HCUED Participates in Annual JASI Gala June 24, 2011 Report HCUED Participates in Annual JASI Gala June 24, 2011 Contact: Mark Wickersham Huntington, Indiana (260) 356-5688 Huntington-- Jessica Howell, newly hired Economic Development Associate for Huntington County Economic Development attended the Japan-American Society of Indiana's Annual Gala on Friday evening, June 17th. The event was sponsored by Duke Energy and Eli Lilly and Company and featured Japanese astronaut Dr. Koichi Wakata, as well as a performance by the Genki Band from Columbus, Indiana, with special guest Japanese consulate George Hisaeda from Chicago. Perhaps the most encouraging part of the evening was the briefing regarding Indiana's support in the earthquake relief efforts in Japan. Indiana is in the top four states in donating to the efforts, thus far contributing a total of $863,058.00. "The evening was filled with great entertainment and it was wonderful to see such a turnout to celebrate the convergence of American and Japanese cultures," concluded Howell. Huntington County’s first major investment by a Japanese company is in progress as Tokyo-based Marubeni Corporation’s Helena Chemical Company has begun construction of a regional distribution, blending and packaging terminal for agricultural fertilizer.