A Canadian company is locating its first U.S. grill production facility in Huntington. Onward Manufacturing Co. says it plans to create 300 jobs by 2011. The company produces gas grills for retail sale and will invest several million dollars to upgrade an existing building that used to house a fireplace manufacturer. Onward has already started hiring personnel in Huntington.

Tech firm chooses Kokomo

Technology engineering and information technology services company Zuna Infotech will locate in Kokomo's Inventrek Technology Park and create 400 jobs over the next few years. The company plans to start with 50 workers by the end of this year.

More counties pool economic resources

A nine county region including communities such as Lafayette, Logansport and Crawfordsville, has formed a regional economic development organization. Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman announced the MidWest Indiana Economic Development organization at Ivy Tech Community College's Lafayette campus. She says the counties will be able to pool resources to better sell the region to growing companies.

Cummins Q3 profit down

Columbus-based Cummins Inc. says third quarter net income dropped 59 percent compared to a year ago. The engine maker is reporting earnings of $95 million, or 48 cents per share, down from $229 million, or $1.17 per share. The third quarter results include $22 million of restructuring and other charges associated with the cost of job-reduction actions.

IU Center predicts small drop in holiday sales

The Center for Education and Research in Retailing at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business is projecting a 1 percent decline in holiday retail sales, compared to last year. The center estimates sales in November and December will total $437 billion. Director Theresa Williams says last year retailers were forced to slash prices by as much as 70 percent due to the weak economy.

Lilly opens new facility in California

Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Co. has announced the opening a new biotechnology center in San Diego. The Lilly Biotechnology Center - San Diego will serve as the work base for more than 100 scientists. The center will primarily focus on discovering, engineering and conducting Phase I and II clinical trials on potential biologic medicines. The opening follows Lilly's announcements that its ImClone research headquarters was being moved into a new biopharmaceutical research cluster in New York.

Leading index remains flat for September

The September Leading Index for Indiana was unchanged from August due to a slight dip in the auto sector. Three of the five components that make up the LII edged up in September, but the auto sector decline resulted in the composite index remaining flat. The Indiana Business Research Center at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business says the stable LII in September and the recent announcement of new manufacturing jobs in Indiana present a mixed economic picture.

Hoosier park owner moves toward restructuring

Indianapolis-based Centaur LLC says it has failed to make interest payments to senior lenders that were due October 27. The company also says two of its affiliated units, linked to a proposed casino in Pennsylvania, have filed for bankruptcy protection. The operator of Hoosier Park Racing & Casino in Anderson says the actions are the first steps toward a more comprehensive restructuring process. It emphasizes it will be "business as usual" at its existing facilities.

UE dean says economy not out of the woods, despite GDP growth

The dean of the University of Evansville's Schroeder Family School of Business Administration says the recent gross domestic product numbers are a sign the economy "may finally be headed in the right direction." Robert Clark made the comment after the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the GDP grew at an annual rate of 3.5 percent in the third quarter. The federal government says the growth is an indication that the recession is technically over.

GOP wants to delay start of new U-I premiums

Senate Republicans are calling for a delay in implementing the state's new unemployment insurance premiums. They feel such a move would allow job growth to continue and help struggling businesses throughout the state deal with the recession. Senate President Pro Tem David Long, (R-16) says Republicans will introduce legislation in the upcoming session to push back the start date for the new rates by one year.