Page 9 - Eric Learned News Today

A bill that would allow Indiana tech parks to capture a larger share of tax revenue is poised to become law after the Senate voted unanimously Monday to advance the legislation to the governor's office.

In 2020, the city diverted only about 15% of all residential, commercial, industrial and construction waste from landfills, through a combination of recycling and composting. That was far below the U.S. rate of around 35%.

The high-stakes battle pits the Humane Society of the United States and its efforts to protect animals against some national pet store chains, which say they simply want to be able to continue to sell puppies from USDA-licensed breeders.

The agency tasked with this growing responsibility is the Indiana Destination Development Corp., a quasi-government entity formed in 2019—in the mold of the Indiana Economic Development Corp.—to replace the Office of Tourism Development.

Patricia Martin, the group’s president and CEO since 2019, last month announced she would step down to examine opportunities in the private sector and urged industry leaders to take a fresh look at the organization.

Zionsville native Mark LaFay founded Old Major in 2016, developing a hobbyist’s pursuit into a business that sells meat online, at farmers markets and to restaurants.

The Indianapolis company specializes in selling vintage-themed T-shirts to fans of 150 universities, and surprising storylines have become a sure thing in the 68-team NCAA tournament.

Vibenomics, which has raised about $32 million in investment capital since its 2016 launch, is now owned by Austin, Texas-based Mood Media, a much larger player in marketing tech field.

Indianapolis-based Steak n Shake has spent $50 million to eliminate table service at its restaurants in favor of self-service ordering—an investment the company says has allowed it to regain profitability after three straight years of losses.

A $2.6 million grant from the Indiana Department of Education, announced Feb. 21, will help expand a program offered by the IUPUI Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering.