Business

Indiana added 8,200 private sector jobs in January. The state Department of Workforce Development reports that’s the 19th consecutive month of job growth.

Still, the unemployment rate rose 0.3% to 8.6% for January. Officials say it’s due to more Hoosiers entering the labor force, and a large number of those returning to look for work.

Locally, the jobless rate increased 1.6% in Lafayette, which now has a rate of 9.8%. Unemployment in West Lafayette climbed from 5.6% to 6.3% during January.

Economic development efforts in Frankfort will take on a more focused approach soon. The city is completing a document for strengthening current businesses and industries, and encouraging more to set-up shop.

Mayor Chris McBarnes says job creation is one goal, but so is providing a stable environment for the downtown and neighborhoods.

Ten-thousand square feet of an old auto-body shop in downtown Lafayette will be transformed into a Coworking site. The space is in the Stein Building at the southeast corner of Sixth and South streets.

Purdue’s vice president for marketing and media is leaving the university. Teri Lucie Thompson has accepted a similar position with the University of Arizona.

She came to Purdue in August of 2008 and led a restructuring of the university’s marketing effort, including a new branding campaign.

Thompson oversaw marketing and research, strategic communications, media relations and WBAA.

President Mitch Daniels says announcements about the future structure and leadership of marketing and media operations will be made during the next few weeks.

A Lafayette manufacturer is expanding with a new product line. Voestalpine Rotec is installing $1.4 million in new equipment, so it can make air bag propellant tubes.

President Andrew Ball says the demand comes from the world’s leading supplier of automotive safety restraint systems. He says the company is an existing customer.

Ball says hiring for the ten new positions will begin soon. The two new production lines are expected to be operating in June.