INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – A new study declares Indiana's business-recruitment agency is effective even though the researcher says he didn't review how many jobs were actually created by companies receiving state assistance.
 
Ball State University business research director Michael Hicks says the study looked at various services the Indiana Economic Development Corp. offers to companies. It also reviewed the amount of state money spent on services such as workforce preparation and tourism and the geographic distribution of economic projects.
 
Hicks tells The Indianapolis Star the $85,000 study wasn't intended as a job-creation audit and pointed out companies can only collect state tax credits based on hiring of employees.
 
The agency has faced criticism for not requiring companies that receive tax incentives to disclose how many jobs they've created.