A company that makes child car seats has opened a new technical center in southern Indiana where it will develop and test the safety devices.

Dorel Juvenile Group on Thursday unveiled the $3.6 million center that involved the renovation of 40,000 square feet at its Columbus plant, where it makes 90 percent of its car seats and has about 850 workers. The Republic newspaper reported that the company expects to hire about 25 people for design, engineering and development jobs at the center.

“The new technical center encompasses everything necessary to conceive, build and test car seats in one ultramodern, state-of-the-art facility,” said Dave Taylor, president of Dorel Juvenile Group USA.

The center’s opening was the first part of a planned $21 million expansion in Columbus by Dorel.

‘Toy Story’ star Allen to pitch for Chevrolet

The star of “Home Improvement” and the “Toy Story” movies is becoming a pitchman for Chevrolet.

General Motors Co. says Tim Allen will be a spokesman for the brand and will star in a series of TV ads for the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze that begin airing Tuesday.

Allen, 57, is best-known for playing a tool buff in the TV series “Home Improvement.” He was also the voice of Buzz Lightyear in the “Toy Story” trilogy.

The Cruze ads will feature voiceovers from Allen and will compare the Cruze with competitor models. The Cruze, a compact sedan, is a key vehicle for GM as it aims to compete in the small-car segment.

Eddie Merlot’s plans Louisville steakhouse

Upscale steakhouse Eddie Merlot’s plans to open a restaurant in downtown Louisville, Ky., in January, the Fort Wayne chain’s fifth location.

Bruce Kraus, Eddie Merlot’s director of operations, said the company is growing cautiously. The chain, founded in 2001, operates locations in Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio.

Denver, Chicago, Pittsburgh and Cleveland are among the cities on the restaurant chain’s wish list for future sites, but none of those deals has been finalized. The next location might be in a city not even on the list.

“In today’s economy,” Kraus said, “deals present themselves in funny ways.”

Regional utility could become part of NIPSCO

Northern Indiana Fuel & Light filed a proposal with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to become part of Northern Indiana Public Service Co.

Both are owned by Merrillville-based NiSource Inc.

Northern Indiana has 36,000 customers throughout Allen, DeKalb, Steuben, Noble and LaGrange counties.

Plans are to restructure Northern Indiana’s base rates for natural gas to provide customers with the same programs now offered by NIPSCO.

Officials said the consolidation will enhance customer programs and products and further integrate management and administrative functions to improve customer service, maximize the use of available resources and more effectively manage both utilities.