LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The entry deadline for the December 6th Lafayette Christmas Parade is approaching quickly. Monday, November 16th marks the deadline for all entries. The entry fee is $10 for nonprofits and $25 for corporate entries.

To register for the parade, groups and bands must complete the applicable entry form (there is one for groups and a different form for bands) and either drop them off at 337 Columbia Street, Lafayette IN, or mail them to: Greater Lafayette Commerce, P.O. Box 348, Lafayette, IN 47902

Download Entry Forms

• Band Entry Form
• Float/Group/Business Entry Form
• 2009 Lafayette Christmas Parade Rules

“I’ll Be Home for Christmas” is the 2009 theme and will be lead by co Grand Marshals Jim and Wes Shook of the Shook Agency. Float entries have the opportunity to win prizes in three different categories depending on the quality of the float and how well it applies to the theme. The parade is in its fifth decade of existence and is the largest holiday parade in the state of Indiana.

The Parade will follow a slightly different route this year. In order to incorporate more of the downtown community the Christmas Parade will begin at 10th and Main Streets in Lafayette and will conclude at Tapawingo Drive and Brown Street in West Lafayette. There will be viewing area on the upper block on 11th Street as well. All businesses are welcome to open their doors and entertain parade patrons.

The Christmas Parade is part of the Holiday Weekend which also features Dickens of a Christmas and The Community Light & Sing in Downtown Lafayette-West Lafayette. The weekend is sponsored by Lafayette Savings Bank and hosted by Greater Lafayette Commerce.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Kids, youth, and others are invited to participate in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Those interested in participating should plan to attend the rehearsal call-out session on Thursday, October 29th at 6:30p at the Tippecanoe Arts Federation, 638 North Street, Lafayette (enter the side door and go to the lower level).

The annual Dickens of a Christmas will be held in Downtown Lafayette-West Lafayette on Saturday, December 5 from 10:00a–9:00p. During this event, scenes from A Christmas Carol are enacted at various sites throughout the Downtown Lafayette.

Practice sessions are ready to begin.

Questions should be directed to Jane Ness at Greater Lafayette Commerce, 765/742-4044 or Peg Black, Dickens players’ coordinator, at 765/742-8619.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Downtown Lafayette will be transformed into a winter wonderland this Saturday (Oct 31) when volunteers install holiday lights, banners and decorations.

Nearly one hundred volunteers from the IBEW Local 668 (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) and the NECA (National Electrical Contractors Association) will install special lighting on the Tippecanoe County courthouse dome, Riehle Plaza, the community tree, and other places throughout downtown. Holiday banners and lighted snowflakes will be installed on light poles as well.

The lighting effort, organized by Greater Lafayette Commerce and sponsored by Lafayette Savings Bank, Cook Medical and Landis + Gyr, will take place Saturday, October 31 beginning at 8:00 am.

The decorations will remain unlit until the official Holiday Lighting Celebration and Community Sing on Saturday, December 5th. The lighting ceremony will follow the last scene from A Christmas Carol at the conclusion of Dickens of a Christmas between 5:25-6:00 pm.

The holiday decorations will remain lit through the first of the new year.

Dickens of a Christmas will be in Downtown Lafayette-West Lafayette from 10:00 am – 9:00 pm on December 5.

Other upcoming holiday events include Merchant Holiday Open House on November 13 and 14 and the Christmas Parade on December 6. For more information, please contact Jane Ness or Erin Nelson at GLC, 765/742-4044.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The 5^th Annual Uptown Jazz & Blues Festival hosted by Greater Lafayette Commerce and presented by Lafayette Bank and Trust will be held on Saturday August 22, 2009 from 5:00pm to midnight in the 5^th Street Farmers Market area between Columbia and Main Streets in downtown Lafayette. The official “After Party” will be held at Indiana’s Oldest Bar, the Knickerbocker Saloon, from midnight to 3:00am.

The annual Jazz & Blues Festival features “hot blues and cool jazz” on three stages and a variety of food from local eateries.

Advance tickets are $8 for adults, $12 at the door. Children 12 to 5 are $5 and under 5 free. Uptown Jazz and Blues Festival advance tickets are available at the locations listed on the community calendar.

Historic downtown Lafayette adds to the ambience of this festival and the mood of the music.

“Downtown is our community living room,” says Dennis Carson, Director of the Downtown Development Council. “It is not only a destination for commerce and government but a place where we gather with friends, family and visitors to share and celebrate greater Lafayette.”

Mayor Tony Roswarski adds, “Residents and visitors can make a full day of it by visiting the many shops, restaurants and galleries downtown including Indiana’s oldest farmers market and then spend the evening with great entertainment.”

Entertainment will feature imported and domestic talent selected by Lafayette Bank and Trust Vice President and local musician Mark Molter and Charlie Hoovler, Jazz and Blues aficionado and owner of Life Employment. There will be three stages of continuous music to enjoy throughout the night.

Souled Out Band

“We have another exceptional band line-up this year.  We are excited to have the Souled Out Band from the Muncie area headline the festival.  They are an 11 piece soul, funk, and rhythm & blues band that are recognized as one of the best party and dance bands in the Midwest.  Their trademark is their always hot and energetic horn section.  We also are pleased to have one of Indy’s finest jazz bass players, Frank Smith, back again this year.  Joining Frank is renowned vibraphonist, Dick Sisto and Sonny Rollins guitarist, Bobby Broom,” says Molter.

The evening will start with Lafayette-based Big Swing Band on the Back Alley Stage sponsored by Electricom. Big Swing Band is sure to get you out of your seat and moving to their big sound of 1930s swing jazz. The funky side of blues will hold center court with Fremont Jackson’s Funky-Blu-va-Tron. Be ready to end the night dancing under the stars with the fun, soulful sound of Souled Out Band as they close out the evening on the Back Alley Stage.

Lafayette's Big Swing Band

On the Promenade Stage, sponsored by Carl E. Most & Son, the night kicks off with local Jazz legend the Danny Weiss Quartet. Frank Smith & the Jazz Giants will wrap up the night on the Promenade Stage with legendary double bassist Frank Smith leading a talented group including, Sonny Rollins guitar player, Bobby Broom playing classics from the bebop era of Jazz.

The Time Out Lounge, sponsored by Keramida, will feature three local bands ranging from smooth and smoky Jazz to gritty Blues. The opening act is the Delphi Saxophone Quartet demonstrating their prowess of the saxophone with cool jazz. The Hot Club of Colfax will take listeners back to the revolutionary 1920s and 1930s era of Paris jazz. Their gypsy jazz sound mingles with string and western influences to create a unique experience. At the end of the night get ready to switch gears to Mississippi Delta Blues and jam with Blind Boy and the CNI Dawg.

The evening doesn’t end at midnight, however, music lovers can continue jamming at the Knickerbocker Saloon “After Party” with Uncle Buck’s Mojo Box. This band of local rockers will keep everyone dancing with their electrifying blues.

Back Alley Stage

• Big Swing Band
• Fremont Jackson’s Funky-Blu-va-Tron
• Souled Out Band

Promenade Stage

• Danny Weiss Quartet
• Frank Smith & The Jazz Giants

Time Out Lounge

• Delphi Saxophone Quartet
• The Hot Club of Colfax
• Blind Boy & the CNI Dawg

The Knickerbocker Saloon “After Party”

• Uncle Buck’s Mojo Box

Food and beverage are always a popular part of summertime events, and this year is no exception. Greater Lafayette’s favorite local dining establishments will be on-hand to fill bellies and quench thirsts. This year will feature cuisine from Arni’s, Spurlock’s, Bea One, D & R Market, Sgt. Preston’s, Cold Stone Creamery, Skylight Coffeehouse, and Kathy’s Kandies. Unique beers and wine will be provided by Sgt. Preston’s. Two in-event restaurants will be serving up great dishes with your jazz and blues, the Knickerbocker Saloon and Bistro 501.

Event Chairman Tom Gall states this is one of his personal highlights each year.

“I have been chairing this event for the past several years because it’s really great fun. Every year we see if we can do better than the last and I think this year we have a line-up second to none. The caliber of musicians is outstanding with several legends of the jazz world. And we have local musicians that have quite a following and are recognized by their peers and others. Add to this great food and libations what more could you ask for?”

To make it easy and convenient Gall notes that credit cards will also be accepted for food and beverage tickets.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A new business and 600 new jobs are coming to Greater Lafayette. The announcement was made at a news conference earlier today (May 27) at the Holiday Inn City Centre.

Chino, California-headquartered Alorica Inc., a customer service management firm serving Fortune 500 clients in electronics, wireless services and other consumer industries, is investing $3 million to remodel and equip a 49,000-square-foot facility it will lease on eight acres at 181 Sagamore Parkway South in Lafayette. The site was formerly occupied by Silent Thunder.

Alorica customer service representatives take calls in the Topeka, KS call center. (Photo courtesy Topeka Capitol-Journal)

The Lafayette contact center is opening to serve a telecommunications industry client. Remodeling is underway, and the center will open as soon as construction is complete.

“When Greater Lafayette Commerce began working with Alorica last October, we quickly realized that this is a company we wanted in our community,” said Jody Hamilton, director of economic development.

“In its 10-year history, Alorica has landed key business with communications industry giants and grown rapidly. Its own business success, however, isn’t its only focus,” Hamilton said. “Alorica realizes that its premier customer service-delivered by well-trained, motivated and loyal employees-is its secret to success. We eagerly welcome a company known for treating its employees well and becoming a true part of the communities where it operates.”

West Lafayette’s KJG Architecture designed the facility renovations; Alorica is working with local contractors and suppliers as much as possible, she said.

Welcoming Alorica to Lafayette, Mayor Tony Roswarski said, “Bringing a major new employer to town is great news, especially when it’s a well-established, growing company known for first-rate service, cutting-edge operations and a focus on providing employees with paid training, fair wages, good benefits and long-term security. The name of the game is ‘jobs,’ and in today’s challenging times, posting a big win like this on Lafayette’s employment scoreboard is a just reward for the hard-working folks here,” Roswarski said.

The City of Lafayette and Tippecanoe County are providing training funds.

Local assistance also includes tax-increment-financing and economic development income tax monies to assist in purchasing a generator from Caterpillar, fiber, cabling, electrical work and parking lot improvements.

“Tippecanoe County government believes that helping to provide training is an investment that will pay a great return,” said John Knochel, president of the Tippecanoe County Commission. “Local residents will master new skills in technology, learn important customer service techniques, and take home both earnings and benefits. It’s a door of opportunity and we’re helping to open it for hundreds of people in our county.”

The State of Indiana is providing performance-based tax credits, training assistance and funding for some infrastructure improvements.

Mike Gibson, chairman of the Greater Lafayette Commerce board of directors, said, “We call our community ‘The Place of Choice,’ and Alorica’s decision to invest $3 million in capital expenditures for its contact center and put some 600 people to work here certainly demonstrates that, indeed, we are the place of choice. Our workforce is eager to master and use new skills.
Alorica is ready to grow. And we’re proud to partner with them as they continue their skyrocketing success.”

How to Apply for Alorica Jobs
Applicants for Alorica Inc. contact center jobs must have a high school diploma or GED and basic typing skills; sales and customer experience are important. Alorica also will hire management and support staff. Paid benefits will include health insurance, retirement, vacation, sick time, holiday pay and tuition reimbursement.

Those interested must register and submit a resume online at www.indianacareerconnect.com. Computers are available for free use at local libraries or WorkOne, 820 Park East Blvd., Lafayette. That may be done now.
Applicants should check back at the website after June 1, when Alorica is expected to be listed as an employer option, and indicate their interest in that company.