As the largest community in west central Indiana, Terre Haute is a metropolitan, family-friendly area with a very diverse economy. The city’s largest employers include U.S. and Japanese companies, such as Advanced Intelligent Chassis Systems, Sony DADC, Steel Dynamics, GE Aviation and Hearthside Foods.
Another significant sector of the economy is higher education. Terre Haute features four higher-education institutions, including Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, which has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges Guide as the top undergraduate institution for engineering, math and science in the country for the 21st straight year.
In the manufacturing sector, Steel Dynamics is one of Terre Haute’s most cited success stories. From its original 74,300-square-meter facility, SDI rolls out light-gauge galvanized and cold-rolled steel products.
“From the time the first shovel went into the ground to the time the first coil of steel came out of the door, it took only 14 months,” said Terre Haute Economic Development Corp. President Steve Witt.
To accommodate the construction of Steel Dynamics’ facility, Vigo County built a 4-kilometer-long, 25-centimeter-thick reinforced concrete thoroughfare through its industrial park as well as nearly 1,600 meters of new rail line and other significant infrastructure.
“To do all that in just 14 months, I think it was tremendous. That demonstrates our ability to get things done,” Witt said.
