Division of SBDC incubates, helps network for developing companies

By Stacy Silvers
Published May 7, 2006

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39 Degrees North are Geographic Information Consultants (GIS) and they create digital maps and mapping software. Chris Walls, president and senior GIS consultant, was born in Bloomington, but moved away and returned later to attend IU where he received his degree in geography.

Walls worked for the Indiana Geological Survey on campus for five years, which is where he met his two business partners, Prem Radhakrishnan and Alex Zlotin.

“We saw a growth and need for GIS so we decided to start a company and we’ve been in business for about a year and a half,” Walls said.

The Monroe County government is 39 Degrees North’s biggest client. They are currently working together to develop an online mapping tool. The general public, realtors, county employees and other community members can use their online mapping tool in their jobs to answer questions and it makes their jobs more efficient and easier, Walls said.

The tool that 39 Degrees North is currently working on works like other programs, such as Google Earth, because it shows satellite views of the county and it allows you to click on the maps to zoom in and see the land more clearly.

But the website will offer more tools. Visitors will be able to search properties, either currently owned or vacant land that they can build on, as well as tax and property information about anyone in the county by searching their last name. The tool will be useful for emergency management and will assist local developers.

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Walls also acknowledged how helpful the SBDC has been with the development of 39 Degrees North. Besides providing contacts and office space, SBDC provided marketing consultation and promoting for 39 Degrees North, Walls said.

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Throughout the past year that 39 Degrees North has been working on their mapping tool, the three partners have spent much of the time in different countries, with Radhakrishnan spending time in Indiana and Zlotin in Canada. They have been able to work on the same project and communicate through e-mail to achieve their common goal.

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