WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A Purdue University Physical Facilities report offers updates on traffic and parking disruptions on and around the West Lafayette campus.

On campus

Reminder: The Y-shaped intersection near Elliott Hall of Music and the Armory is now a three-way stop.

Reminder: On Saturday, July 4th, campus traffic will be congested and parking restricted in some areas for the 2009 Stars and Stripes Celebration and Fireworks at Slayter Center for the Performing Arts. For details and a downloadable map, see http://www.lafayette-online.com/arts-entertainment/2009/06/2009-stars-and-stripes/

At the Gatewood Wing construction site alongside the Mechanical Engineering Building, the approach route for heavy vehicles is now from the intersection of State Street and Marsteller Street, coming north. In the area near Stanley Coulter Hall, pedestrians are to use the west part of Centennial Mall. Construction traffic will use the east part, nearer Wetherill Laboratory. Small golf cart-type vehicles are to avoid both.

Gatewood Wing work in the next two weeks is to include 1) timber lagging; 2) continuing mass excavation. For continued updates and information about this project, go to www.purdue.edu/architect/about/construction/2734.htm.

Parking garage cleaning: At the south half of the University Street Garage, cleaning is to continue through Thursday (July 2). Work is being done from 10:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. Next is the north half of the Northwestern Avenue Garage, scheduled for July 5-20.

Off Campus

State Road 26 West between County roads 300 West (Klondike Road) and 500 West will close July 6 and remain closed until late fall for a sight distance improvement project at both intersections (SR 26 and CR 300W, and SR 26 and CR 500W), both of which will be closed. Vehicles on CR 400W will be able to cross SR 26. Residents along the closed section of SR 26 will have access to their homes. Map (closure locations are approximate): www.purdue.edu/physicalfacilities/travel/pdf/SR26_map.pdf.

The southbound off ramp from Interstate 65 at State Road 43 is to be closed for reconstruction of the ramp. This is at exit 178. The closure may continue until July 13. The detour exit for southbound I-65 is to use Exit 188, go east on State Road 18, then south on State Road 43. This announcement is from the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT).

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Spring weather has been less than favorable for harvesting hay, keeping many Indiana hay producers out of their fields, said Keith Johnson, Purdue Extension forage specialist.

“There was a period in late May that was suitable for harvesting hay, but for whatever reason many producers did not get their hay cut,” he said. “Now producers need to focus on getting the hay harvested. Producers who started in late May are starting their second harvest.”

As of June 14, 23 percent of Indiana’s alfalfa crop was still waiting to be harvested, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agriculture Statistics Service crop and weather report released June 15.

Producers can take steps to make sure they are ready to cut hay when the ideal time comes, Johnson said.

First they should have a properly set mower conditioner that sufficiently crimps the stems and does not bruise the leaves.

“Keep in mind that there are two types of conditioners, a flail and rubber rolls,” Johnson said. “The flail mower is more aggressive with the crop, so using a flail mower on a legume like alfalfa is not recommended because more leaf loss will occur.”

Producers also should consider the optimal time to use a tedder – a fingerlike rake used to fluff hay after it has been laid in a swath. The tedder is an aggressive piece of equipment that is more useful when the hay crop has more than 50 percent moisture content. If the hay crop has a low moisture content and the tedder is used, the hay has a greater potential of losing nutritional value from the leaves.

Making bale silage is another option farmers have, Johnson said. Having the correct amount of wrap, a bale wrapper and baling the hay at 50 percent moisture content is essential to making this happen. Farmers can wrap in a single bale or in a row of bales.

Farmers harvesting their fields the traditional way should consider moisture content. If baling into small rectangular bales, the moisture content should be 20 percent. Large rectangular bales and large round bales should be at 18 percent moisture content. Higher moisture levels will result in moldy hay. Farmers should use a propionic acid preservative, which permits hay to be packaged at a slightly higher moisture content during baling.

After harvesting, the field may need to be fertilized, Johnson said.

“A soil test can tell you what nutrients the forage needs to improve yield and persistence in a perennial crop,” he said.

Along with maintaining the soil of the hay field, insect scouting is important, too.

Producers with alfalfa fields will need to scout for potato leafhopper, an insect carried to Indiana in the spring by weather systems from the southeastern United States. There are alfalfa varieties available that are up to 70 percent resistant to the potato leafhopper.

Because of the isolated and pop-up thundershowers across the state, Johnson encourages producers to check the weather forecast at least twice a day and look at the extended forecast in and outside of their local area.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Indiana high school students in top-finishing teams of the third annual Purdue Research Park Entrepreneurship Academy competition received college tuition vouchers during a special event Friday (June 26).

The vouchers ranged from $100 to $500 and can be used at all Purdue University and Ivy Tech Community College campuses in Indiana. About 50 juniors and seniors from 21 Indiana counties participated in the program.

“Indiana’s and the country’s economy depend upon not only the creation of new innovations and technologies but also their commercialization,” said Gregory W. Deason, vice president for real estate and research park development. “The future entrepreneurs who participated in the Purdue Research Park Entrepreneurship Academy have built upon their critical skills and abilities, which will aid them in college and their careers.”

The weeklong academy was based on Wendy Kennedy’s entrepreneurship program “So what? who cares? why you?”. Kennedy’s program has been adapted by numerous entrepreneurship and educational organizations across North America.

Students formed teams to create business plans and investor presentations for a range of case studies.

First place went to “Impulse,” with team members Jim Schrader of Central Catholic Junior & Senior High School in Lafayette, Anthony Rice of Greenwood High School in Greenwood, Princessa Rennewanz of Logansport High School in Logansport, Nitesh Bajaj, West Lafayette High School in West Lafayette and John Kipfer of Adams Central High School in Bluffton. The team was mentored by Jonathon Gortat of the Purdue Research Foundation’s Office of Technology Commercialization.

“I really learned what it means to create a marketing plan and a business,” said Schrader. “The most important skill I learned was working with people and understanding their strengths and weaknesses and getting the right synergy going.”

Rice of Greenwood High School agreed. “The whole experience left me with an understanding of how much it takes to be a successful entrepreneur,” Rice said.

Rennewanz of Logansport High School was a second-year participant in the academy.

“I feel more confident this year and understand more about what is going on,” she said. “It’s been exciting because there was something different going on every day as we faced new challenges.”

Bajaj, who also was participating in his second year, said, “It was interesting to apply business knowledge to a different product. Last year we had a bicycle and this year it is a medical implant.”

“I had no idea how much technical work goes into creating a business,” added Kipfer.

Purdue University faculty, Purdue Research Foundation staff, industry experts and high-tech business entrepreneurs worked with the teams to test the feasibility of the case studies, identify capital needs and devise a management plan.

“It’s been a busy week, but rewarding especially when you see the light bulb go off in a student’s eyes when you answer their questions,” Gortat said.

Students from second- and third-place teams, their high schools and hometowns are:

Second place: Saar Inc. with team members are David Gerth, Franklin Central High School, Indianapolis; Alexandra Huang, Greenfield Homeschool Co-op, Indianapolis; Caleb Nagel, Benton Central High School, West Lafayette; Briseida Sandoval, Frankfort High School, Frankfort; and Andrew Stearns, Argos High School, Argos. The team was mentored by Shane Fimbel of the Purdue Research Foundation’s Office of Technology Commercialization.

Third place: Petroleum with team members are Greg Burns, Central Catholic High School, Lafayette; Dongyun Lee, Hamilton Southeastern High School, Fishers; Jennifer Park, Bloomington North High School, Bloomington; Aaron Simmons, Shawe Memorial High School, North Vernon; Jacob Stouder, Triton High School, Etna Green; and Shane White, Greenwood High School, Greenwood. The team was mentored by Heather Clark-Reynolds of the Hoosier Heartland Small Business Development Center.

The David E. Ross Award for Entrepreneurial Distinction was presented to Caleb Nagel of Benton Central High School in Oxford, who was part of the HealRight Team that created a company called Saar Inc. “When I came here last week I did not know a single person on my team,” he said. “But when you spend this much time around the clock with people you get to know them pretty well. I have made many new friends through this experience.”

Participating students were from Adams, Allen, Benton, Cass, Clinton, Delaware, Floyd, Gibson, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Howard, Jefferson, Johnson, Lake, Marion, Marshall, Monroe, Tippecanoe and Vanderburgh counties.

Judges for the academy were Brad Addison, Barnes & Thornburg LLP; Jody Hamilton, Greater Lafayette Commerce; John Hertig, AMIPurdue (Alfred Mann Institute for Biomedical Development); Gail Koehler, Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union (PEFCU); and David Shelby, ICx Griffin Analytical.

Academy sponsors included AMIPurdue, Barnes & Thornburg LLP, Camille’s Sidewalk Café, CSO Architects, Dairy Queen, Flowers by Rustic Bouquet, Greater Lafayette Commerce, Holladay Properties, Ice Miller, Knoy Apparel, Lafayette Office Supply, PEFCU, the Purdue Research Foundation and Sign Art Etc.

Other teams participating in the event included:

RipeRight: Emily Bielefeld, Westfield High School, Westfield; Daniel Collins, Floyd Central High School, Floyds Knobs; Niall Lockyear, F.J. Reitz High School, Evansville; Caralyn Rich, Frankfort High School, Frankfort; Bosi Zhang, Hamilton Southeastern High School, Fortville. The team was mentored by Susan Davis of Greater Lafayette Small Business Development Center.

BikeRight: Sadie Brown, Taylor High School, Kokomo; Franklin Eaglebarger, Indiana Academy for Science, Math & Humanities, Cedar Lake; Austin Marcotte, Brownsburg High School, Brownsburg; Vinya Sagi, West Lafayette High School, West Lafayette; Dalton Snyder, Gibson Southern High School, Haubstadt. The team was mentored by Raul Flamenco of FlamencoNets LLC.

DrillRight: Cary Carreño, Frankfort High School, Frankfort; Phillip Foreman, Lake Central High School, Crown Point; George Garrett, Benton Central High School, Pine Village; Grant McAdams, Franklin Central High School, Indianapolis; and Nicolas Spoentgen, Jefferson High School, Lafayette. The team was mentored by Chris Beltran of Passageways.

DiagnoseRight: Madison Donoho, Frankfort High School, Frankfort; Tiffiny Dreibelbis, Argos High School, Bourbon; Keilor Gilbert, Eastern Greene High School, Solsberry; Christopher Nei, Elmhurst High School, Fort Wayne; Carmen Siew, Crown Point High School, Crown Point; and Andrew Thomas, Leo High School, Fort Wayne. The team was mentored by Stroh Brann of Seneca Consulting LLC.

TestRight: Mathew Altepeter, Jefferson High School, Lafayette; Josie Gandy, Frankfort High School, Frankfort; Si Yu Huang, Greenwood High School, Greenwood; Jake Pusateri, Hamilton Southeastern High School, Fishers; and Kyle Yoder, Franklin Central High School, Indianapolis. The team was mentored by Chris McEvoy of Actum Group.

ReadRight: Emmanuel Bravo, Triton High School, Bourbon; Nicole Jancetic, Elmhurst High School, Fort Wayne; Mark Krutolis, West Lafayette High School, West Lafayette; Alex Robinson, Indiana Academy for Science, Math & Humanities, Goshen; and Tom Zhang, Hamilton Southeastern High School, Fortville. The team was mentored by Steve Thalls of ActionCOACH Business Coaching.

WASHINGTON, DC -– In just two year’s time, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Patriot Express Pilot Loan Initiative has supported more than $315 million in loans to more than 3,750 veterans and their spouses who are using the SBA-guaranteed funds to establish and expand their small businesses. As a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which raised loan guarantees to 90 percent, and eliminated fees temporarily, the number of Patriot Express loans increased to record levels in April and May of 2009.

Patriot Express, launched June 28, 2007, builds on the more than $1 billion in loans SBA guarantees annually for veteran-owned businesses, and the counseling assistance and procurement support it provides each year to more than 200,000 veterans, service-disabled veterans and Reserve members.

“This commitment to more than 25 million veterans across the country, and the thousands returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is something we at SBA take seriously,” SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills said. “The Patriot Express initiative, in conjunction with other SBA programs, goes directly to the needs of our veterans who want to start, or already have their own businesses. This critical access to capital helps them grow their businesses and create good paying jobs in their communities.”

Patriot Express is a streamlined loan product based on the agency’s highly successful SBA Express Program, but with an enhanced guaranty and interest rate. The Patriot Express loan is offered by SBA’s network of participating lenders nationwide and features one of SBA’s fastest turnaround times for loan approvals. Loans are available up to $500,000 and qualify for SBA’s maximum guaranty of up to 90 percent.

The Patriot Express loan can be used for most business purposes, including start-up, expansion, equipment purchases, working capital, inventory or business-occupied real-estate purchases. Local SBA district offices will have a listing of Patriot Express lenders in their areas. Details on the initiative can be found at www.sba.gov/patriotexpress

Interest rate maximums for Patriot Express loans are the same as those for regular 7(a) loans: a maximum of Prime + 2.25 percent for maturities under seven years; Prime + 2.75 percent for seven years or more. Interest rates can be higher by two percent for loans of $25,000 or less; and one percent for loans between $25,000 and $50,000.

Patriot Express is available to military community members including veterans, service-disabled veterans, active-duty service members participating in the military’s Transition Assistance Program, Reservists and National Guard members, current spouses of any of the above, and the widowed spouse of a service member or veteran who died during service, or of a service-connected disability.

Patriot Express loans have been approved in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Guam and generally range from $5,000 to $375,000 in individual loan amounts. The average loan amount is almost $85,000. Nearly 15 percent of those loans have gone to military spouses. After loan applications are approved by the bank, they are submitted to SBA for approval. Most applications are approved by SBA within 24 hours.

SBA has veterans’ business development officers in district offices in every state and territory able to provide military community members full access to the SBA’s range of programs and services. There are also eight Veterans Business Outreach Centers located in: Albany, N.Y; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Lynn Haven, Fla.; Edinburg, Texas; Sacramento, Calif.; St. Louis, Mo.; Boston, Mass.; and Flint, Mich.

In addition to district offices, SBA’s resource partners SCORE, Counselors to America’s Small Business, Small Business Development Centers, and Women’s Business Centers provide local and online assistance with: writing a business plan, financing options to start or grow your business, managing the business, expanding the business and selling goods and services to the government.

For those who are already small business owners and who expect call-up, the SBA and its resource partners have expertise to assist with preparing their businesses before deployment, managing their businesses, selling goods and services to the government, obtaining other SBA financing and financial assistance, and obtaining loans for economic injury – Military Reserve Economic Injury Disaster Loans (MREIDL) – Loans of up to $2 million are available for small businesses sustaining economic injury because an owner or essential employee has been called to active duty as a military reservist.

The SBA and its Office of Veterans Business Development (OVBD) provides comprehensive assistance, outreach and support to veterans. Each year the SBA assists more than 200,000 veterans, service-disabled veterans and reservists. Go to www.sba.gov/vets.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The board of directors of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) on Monday, June 22nd, declared a dividend for the third quarter of 2009 of $0.49 a share on outstanding common stock. This is the same dividend as was paid in the first and second quarters and maintains the annual indicated dividend rate for 2009 of $1.96 per share.

The dividend is payable September 10, 2009, to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 15, 2009.