Lafayette, Indiana — Savvy Spot For Distribution
Reprinted in part from Expansion Solutions

“It takes more than one hand to count all the reasons why Lafayette, Indiana, makes the perfect choice for warehousing, distribution and logistics facilities,” says Cindy Kelly, acting executive director of the Lafayette-West Lafayette Economic Development Corporation.

For starters, she sites the community’s diverse and large manufacturing base, its crossroads-of-America location and Interstate 65, which runs right through it, connecting the community with Chicago and Indianapolis. Add to those perks even more: the Hoosier education and work ethic, Lafayette’s focus on growth, affordable cost of doing business, financial incentives, and the communities highly rate business climate.

Strong Manufacturing Sector
Long a manufacturing stronghold, Lafayette boasts some 100 manufacturing and industrial firms who employ about a third of the workforce. Among the top manufacturers are Wabash National, Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., Caterpillar, Lilly Tippecanoe Laboratories, Alcoa, Fairfield Manufacturing, and Rea Magnet Wire. Their products range from truck trailers to vehicles, large diesel and gas engines, pharmaceuticals, extruded aluminum, gears, cornstarch and fructose, and wire. “That’s a lot of incoming materials as well as outgoing product,” Kelley notes. “And there are a variety of products.”

Rated High for Business Climate
Kelley’s claims that the community boasts an educated, dedicated workforce, priced-right cost of doing business and all-around good business climate are regularly substantiated by independent recognition. The most recent was being named to the Forbes magazine list of Top 25 Best Small Metro Areas for Good Business Climate. It measured business costs, workforce education levels, job and income growth, crime rate, culture and leisure, and cost of living. “We came in at Number 23 out of 168 communities,” Kelley says. “We think that’s quite a calling card for logistics businesses looking for a community with potential.” Other community leaders agree, citing a broader commitment at work in Lafayette. “There is an attitude of excellence fostered throughout our community from government, schools and civic organizations,” says Dennis Carson, director of the City Redevelopment Department and Lafayette Urban Enterprise Association. “We have a very proactive attitude of striving for excellence. We understand the competitive nature of business and how we as a community have to compete locally, nationally and globally. We make sure we are taking advantage of any programming that can help create a better business climate and give our community a competitive advantage.” “I think our good business climate is a result of our community’s can-do attitude,” says Gary Henriott, chief executive officer of the Henriott Group and chairman of the economic development organization’s board. “We pull together and address community issues. And we’ve been able to maintain it over many years. We have pride and a belief that we can control our community’s destiny and make things better. And our industrial leaders get involved; our corporations are in touch with what is going on here. That’s part of the genius of this community.”

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