Lafayette, Indiana Keeps Big Employers and Grows New Start-Ups

For a mid-size community, Lafayette, Indiana has several large employers. The community has done a much better than average job of retaining these employers and helping them to expand. This is not easy in this day and age of changing economics, with increasing pressure to move major manufacturing facilities offshore.

Take a look at this list of Lafayette-based employers:

- Purdue University, 13,831 jobs
- Wabash National Corp., 3,500
- Greater Lafayette Health Services, 2,600
- Subaru of Indiana, Inc., 2,566
- Caterpillar Tractor, 1,450
- Eli Lilly & Company, 1,200

In addition, the community is seeing the birth of several university spin-off companies. These are positive signs that I saw during my recent visit to Lafayette and Purdue. I was also very impressed with the way in which the Lafayette Progress Inc. (LPI) approaches relationship management with companies. Mike Brooks, the CEO, was telling me about how we works with existing and local companies. It's a smart model that works on building ongoing relationships with companies, which are evolving in nature and customized to the company's needs. Most importantly, LPI delivers on their promises.

Lafayette has also done a very good job of redeveloping its downtown area, which contains a good mix of retail businesses and is an interesting and pleasing place to shop, dine, and entertain.

Visit Lafayette Progress, Inc. here to learn more.