INSIDE INDIANA BUSINESS: Air National Guard chief, city battling base changes

The head of the Indiana National Guard said he will fight to keep A-10 jet fighters at the Air National Guard base in Fort Wayne. The U.S. Department of Defense has proposed eliminating 21 A-10s at the Fort Wayne base and replacing them with nine surveillance aircraft. Air National Guard Maj. Gen. Martin Umbarger said keeping combat planes in Fort Wayne is much cheaper and more efficient than housing them on active-duty bases. Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry said he will join Umbarger in lobbying lawmakers to oppose the changes.

Manufacturing training initiative announced

A news conference was set for Thursday afternoon in Lafayette to announce what organizers describe as a "groundbreaking partnership." Economic development, education and manufacturing leaders from that region of the state were part of the announcement at Lafayette's Caterpillar Inc. plant.

Firm, IOSHA to discuss stage collapse report

Greenfield-based Mid-America Sound Corp. is planning to meet with the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration before deciding whether to contest fines related to the State Fair stage collapse. The company said it "strongly objects" to IOSHA's findings.

Warehouse company is expanding in Johnson Co.

A refrigerated warehouse company is expanding in Franklin. Interstate Warehousing Inc. plans to invest $26 million in a two-phased project and add 50 workers.

USA Football offering field-building grants

Indianapolis-based USA Football plans to award $400,000 in grants to cities, school systems and tax-exempt youth leagues hoping to install football fields. The program awards up to eight grants of $50,000 to be used toward the purchase of a FieldTurf product.

Bennett touts reform as reason for NCLB waiver

Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett is applauding the federal decision to give the state a waiver from certain No Child Left Behind Act requirements. He said education reform has allowed Indiana to become one of the first states to receive the waiver.

Ivy Tech institute posts increase in enrollment

Ivy Tech Community College said its Ivy Institute of Technology now has 74 students. The school said that is an increase of more than 200 percent since the institute's launch last October. The program focuses on training for entry or mid-level jobs.

Taylor holding its annual contest for business plan

Taylor University is holding its seventh annual business plan competition starting next month. The school said the contest is designed to spur ideas and entrepreneurship in the state.

New editor named at Indianapolis Monthly

Emmis Communications Corp. has named a new editor for Indianapolis Monthly. Amanda Heckert has been serving as senior editor of Atlanta magazine.

Kite Realty Group reports higher FFO for 4th quarter

Indianapolis-based Kite Realty Group Trust is reporting fourth quarter Funds From Operations of $8.6 million, compared to $7.8 million for the same period a year earlier. The company also posted a slight FFO increase for all of 2011, compared to 2010.

Southern Indiana bank acquires branches

Clarksville-based First Savings Financial Group Inc. said it is acquiring the Indiana retail branches of First Federal Savings Bank of Elizabethtown Inc. in Kentucky. The banking offices are in Harrison and Floyd counties.

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