Grow Dubois County, Purdue Technical Assistance Program aim for growth

Wyatt Stayner, Staff Writer, (Jasper) Herald

Tuesday, March 17, 2015 6:19 AM

Grow Dubois County will continue to partner with the Purdue Technical Assistance Program for the next five years, the groups announced Monday.

Purdue TAP, an organization that helps Indiana businesses through growth, increased profits and cost savings, will receive $250,000 of funding from Grow Dubois County over the next five years.

“We look forward to the extension of the partnership with Purdue TAP,” said Ed Cole, President of Dubois Strong, the economic engine under which Grow Dubois County operates. “The work (local Purdue TAP account manager) Adam Auffart has done within Dubois County linking our companies with the resources of Purdue University has been extremely beneficial in terms of economic impact.”

Since 2012, Purdue TAP has helped generate $33 million in local investment, working with companies such as Jasper Rubber, German American Bancorp and RideTech. The $33 million in local investment is comprised of $30.4 million in increased and retained sales, $2.2 million in cost savings and $742,000 in investment. Purdue TAP has also affected 269 jobs in Dubois County.

Purdue TAP’s work in the area includes assisting German American with problem-solving training for employees. German American aimed use the same-problem solving tools employed within the manufacturing industry for problems encountered in the service industry to become more “efficient in their processes,” Auffart said. To facilitate that effort, Purdue TAP created a course and trained employees. In the class, students were divided into eight teams, working on projects related to the service industry and their company. German American has estimated an initial cost savings of more than $100,000. Most of the projects related to time saving, not money.

Purdue TAP also helped Jasper Rubber educate employees on how to eliminate waste, streamline processes and improve quality in manufacturing. Jasper Rubber estimates the instruction will lead to 15 to 20 percent savings in certain areas of production.

“I am excited to continue working directly in Dubois County bringing Purdue’s programs to the doorsteps of many wonderful organizations,” said Auffart, Southwest Indiana account manager for Purdue TAP. “We have been very successful the past three years and I will continue to ensure that success continues.”

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Editor, John C. DePrez Jr.; Executive Editor, Carol Rogers; Publishers: IBRC and IAR