Inside Indiana Business says Jeffersonville begins in New Washington, ends in Corydon, and News and Tribune obsequiously wags its tail.

In this 12:30 p.m. update, Ian Hall reports: "They are filming at The Exchange on Monday afternoon during lunch, and I will be part of the interview at Flat 12. I'll do my best to represent the Big NA!"

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Inside Indiana Business always has been a shameless cheerleader for the usual "chamber of commerce" economic development suspects, so naturally we'd expect One Southern Indiana and River Ridge to be the prime targets for the program's field trip to our region.

Which prompts a logical question: How to define "our" region?

Don't ask the News and Tribune to answer this question. The newspaper is far too busy positioning itself as the regional player it really isn't.

As an example of the Indy-centric tone deafness of Inside Indiana Business, consider that when choosing a place to anchor the proceedings, it's an Indianapolis brewery's satellite location (where actual brewing has yet to commence), and not a long-term and truly local business. Naturally, I'm no enemy of Flat12, and I'm speaking not as a director on the Brewers of Indiana Guild, but as a New Albany resident who knows what the word "symbolism" implies.

Also, consider the manner by which the News and Tribune (sickeningly scrambling to insert itself as an "insider") ) frames this: "Southern Indiana" and "Southeastern Indiana." And yet, according to the article itself, everything about the visit will pertain to Jeffersonville (and Clark County) alone.

Apparently no one at the newspaper would think to ask: "But Gerry Dick, if it's about the region as a whole, why is the exclusive focus on one part of the region to the exclusion of the rest?"

Jeeebus -- the usual Koch empowerment suspects, crowding the trough, with the servile News and Tribune filching scraps. That's our daily reality. The only way to change it is from the grassroots up.

Getting down to business in Southern Indiana, by Danielle Grady

SOUTHERN INDIANA — The 17-year-old program Inside Indiana Business has never traveled to Southeastern Indiana for one of its “on the road” specials, but it was the first idea that host Gerry Dick and the show’s staff latched onto this year.

“[Southeastern Indiana’s] a part of the state that has tremendous potential,” said Dick.

Three or four times a year, Inside Indiana Business leaves its Indianapolis studio and abandons the regular format to comprehensively highlight areas of the state for a half-hour show. This year’s schedule includes visits to Northwest Indiana, Fort Wayne and two other unplanned areas, but on Monday, Dick will be heading to Jeffersonville and setting up at Flat 12 Bierwerks.
It was a “no-brainer,” he said.

“When you look at areas that are going to be the next great area ... It might just be Southeast Indiana,” he said.

Inside Indiana Business has already ran stories on the region, but it’s the things happening with the Ohio River Bridges Project, River Ridge Commerce Center and the Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville that have spurred the program to take a prolonged peek.

Dick plans on showcasing several Indiana businesses and areas of economic interest during his trip, including Schimpff’s Confectionery, Weber Group, America Place Business Park, Adrienne and Co. and the aforementioned projects and businesses.

He will interview Jeffersonville Mayor Mike Moore and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer to focus on the combined economic efforts of the cities.

Dick also plans an “insider’s panel” featuring representatives from One Southern Indiana, Jeffersonville government and the News and Tribune.

Are we TIF enough? New study shows that TIFs are "popular but ineffective economic development tools."

But pools ... he didn't say a single word about pools and parks, just factories ... c'mon, tell 'em, Adam ... what was that about Pillsbury ... where's David? DAVID ...

Study: TIFs Have 'Little' Impact, by Dan McGowan (InsideINdianaBusiness.com)

MUNCIE, Ind. (January 29, 2015) - Tax increment financing (TIF) is a popular but ineffective economic development tool for Hoosier communities, and it needs more stringent state oversight, says a new policy brief from Ball State University.

"Some Economic Effects of Tax Increment Financing in Indiana," an analysis of TIF districts in Indiana counties by Ball State's Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER), found that TIFs are associated with less employment, less taxable income and slightly higher tax rates.

Indiana craft beer at Inside Indiana Business.

Inside Indiana Business has taken a good, comprehensive look at the craft brewing industry in Indiana. The report  is predictably solid on the economic development boost for the state, but does not neglect the aesthetic side.

There are eight videos here, and all of them are worth watching. If newer videos have been posted by the time you read this, I suspect these still can be found in the "recent" or "archived" sections.

I regret not being able to participate. A staffer from Inside Indiana Business sent an e-mail request via NABC's web site on-line submission form, but unfortunately, it was routed to another server. Had I been able to be there, you can bet I'd have squeezed in a "death to chains" at least once.

More on artisan distilling legislation in Indiana.

Hoosier artisan distilling legislation was featured on Sunday morning at "Inside Indiana Business" (WTTS 13, Indianapolis).

Omar and Clay Robinson of Sun King Brewing Company were interviewed, and the segment can be viewed here. There's also a poll at the Inside Indiana Business website, asking yes or no to artisan distilling in Indiana. Scroll down to the middle of the page and look for a blue bar that says VIEWPOINT.

I voted yes.

Obviously, the Brewers of Indiana Guild -- of which I'm a board member -- supports this legislation. Rep. Ed Clere has shepherded it through the House, and Sen. Ron Grooms is in favor, too. The guild's executive director provides the following bullet list to member breweries; while reading it, note that mashing grains and fermenting it is a fundamental step both for beer making and distillation (sans hops). Distillation serves to concentrate the alcohol. Whiskies, and most vodkas and gins, are grain-based. Conversely, brandies derive from grapes or fruit, and our friends at Huber already distill from this portal.

• Brewers may not currently hold a distiller's permit under Indiana law.
• Many of your colleagues (and not just the larger breweries) seek the option of distilling to keep them competitive and profitable.
• You may not want to distill right now, but the new law will give your brewery the option to distill in the future.
• This bill would allow brewers to not only produce spirits, but sell them directly to the public onsite (up to 10,000 gallons a year).
• Indiana lags way behind other states in this regard. Your YES vote will help modernize Indiana's bizarre and sometimes archaic alcoholic beverage laws.

The legislation expands economic development opportunities in a fashion consistent with historical precedent, while not making distillation available to any stray carpetbagger with a wad of cash. Participating breweries would have to show a track record before distillation is approved. NABC has no plans to distill any time soon, although the production of beer schnapps might occur some day. This is a good law, and deserves your support.