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.
"We'll make some connections with industries and companies I'm sure that we didn't really imagine. And so we kind of go into this with our eyes open, looking for the opportunities, because we're generally always surprised by what happens and the connections that you make.”
Local officials say the arrangement could bring new capital investment to the area.
GLC Director of Economic Development Jody Hamilton says the partnership is a good fit for the Lafayette area.
"There could be technologies that are coming out of Crane that one of our existing companies can grab ahold of which in turn will give us some new job creation and capital investment in the community."
Interested businesses can get more information from a series of information sessions hosted by Greater Lafayette Commerce. The information sessions will be free and could start as soon as June.