers see blue sky after year dominated by recession
The recession decimated Indiana’s auto-parts makers, but many other manufacturers in the state survived. After a year
adrift in the recession, they see signs of land ahead.
Builder looks to cold storage for steady work in a weak economy
Cold storage might become a hot business for a building contractor.
Read MoreOpinionBack to Top
EDITORIAL: Dodson, Durham take different approach to doing business
This week’s issue features stories about two local businessmen. Both are native Hoosiers in their late 40s who showed
entrepreneurial instincts at a young age. But the similarities end there.
KATTERJOHN: Indiana Achievement Awards live on
en years ago, Dodson Group CEO Jim Dodson came to IBJ with an idea to launch a program that would recognize
best practices in the not-for-profit community and reward organizations that practiced them. And not just with
a pat on the back—with hard cash.
WIEGAND: School competition good for community
It’s vitally important to have innovative, competitive and successful
school options available to attract and retain middle-class families in the neighborhoods.
ALTOM: It’s time to rethink reliance on PowerPoint presentations
A college administrator believes technology shifts the educational focus from the wits and wisdom of the instructor to the
bullet points in the presentations.
MARCUS: Grandson learns facts of Hoosier life
My grandson, Nathaniel, recently had his first birthday. Soon thereafter, I took him to a doughnut shop to teach
him the facts of life. If he is to become an adult Hoosier, there are things he must learn.
HAUKE: Negative divergences hint at adjustment
At some point, and it could be at any time, there will be an adjustment for these negative divergences.
Read MoreHICKS: Scandal may put chill on global-warming research
A long series of leaked or hacked e-mails strongly indicate that several prominent climate scientists have hidden data, conspired
to hide unfavorable findings, and doctored scientific evidence.
Literacy is a lifelong gift
It was with great interest that I read Morton Marcus’ [Nov. 30] column encouraging us to spend responsibly this holiday
season, and to “give a check to your local adult literacy program.” It was with added delight when I read Theresa
Rhodes’ column on the same page suggesting that readers consider volunteering by “helping an adult learn to read.
In BriefBack to Top
Indiana University launches $10M seed fund
The Innovate Indiana Fund will invest $5 million over the next five years to commercialize IU technologies and another
$5 million to help IU-affiliated startups get off the ground.
Health care reform could drive more people to buy their own insurance
If Congress passes health care reform, more people will become like Juli Erhart-Graves, whose family spends nearly 18 percent
of its income on health insurance and out-of-pocket medical costs.
Sarah Fisher Racing triples size of race shop on city’s west side
The team moved just a few suites down from its Park 100 facility, but officials said it’s a big move
for the Indianapolis-based Indy Racing League operation.
Motorsports industry show to stay here through 2015
The inaugural show opened Dec. 2 at the Indiana Convention Center, and is expected to draw more than
10,000 attendees.
Lilly Endowment gives International Center $500,000 for 2010
The not-for-profit will use the money to fund existing programs, such as the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor
Leadership Program, and begin new ones.
Airport adds events to draw more people, revenue for vendors
One of the first things new airport CEO John Clark said he wanted to do was to squeeze more use—and revenue—out
of the new airport terminal’s Civic Plaza space.
NFP of NOTE: Little Red Door Cancer Agency
Little Red Door Cancer Agency is committed to serving people with cancer in the greater Indianapolis area and surrounding
counties who lack financial means or adequate insurance.