Let the growth in Tipton County begin

TIPTON - While Getrag Corporate Group and Chrysler spoke about their business ventures in Tipton, Gov. Mitch Daniels and local politicians focused on the impact that a $530 million transmission plant could bring to Tipton and the rest of central Indiana.

"They had the world to choose from and Getrag picked Tipton," Daniels said.

"Getrag-Chrysler is the greatest economic development in our county," Tipton County Commissioner Monty Henderson said.

"It's major to point out this is 1,200 good paying jobs," Commissioner Tom Dolezal said.

Those jobs will help fill unemployment for some and bring families to Tipton, he said. It will also entice other businesses to the area.

Dolezal said there are already other prospects looking at land near the development site at Ind. 28 and U.S. 31. Getrag purchased 145 acres of land May 11. The county secured purchase options for 225 acres at the site.

Guy Barger, UAW Local 685 president, said many of the jobs would be filled by current union members. The rest would be open to the public.

"The jobs won't all be filled by transferees," Tipton Mayor George Ogden said. "Hopefully those jobs will be filled by people in Tipton."

Bill Keir, executive director of the Tipton Economic Development Corp. said changes won't be made overnight.

Keir expects some workers to move their families to Tipton. That would translate into increased real estate revenues, housing districts filling up and an increase in retail subsidies.

"There's just going to be a nice, steady growth," he said.