Four economists looked into their crystal balls Tuesday at Anderson Country Club during the annual economic forecast and came up with this projection: Things will get better. Slowly, perhaps not steadily.
Dagney Faulk of Ball State’s Center for Business and Economic Research talked specifically about the economy in east central Indiana. She noted that the area’s past reliance on the automotive industry is hindering its recovery from the deepest part of the recession.
It was another way of saying what folks living in this community have heard for more than a decade: The local economy must be diversified. When a region is subject to the whims of a particular industry, its peaks are high and its valleys low. Wouldn’t it be nice to experience a steady climb with the occasional dip in the road?
To use a distinctly Hoosier expression: You shouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket.
Yet the Madison County area should seek to capitalize on its past, and is doing just that at the Flagship Enterprise Center off Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Interstate 69. New businesses, many of which capitalize on our rich base of automotive industry and electronics knowledge, are springing up, some holding the promise of thousands of jobs.
What we really need, though, is more businesses — and not just retail — that provide 10, 20, 50, 100 jobs. A hundred such businesses, spread across economic sectors, is preferable to a handful that employ the same combined number of people. One of the latter goes under, and the community takes a big hit. One of the former folds, and the suffering is limited.
Yes, Anderson and the surrounding area have been hit hard by the one-two punch of the first auto industry bailout (to Mexico) and the recent recession. But remember what makes a fighter tough — the experience of taking a punch or two and realizing you need a variety of tactics (some aggressive, some thoughtful) to fight back.
That’s the spirit that east central Indiana must adopt.
Editorials
Editorial: Anderson area needs a varied economy
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Editorial: AHS grad rates moving up, must be pushed ever higher
A diploma is a must, but it has to mean something. Anderson High School must do this the right way, not cutting corners and passing students through classes, but making them accountable for learning the subject matter.
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Editorial: With changes to program, why not begin recycling?
The public has to understand the importance of recycling aluminum and steel cans, cardboard, glass, newspapers and certain plastics. Besides minimizing a community’s waste, recycling saves energy, natural resources and the environment.
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Editorial: Reality returns after Super Bowl mania
While we loved what the Super Bowl did for our reputation, it’s time to get back to the real world. Let’s recap the lost week.
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You Said It: About contract, 'Teen Mom,' State of the City
Each Monday, The Herald Bulletin publishes “You Said It,” a compilation of reader comments from www.theheraldbulletin.com, coupled with responses by the newspaper’s editorial board.
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Editorial: Smith speech shows mayor aiming high
The bottom line in Mayor Kevin Smith’s State of the City address Tuesday during the Anderson Rotary Club’s luncheon at Anderson Country Club was simple: To attract investment, you have to make investments.
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Editorial: Bill offered by state Senate honors Fourth Amendment
No law is ever going to rid domestic situations of their subjectivity, but people have a right to be secure in their homes, and the police need to keep this in mind when they come knocking.
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Editorial: Burton's retirement was overdue
Dan Burton has been a fixture in Indiana politics for nearly a half century. A staunch Republican, Burton made waves in the Statehouse and in Congress, but now it’s over. Burton recently announced his retirement and will not seek re-election in Indiana’s District 5.
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Editorial: Tempered excitement for call-center jobs is prudent
Immediately after city officials announced the location of a new call center in Anderson on Jan. 25, the “Yeah, buts ...” started.
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Editorial: Trigger law would give parents too much power
If the state is going to push for charter schools, it has to be a measured action with plenty of debate. There is a reason why the term trigger-happy has negative connotations. It means a knee-jerk reaction with little thought.
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You Said It: About Grandview, new Colts coach and the APA incident
The Anderson Parks board has created a committee to study options for Grandview Golf Course and its restaurant. (Article published Jan. 17.)
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