The Endangered Species Chocolate company could be an example of an Indianapolis marketing campaign.  City leaders promote Indianapolis as a great logistics center, an excellent place for moving products across the country. 

The Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce says “75% of the United States and Canadian population can be reached in one day’s drive.” 

When Endangered Species was in Oregon, the plant was in a 5,000 square foot building.  It has more than 8 times that space now.  The company says it tripled in size in one year just by moving to Indianapolis. 

Sounds like more proof of what realtors look for when selling houses: Location.  Location.  Location.  Apparently, it works for candy, too.

Mayor Greg Ballard has praise for Jerry Sanders, his counterpart in San Diego.  Ballard and Sanders made a little wager on the Colts – Chargers play-off game.  Ballard promised to send Sanders shrimp cocktail from St. Elmo’s steakhouse, if the Colts lost.  Sanders promised what looks like fish tacos from a California restaurant chain and a six pack of beer from a California microbrewery. 

Since the Colts lost, Ballard made good on his promise.  But, Sanders impressed Ballard by sending the San Diego treats.  That was certainly not required by their deal.  Ballard said he’ll remember that when he makes other play-off wagers – that way he can be equally generous when the Colts win.

If the Colts meet the Chargers again, Ballard should send a little promotional material with the next shrimp cocktail.  After reading some web site commentary, people in San Diego couldn’t understand why Indiana would send “frozen shrimp”.    They could use a lesson in the culinary history of Indianapolis.

Members of the Indianapolis Super Bowl committee spent the last few days in Florida.  But, don’t look for tan lines on them.  It appears they were devoted to their homework.  They wanted to study Tampa — to see what they could learn from this year’s Super Bowl.

Tonight at the airport, Mayor Greg Ballard came home saying ”Tampa did a real good job” with the game.  He’s confident that Indianapolis “can do this very, very well.”  Ballard also re-stated the belief that the design of downtown Indianapolis — “a little bit more connected” than downtown Tampa — is an advantage for the 2012 game.

Allison Melangton, the President and CEO of the Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee, said “there were a couple of activities on the beach.  We definitely can’t do that.  But we will find great locations here.”  She said, seeing how Florida did it, will help the Indianapolis committee focus on certain facilities for certain events here.

The city looks to Detroit for advice about planning for snow removal.  The game was at Ford Field in 2006.  Ballard said, by 2012, Indianapolis will have better plows — not just because of the Super Bowl but because “the equipment is getting old and we need to do that.”

The Mayor has faith in Indianapolis.  He said “everything we saw, we can do.”

Current road conditions within the Indianapolis District of the Indiana State Police, which includes Marion, Johnson, Shelby and Boone Counties, are as follows:

• Interstates within District still have patchy snow and slick spots.
• State and U.S. highways are snow covered and slick.
• Secondary roads (county roads) are snow covered (deep snow), slick and extremely hazardous.

Interstates throughout the metropolitan area have greatly improved; however, some lanes are still snow covered with icy patches.

State and U.S. highways are experiencing slow moving traffic.  We expect the current road conditions to continue and remain consistent throughout the evening commute.

Current road conditions within the Indianapolis District of the Indiana State Police, which includes Marion, Johnson, Shelby and Boone Counties, are as follows:

• Interstates within District are snow covered, slick and extremely hazardous.
• State and U.S. highways are snow covered, slick and extremely hazardous.
• Secondary roads (county roads) are snow covered (deep snow), slick and extremely hazardous.

Interstates, State and U.S. highways are experiencing very slow moving traffic. We expect the current road conditions to continue and remain consistent throughout the day.

Troopers assigned to the Indianapolis State Police District have worked a total of 237 (57 of those are from 6A-10A today) crashes/slide offs since the second wave of snow began to yesterday afternoon. No one has been injured in any of the crashes thus far.