Where is the GOOD Where is the GOOD news?news?

Elkhart County is facing real Elkhart County is facing real challenges.challenges.

UnemploymentUnemployment

Plant closuresPlant closures

90% employed doesn’t matter to the 10% 90% employed doesn’t matter to the 10% that are not employedthat are not employed

NY Times storiesNY Times stories

On the other hand…On the other hand…

We have been here beforeWe have been here before

We climbed out of it then.We climbed out of it then.

We will climb out of it now.We will climb out of it now.

With real challenges come real With real challenges come real opportunities.opportunities.

What are our tools?What are our tools?

We asked you.We asked you.

Elkhart Favorite FiveElkhart Favorite Five

The Chamber Economic Development The Chamber Economic Development Council asked the community, “What are Council asked the community, “What are your five favorite things about the Elkhart your five favorite things about the Elkhart area?”area?”Here are the things you said make our Here are the things you said make our area a great place to live.area a great place to live.Here are the things that will give us the Here are the things that will give us the ability to survive…ability to survive………and prosperand prosper

#5#5 – Proximity to Chicago and – Proximity to Chicago and other large citiesother large cities

Visit any time Visit any time

(but you don’t have to live there).(but you don’t have to live there).

#4#4 - Rivers and lakes - Rivers and lakes

#3#3 – Affordable Cost of Living – Affordable Cost of Living

37% 37% lessless than Chicago than ChicagoCost of living averages 5 to 20 percent below Cost of living averages 5 to 20 percent below similar communities in Illinois, Michigan and similar communities in Illinois, Michigan and Ohio.* Ohio.* Housing costs are approximately 30 percent Housing costs are approximately 30 percent lower than those of surrounding areas.* lower than those of surrounding areas.* Insurance costs are approximately 20 percent Insurance costs are approximately 20 percent less. *less. *Health care costs are approximately 10 percent Health care costs are approximately 10 percent less. *less. *

*Source: NIPSCO

#2#2 – Great people – Great people

Response to Church Community Services/Faith Response to Church Community Services/Faith MissionMission

United Way pledgesUnited Way pledges

Letters of Thanks in the paperLetters of Thanks in the paper

CARES school mentoringCARES school mentoring

DreamsWorkDreamsWork

Numerous volunteers for the numerous not-for-Numerous volunteers for the numerous not-for-profits in Elkhart Countyprofits in Elkhart County

Elkhart Community FoundationElkhart Community Foundation

#1#1 – Business – Business Climate/EntrepreneursClimate/Entrepreneurs

This was seen as our biggest strength This was seen as our biggest strength BEFORE the recent economic turmoil.BEFORE the recent economic turmoil.

Not our nature to wait for help.Not our nature to wait for help.

Create our own solutions…Create our own solutions…

……while we are creating products the world while we are creating products the world needs.needs.

Chamber working on business Chamber working on business climateclimate

LEAN, OSHA, Environmental workshops.LEAN, OSHA, Environmental workshops.

Support EDCECSupport EDCEC

One-stop shop for permittingOne-stop shop for permitting

Common incentive applicationCommon incentive application

Work with government officialsWork with government officials

Third HouseThird House

Transportation Council partnership with INDOTTransportation Council partnership with INDOT

Much, much moreMuch, much more

Patent leaderPatent leader

#2 producer of Indiana patents (behind #2 producer of Indiana patents (behind only Indianapolis, ahead of all university only Indianapolis, ahead of all university counties).counties).Nearly 9% of patents with only 3% of Nearly 9% of patents with only 3% of population.population.Patents continuing in post-Miles era.Patents continuing in post-Miles era.Smaller companies producing more Smaller companies producing more patents.patents.Patents do not represent all innovation.Patents do not represent all innovation.

Source: Enovent patent study

Transportation hubTransportation hub

Manufacturing powerhouseManufacturing powerhouse

937 Manufacturers in Elkhart County937 Manufacturers in Elkhart County

1,879 in 5-county region1,879 in 5-county region

16% of state’s manufacturing16% of state’s manufacturing

Other communities jealous of what we Other communities jealous of what we havehave

Diversity of manufacturingDiversity of manufacturing

Of 937 manufacturers, only 72 (8%) are Of 937 manufacturers, only 72 (8%) are RV/trailer/camper companies.RV/trailer/camper companies.

All transportation companies (RV, boats, All transportation companies (RV, boats, aircraft, accessories) only 17%.aircraft, accessories) only 17%.

Industrial & Commercial Machinery largest Industrial & Commercial Machinery largest category (12.5%).category (12.5%).

Fabricated Metal is #2 (12.3%).Fabricated Metal is #2 (12.3%).

Suppliers can serve many industries.Suppliers can serve many industries.

Source: 2008 Chamber Manufacturers Directory

Great companies here nowGreat companies here now

Crown audioCrown audioAE TechronAE TechronCTS (world HQ)CTS (world HQ)NIBCO (world HQ)NIBCO (world HQ)Elkhart BrassElkhart BrassKIK Custom productsKIK Custom productsAGDIAAGDIAWe don’t have time for all the storiesWe don’t have time for all the stories

Broadband connections to the Broadband connections to the futurefuture

Source: EDC

Virtual tech parkVirtual tech park

Universities have intellectual capacity.Universities have intellectual capacity.

We know how to make things.We know how to make things.

Obvious connections.Obvious connections.

““Matchmaker” works out of our Chamber.Matchmaker” works out of our Chamber.

Success has surprised even us.Success has surprised even us.

MIND nanotechnology centerMIND nanotechnology center

Located next door at Notre Dame.Located next door at Notre Dame.

Will absolutely involve Elkhart.Will absolutely involve Elkhart.

Places to house businesses when they Places to house businesses when they leave center (2 year limit)leave center (2 year limit)

937 manufacturers located right next door.937 manufacturers located right next door.

Worker trainingWorker training

Available workersAvailable workers

Training grantsTraining grants

Over 300 laid-off RV workers receiving Over 300 laid-off RV workers receiving trainingtraining

New IUSB CampusNew IUSB Campus

New Ivy Tech CampusNew Ivy Tech Campus

Will you help?Will you help?

Share the good news.Share the good news.

Spread the good news.Spread the good news.