Happy New Year? Economic news for Indiana

January comes from the name of a Roman god. He could look backward and forward. Well, this morning the Muncie Star Press is looking at what the new year has in store for the local economy. One is a report from their local business roundtable and the other is a general survey of Muncie businesses. Whether Borg-Warner will close hangs over Muncie. The prospects do not look good for the area or for Indiana. We remain tethered to the same manufacturing economy that we were sixteen years ago and Mitch does not really seem committed to letting us free from that tether.. So much for Mitch's plan to change to Indiana. Today's manufacturing does differ from that of 1990- there is even less of it than there was then. Patrick Barkey wrote about this early last month and his lack of enthusiasm was outstanding.

Thanks to Taking Down Words for a link to this piece from The Northwest Times. The writer looks back and sees decline. Combine that with the Star Press articles and the business climate looks as gloomy as today's weather.

More locally, Saturn Computers announces it is downsizing. Now, cutthroat pretty much describes the computer business - computer sellers must compete with Dell and service is where they make their money - but Saturn held on longer than anyone else in town.

The Herald-Bulletin headlines a story with City looking for a banner 2007, but does not really explain why the city expects a banner year.

The Herald-Bulletin editor writes very optimistically about Anderson and Madison County. Yes, Nestle and Mancor add much to the city. Do we really know just how much of an economic benefit they do provide and will provide? I think the Mayor's trips to China and Israel were good ideas (hey, Canan over in Muncie did something similar and it has been of some benefit - take a look at the Star-Press articles above) but has anyone heard any reports of what he did or accomplished? I might have shared the editor's optimism if I had not read the articles I linked to above. By the way, none of today's reports or any hint of them appeared in The Herald-Bulletin.

We need a strategy that does not rely on only huge industrial works or selling off the state. We need a strategy that enables the small farmer and the small businessman. A strategy that promotes innovation that stays at home rather moving out of state to make money. We need a strategy that funnels capital to small businesses to develop their ideas. We need to tout Indiana's tourism and other services. Which means, in turn, selling Indiana instead of selling Indiana off. We do not need small visions of the sort that dominate our Governor. The question remains open if the Democrats can rise to the occasion. I humbly suggest that Anderson provides us with an opportunity this year and a laboratory for afterwards.