Gov. Mitch Daniels, along with executives from Chrysler Group and Getrag, announced plans Monday for a $530 million dual clutch transmission plant in Tipton that will create about 1,400 jobs. The facility will manufacture 700,000 transmissions annually and is expected to be operational in 2009. The 145-acre site for the facility is at the intersection of U.S. 31 and State Road 28. Chrysler says it will provide some of the work force for the new facility from its pool of idled Indiana workers. The state is offering the company more than $9 million in incentives and is offering Tipton $3.4 million in infrastructure assistance.

Governor appoints

Ivy Tech board members

Gov. Mitch Daniels has named five new members to the board of Ivy Tech Community College. The new members are David Findlay, Linda Buskirk, Steve Schreckengast, Anne Shane and Bob McCreary. The appointments begin July 1.

Fort Wayne cosmetics

firm expanding to Indy

Fort Wayne-based Bonne Chimie has announced it will be opening operations in Indianapolis. The company utilizes a computerized skin analysis to provide clients with custom-made skin care, cosmetic and hair care products. The company says it will offer franchises to local entrepreneurs. Expansion is also being planned for Atlanta, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dayton, Detroit and Saint Louis.

Plans eyed for

land near Speedway

The Town of Speedway will unveil a master plan Tuesday to revitalize 400-acres of land across from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Speedway Redevelopment Commission says the plan is aimed at attracting businesses, tourists and residents to the area. The plan looks at land use, architectural and urban design character, as well as marketing and business strategies. The area that will be developed will be known as the Speed Zone.

Software company

receives SBIR grant

Indianapolis-based Vyante, Inc. has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the National Science Foundation's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The grant will be used to develop Vyante's ChatterSpike service, which analyzes information from the Internet on a daily basis and allows users to review the underlying trends. Vyante will be eligible to receive future SBIR funding to help with commercialization.

Bicycle proposal aims

to boost transportation

A graduate of Ball State's Spine Sweat program is planning to put her business plan to use. Emily Eoff of Carmel says her company, Pedals, will place 300 bicycles on a college campus. Using cell phones and GPS technology, students will be able to solve their transportation problems instantly by locating a bicycle, paying for it and receiving the lock code. Three investors have approached Eoff and one is helping her bring her plan to life. Eoff came up with the plan and made a presentation as part of the program. The entrepreneurship course has only two grade options, an A or an F. The grade is assigned by the business community and not by a professor.

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