By Kirk Johannesen, The Republic
johannesen@therepublic.com

   Cummins Inc.'s announcement that it will add 500 professional jobs in Columbus will have a positive impact on the city, according to local leaders.

   "To me, this is as big as the engine plant," Mayor Fred Armstrong said.
   The 500 new employees include engineers and specialists in information technology and marketing. Office space is being built in the new Commons to accommodate the workers.
   Cummins also will hire at least 600 production workers, and possibly up to 800, for its new light-duty diesel engine project at Plant 1.
   With 1,100 to 1,300 jobs being added, many of these workers could choose to live in Columbus.
   The 2006 Census said Bartholomew County households averaged 2.6 people. Including spouses and children, that could mean an influx of up to 3,300 people into Columbus, if all the new employees moved to Columbus from other cities.
   Vicky Gelfius, president of Columbus Board of Realtors, said enough housing is available to accommodate such an influx, which would be a boost to an already healthy local housing market.
   The amount of children entering the school system from these families could potentially cause some space issues, but John Quick, superintendent of Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp., said the benefit of getting kids with "assets" would be beneficial.
Economic impact
   The addition of these jobs will help Columbus' economy grow, said Jack Hess, president of Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce.
   These additional employees will create a greater market for retail and service jobs, because they'll have needs that must be met, he said. In turn, a growing market of retail and service jobs adds to the quality of life in Columbus, making it more attractive to people considering moving here.
   A greater concentration of knowledge-based jobs, such as engineering and information technology, will lead to an accumulation of wealth locally, Hess said.
   The addition of these creative jobs fits with the city's plan to attract high-tech companies.
   "From economic development, we view this as very productive," said Ted Dawson, president of Columbus Economic Development Board. "Our strategy in developing companies and creating new jobs is to go up the pay scale and value-added jobs, knowledge jobs."
   While the city wants to add higher-paying jobs, Hess believes the wages that Cummins will pay won't force other companies in Columbus to pay higher wages to retain engineers, IT specialists or production workers.
   "Most companies pay competitive wages for these types of jobs," Hess said.
   A concern is that the money earned by these employees won't be spent in Columbus.
Where to live
   Hess said commuters are the fastest growing portion of the work force. He cited Indiana Department of Revenue statistics that said 12,000 of the approximately 57,000 people that work daily in Columbus are commuters.
   That shows the need to continue to improve the quality of life in the city, and make sure people know what it offers, so they might consider moving to Columbus.
   Gelfius said the city and Bartholomew County offer plenty of housing and different price levels to accommodate these new workers.
   "Between what is currently on the market, those homeowners that will be putting their houses on the market, and new construction currently in the works and in the pipeline, we should be able to have ample supply," she said.
   Bartholomew County has 460 residential properties on the market, which includes resale of homes and new construction.
   New employees buying homes locally would reduce the marketing times for homes, and likely drive up selling prices.
   Homes stayed on the market an average of 117 days in 2007, and the average selling price was $168,000, a 12 percent increase from 2006.
   "This is due largely to the economic stability and job growth in this area," Gelfius said.
Student assets
   Cummins' new workers who bring families with children will look at the educational opportunities here.
   Quick said BCSC's enrollment usually grows 1 percent annually, but he is unsure what it might be as the result of Cummins' hirings.
   The greatest challenge would be accommodating more high school students. North and East have a combined 3,600 students and are at capacity, causing the schools to use portable classrooms.
   Central and Northside middle schools could each handle about 100 extra students, Quick said.
   With 11 elementary schools in BCSC, there is room to add or shift students. Quick said he's keeping close tabs on Southside, though, because of many new housing starts nearby.
   Despite some potential space issues, the additional students are seen as a benefit because some will be high achievers. That's good for a school system whose Top 10 percent outperforms the Top 10 percent nationally, Quick said.
   "This affords the community more students that will come to us with assets," he said.
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