State meetings to focus on economic downturn

The economic downturn in north central Indiana will be the focus of two meetings taking place in Indianapolis and Elkhart Friday.

Commissioners from Howard, Miami and Tipton counties will be meeting with Congressman Joe Donnelly and representatives from Gov. Mitch Daniels' office and the Indiana Corp. for Economic Development.

Daniels stood on the steps of the Tipton County Courthouse in June 2007 when the $530 million Getrag transmission plant was announced for Tipton County with the promise of 1,200 jobs.

Work on the plant was halted in October when a deal between Getrag and Chrysler disintegrated and Getrag Transmission LLC filed for bankruptcy protection.

"The state was responsible for bringing in Getrag," Howard County Commissioner Dave Trine said. "How much responsibility does the state owe Tipton County?"

Trine said not including the tax dollars committed by Tipton County to the Getrag project, several local contractors worked on the facility.

"Those companies did nothing wrong," he said. "Now some of them may be forced to go out of business."

Trine said the commissioners from the three counties are meeting with state officials to express how they feel about the failed project and to determine if the state is going to offer any assistance.

"The governor is responsible to some degree," he said.

Trine said the area is struggling economically.

"There is more to Indiana than just Indianapolis when it comes to the stimulus package," he said.

The county officials are working with the mayors of Kokomo, Tipton and Peru on bringing investment to the region.

"Our interest is U.S. 31 through Tipton and Miami counties," Trine said. "That's the doorway into Kokomo."

Commissioner Tyler Moore said the major crux of the meeting is the Getrag plant and the concerns of the three counties.

"We want to know that the three counties are toward the top of the priority list," Moore said. "We want the state to continue to give attention to our area."

The hope is that the state is still trying to market the Getrag plant to a prospective buyer or to partner with Getrag.

"I would be pleasantly surprised if we heard there would be a couple of interested parties," Moore said. "There have been rumors."

He said the group is looking for some thoughts from the state officials on the development of the entire region.

"We want some assurances that we are being looked at," Moore said.

"There was a huge investment in Tipton which was endorsed by the state," he said. "The state owes this area a little attention."

Tipton County Commissioner Jane Harper said officials and Tipton residents do have reason to hope. There have been a few companies that have expressed interest. She said Getrag is also very active in seeking a buyer.

Reporter Meghan Durbak contributed to this story.