Business

Thirty-three Purdue employees are losing their jobs. The layoffs affect the university’s Printing Services. A news release cites an expected $700,000 deficit by the end of the fiscal year.

The 33 employees will work until May 3 and will receive medical benefits for four months after that. They also will have priority consideration for other job openings on campus.

Printing Services will continue to operate with 15 employees. Purdue is continuing a separate review evaluating system-wide university printing needs and options for addressing those needs.

The U.S. Navy may soon get some of its equipment from companies in Tippecanoe and surrounding counties.

The Naval Surface Warfare Center’s Crane Division and Greater Lafayette Commerce have agreed to collaborate on the effort. GLC will facilitate connections between the Navy and technology producers in the area.

Brian Blackwell is director of engagement for the Center in southern Indiana. He says the Navy could get such things as sensors and radio transmitters from Greater Lafayette, but it won’t stop there.

A small company in the Purdue Research Park is getting some big financial help. Medtric Biotech won a $150,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

It’s designed to help small businesses finish development and commercialize of their product.

Medtric Biotech is working on a new type of antiseptic that targets bacteria which are antibiotic-resistant. President Sean Connell says their product would help patients being infected with potentially life-threatening bacteria.

Indiana continued its trend of private sector job growth in February, adding 5,800 jobs. And for the second month in a row, the state’s labor force grew, including 3,800 unemployed Hoosiers who began looking for work again.