How many of you happened to read the “Business” section of the Sunday Indianapolis Star for Aug. 27, 2006? The author of the lead story, J.K. Wall, wrote a piece called, “Honda: Round 2.” The sub-head read as follows: “The gloves come off again in this border dispute, as Indiana and Ohio go all out in an effort to lure suppliers for automaker’s newest manufacturing facility.”

Honda, it turns out, has major manufacturing facilities not far from Columbus, Ohio, in Marysville, East Liberty, Russells Point, and Anna. It is anticipated that in addition to the 2,000 jobs at the new Honda facility in Greensburg, another 1,000 jobs will be created among Honda suppliers. According to the story, Indiana already has 40 plants that supply Honda. It is anticipated, nevertheless, that “parts suppliers most likely to locate near Greensburg are those that make large, bulky or delicate items. Fewer bulky items can fit on a track, raising shipping costs, and delicate items can get damaged in long transits.”

The folks in Batesville are already starting to salivate over the prospects. “Jody Fledderman, president of Batesville Tool and Die, expects his proximity to the Greensburg plant to bring him new business. He’s already had two visits from Honda officials since Indiana won the new plant. “With freight costs being what they are, and gas costs being what they are, logistics add close to 10 percent to the cost of the part,” said Fledderman, whose company makes various metal parts for Honda. “We’ll have the advantage because we’re only 15 miles away.”

So, help me out here! How far is Rushville away from Greensburg? About 17 miles? Does that put us in an ideal location of suppliers to Honda or what? Here’s what auto expert Jim Rubenstein, a geographer at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, had to say, “Honda’s seat makers are the prime candidates to locate near Greensburg.” Other top prospects, according to the article, “Stamping plants…are also possibilities, as well as windshield and window makers.”

“[Governor] Daniels, Maurer, [Mickey Maurer, Indiana Commerce Secretary], and other officials are scheduled to meet with many suppliers next month when Indianapolis hosts the annual meeting of the Midwest U.S.-Japan Association.” I hope we’re planning to have a group there, including our State Senator, Bob Jackman, and State Representatives Cleo Duncan and Bob Cherry.

Because the race is on for suppliers to Honda, that’s precisely why making State Road 3 into a four-lane highway with a bypass around Rushville is so critical! If we can get that done, we create an easy route between Honda’s Ohio facilities and the new one to be built in Greensburg. It becomes almost a straight shoot between Honda’s Ohio facilities to Interstate 70, then right down State Road 3 to Greensburg – if State Road 3 is widened into four lanes.

This is not a time for lukewarm responses to or support for the possibilities created by the $1.5 billion dollars Honda will spend annually to supply their new Greensburg facility. This is a time for aggressive action by everyone concerned about the future of the economy of this county. With all due respect, Ripley County already is home to Hillenbrand Industries and Bartholomew County is already home to Cummins Engine. It looks very much to me like it’s our turn to land some major suppliers to Honda. The need to widen State Road 3 into four lanes is one of the most obvious necessities I’ve ever seen in my life. The need at the local level to be making contact with Honda suppliers, as the State of Indiana is already doing, has never been more obvious. The necessity for re-prioritizing our economic development goals and objectives has never been more obvious. Nothing should take priority over the expansion of State Road 3. Nothing should take priority over wooing Honda suppliers to locate along an expanded State Road 3. The completion of one practically guarantees the other! And both are needed in Rush County.

There’s another plus for those who care about the preservation of Main Street as it is, which is not to suggest that new water and sewer lines aren’t needed under it. But what won’t be needed if there’s a bypass around the west side of Rushville is widening it to three lanes to help traffic flow. Which route do you think trucks will take if they have the choice between going through town with all the stoplights or going around town on a bypass? Reducing the truck traffic and other traffic just passing through all but eliminates the need to widen Main Street. Putting in new water and sewer lines stays on the “to do” list, but doing it doesn’t require the mauling of Main Street.

The responsibility for taking concerted action now, not later, rests squarely on the shoulders of not only our local and state elected officials, but also on the shoulders of those whose job it is to promote economic development in this county and, frankly, on any other citizen who would like to see the economy of this county grow.

That’s —30— for this week.



Paul Barada’s column normally runs on Monday. Add a comment at www.rushvillerepublican.com.