Kokomo has focused on 'quality of place' to attract residents, BSU economist says

Local business leaders met recently to take the pulse of Muncie’s Vision 2016 economic development effort and had successes to tout: Four million dollars in program pledges and job creation in the past year that included 200 new jobsjoining the 700 already existing at Sallie Mae’s local call center. Smaller job growth was marked too.

Compare that to Kokomo and its general area, where, just last week, the latest in a series of economic development announcements to make other Hoosier cities envious took place.

Chrysler Group, for generations a mainstay of Indiana manufacturing, announced last week it would utilize the still-empty Getrag Transmission plant in Tipton, spending more than $160 million and creating 850 jobs. Another 500jobs connected to Chrysler could be created in nearby Kokomo itself, although early details were few.