Indiana Business Bulletins

Telehealth Helping to Examine Rural Patients for Virus
The Indiana Rural Schools Clinic Network is helping patients in smaller
communities connect with physicians while still practicing social
distancing. The organization is working with healthcare providers in several
rural counties to utilize telehealth technology that had been previously
installed in schools. The network has been the driving force over the past
two years to install telehealth equipment in 34 rural schools throughout the
state.

Elanco Foundation Pledges To Fight Food Insecurity
The recently-formed Elanco Foundation is pledging support for organizations
working to stop food insecurity. The foundation is offering more than
$700,000 to food banks and other organizations across the country.

Ball State Board Approves Paid Leave Plan
The Ball State University Board of Trustees has approved a plan to support
employees who are unable to work because of a COVID-19-related reason. The
university says the Extraordinary Temporary Paid Leave Plan will provide
employees with regular, full pay through June 30 or through their regular
employment period, whichever comes first.

Allison Transmission Awarded Military Contract
Indianapolis-based Allison Transmission has been awarded a contract for
various work for the U.S. Army. The more than $68 million contract covers
new X1100 Abrams transmissions, transmission upgrades, sustainment kits and
service support.

Indy 500 Grand Prix Postponed
The Indianapolis 500 has joined a growing list of major sporting events
impacted by the COVID-29 pandemic. Due to the uncertainty of the outbreak,
officials from INDYCAR and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway have decided to
delay the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, as well as the GMR Grand Prix, from
their original month of May slots until later this summer.

State Working to Provide Benefits
The commissioner of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development says the
state is working to ensure that as many Hoosiers as possible who are out of
work as a result of COVID-19 can receive unemployment insurance benefits.
During a news conference Thursday with Governor Eric Holcomb, Fred Payne
says last week Indiana saw more than 62,000 unemployment insurance claims,
nearly three times the amount for the entire month of January.

Fiat Chrysler Extends Production Shutdown
Automobiles joins the list of automakers extending previously-announced
production suspensions. FCA says its plants across the U.S. and Canada,
including facilities in Kokomo and Tipton, will remain closed until at least
April 14.

Honda Extending Production Suspension
Honda Motor Co. (NYSE: HMC) says it will extend its previously-announced
suspension of production for all of its manufacturing facilities in the U.S.
and Canada. The automaker says the temporary shutdown, which includes the
Honda Manufacturing of Indiana plant in Greensburg, will continue through
April 6.

Richmond Company Making Face Shields for Reid Health
A Richmond plastics company is working to address the shortage of personal
protective equipment in the Wayne County city. Primex Plastics is
manufacturing two types of face shields for clinical staff fighting COVID-19
at Reid Health facilities.

Historical Society Looking to Document Pandemic’s Impact
The Indiana Historical Society has launched an initiative to document the
COVID-19 pandemic and its impact in Indiana. The organization is encouraging
Hoosiers throughout the state to provide input for “Telling Your Story:
Documenting COVID-19 in Indiana.”

Purdue Expert Uses Drones to ‘See’ Perfectly With Sound
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles provide visual and infrared information as they
hover above, but researchers at Purdue University say UAVs, or drones, can
also help self-driving cars and robots to hear and see. Mathematics experts
at Purdue are collaborating with mathematicians from Technical University of
Munich in Germany to show how a drone equipped with four microphones and a
loudspeaker can precisely reconstruct the layout of a room by listening to
echoes.

CarDon Seeking to Help Displaced Workers
A Bloomington-based senior living management company is looking to assist
people who are suddenly out of work due to COVID-19. CarDon & Associates
says it is offering temporary work at its communities throughout the
Midwest.

Lilly Seeing ‘Phenomenally Positive’ Response to Drive-Thru Testing
The chief scientific officer of Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE:
LLY) says the response to the company’s testing of healthcare workers and
first responders for COVID-19 has been phenomenal. Dr. Daniel Skovronsky
says he believes the company is making a big difference in the city by
filling an unmet need. “We’ve heard stories from so many doctors and nurses
and other healthcare workers working at the front lines of COVID-19 who are
worried that they’ve been exposed, that they’re sick, having symptoms and
are unable to get testing.”

PFW Relief Fund for Students Who Lost Jobs to Pandemic
Purdue University Fort Wayne has created a COVID-19 Student Relief Fund for
students who are now without jobs. PFW says approximately nine out of 10
students at the school need to work to cover their education and living
expenses.

Lilly to Delay New Clinical Trials
Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE: LLY) is updating its clinical
trial activities due to the coronavirus pandemic. The company says it will
delay the start of most new studies and pause enrollment in most ongoing
studies, however it will continue ongoing clinical trials for patients who
are already enrolled.

GM Eyeing Kokomo for Ventilator Production
General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) is considering the possibility of building
ventilators at its facility in Kokomo, according to a report from Reuters.
The report says the automaker is looking to produce the ventilators through
a partnership with Washington-based Ventec Life Systems.