BEDFORD, Ind. (Oct. 23, 2017) Radius Indiana announced today its support for the Midstate Corridor, which is planned as an interstate-level route connecting U.S. Highway 231 in southern Dubois County to a point along I-69 in the north.

Also known as the I-67 Corridor, the proposed highway would increase connectivity in the eight-county Radius region, create opportunities for economic development, and add valuable new infrastructure to the region’s list of economic assets.

“A new Midstate Corridor would provide a powerful economic engine for rural southwest central Indiana. Our region would attract more businesses and existing companies would expand. We could expand the workforce due to easier commutes, and bring more tourists to our world-class attractions,” said Former Indiana Lt. Gov. and Chair of the Radius Indiana Board of Directors Becky Skillman.

The regional initiative led by OFS Brands President and CEO Hank Menke has been working to set up the groundwork for the connection since 2012; Menke leads the I-67 Development Corporation. The group is now spearheading growth of a Regional Development Authority in order move the project up on the priority list with the Indiana Department of Transportation.

The State Legislature passed a bill this year that allows municipalities participating in a regional development authority to create a fund specifically for regional infrastructure projects – such as the Midstate Corridor. The legislation also permits RDAs to apply for federal FASTLANE grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation, which fund road and bridge projects.

“We have taken another important step in the recent formation of the Midstate Corridor Regional Development Authority, which will allow local investment to partner with INDOT to drive the necessary planning and construction of this important four-lane limited access highway through Dubois and other area counties to eventually connect to I-69,” said Menke.

While no final route has been established, the corridor was named a Tier 2 project by the state’s Blue Ribbon Commission in 2014, a committee that determined which transportation projects needed to be done and when they should be completed. Tier 2 projects are targeted for completion in six to eight years.

“We applaud the work of the I-67 group and its tireless efforts for the Midstate Corridor. We will continue to monitor the project’s progress and its impact on our region as proposed routes are studied. Finally, we look forward to being partners with others in the region to help improve the prospects for action on this highway,” said Radius Indiana President and CEO Jeff Quyle, who will join the private sector I-67 Development Corporation Advisory Board.

ABOUT RADIUS INDIANA: Radius Indiana is a regional economic development partnership representing eight counties in Southern Indiana: Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Orange, and Washington. Formed in 2009, Radius Indiana also serves as a point of contact in Indiana for Naval Support Activity Crane and leads regional collaboration by leveraging the diverse assets of Southwest Central Indiana to drive attraction, retention and expansion of business, thereby increasing employment and investment opportunities and quality of life within the region.

BEDFORD, Ind. (Oct. 19, 2017) — Radius Indiana economic development leaders took information and insights about their southern Indiana region to Indianapolis for a day as hosts of an educational session for site selectors from six companies. The October session is part of Radius’s 2017 outreach program to raise awareness about the business strengths and opportunities in the eight-county region.

The leaders from Southern Indiana spoke to business advisors about available sites and buildings in the region, as well as the demographics and the quality of the workforce that powers the existing businesses in the eight counties.

Radius Indiana President and CEO Jeff Quyle welcomed the group with an overview of the regional assets available to companies looking to locate in the area such as WestGate@Crane Technology Park and the I-69 Corridor. Other Radius staff members, and five local economic development leaders from Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Martin, and Washington counties joined Quyle to discuss the latest developments in the regional economy.

“This event allowed us to showcase the region and our individual communities to a group of premier site selectors in Indiana. I was able to share information about Martin County’s scenic beauty, as well as the technology and innovation that guide our community, which truly make Martin County a place where nature and tech connect,” said Tim Kinder, executive director of the Martin County Alliance for Economic Growth.

Kinder added that the Radius outreach events facilitate promotion of the entire region and help counties that have often been overlooked raise awareness for economic development initiatives.

Among those site selectors in attendance was Indianapolis-based KSM Location Advisors, which works with companies across the country to maximize state and local incentive packages and help them make fully informed location decisions.

“This lunch was simply a great event,” said Garth Brazelton, chief operating officer for KSM Location Advisors. “It was a great venue to get updates from Radius and the local economic development organizations about their sites and the bright economic future for Southern Indiana.”

Representatives from the region’s counties have taken an active role in the Radius outreach program this year, and plans are already underway to schedule more site selector events for 2018 as a regional team.

“The local leaders do a very good job of presenting information about their community assets to these business advisers, and they also expand their own network of contacts who they can work with on an ongoing basis,” Quyle added.

BEDFORD, Ind. (Oct. 10, 2017) – Radius Indiana’s economic outreach included traversing two states in three days last week to meet with site selectors and business advisers.

Radius first made a stop in Cincinnati and then traveled to Chicago to join the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s site selector trip in an effort to raise awareness about the pro-business environment in the Hoosier state and the Radius region. For Radius, the visit adds to a series of economic development trips that it has conducted for 2017, and continues on the successful outreach program the organization began in 2016.

During the three-day journey, President and CEO of Radius Indiana Jeff Quyle shared information about the region’s assets, its logistical advantages, and interstate connectivity as well as developments in the region, particularly the new partnership involving Purdue University and WestGate@Crane Technology Park.

“Our continued outreach to neighboring states has helped make site selectors more familiar with the Radius Indiana region,” said Quyle. “By meeting with site selectors we are able to learn specifically what companies are looking for in a location, and how to best position our region to be competitive in business expansion and relocation projects.”

Radius Indiana and the region’s eight local economic development organizations will continue 2017 outreach efforts by hosting an October luncheon in Indianapolis for more than 10 area site selectors. Ensuring that decision makers know about the area’s offerings is a primary focus for the regional partnership, which represents Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Orange, and Washington Counties.

ABOUT RADIUS INDIANA: Radius Indiana is a regional economic development partnership representing eight counties in Southern Indiana: Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Orange, and Washington. Formed in 2009, Radius Indiana also serves as a point of contact in Indiana for Naval Support Activity Crane and leads regional collaboration by leveraging the diverse assets of Southwest Central Indiana to drive attraction, retention and expansion of business, thereby increasing employment and investment opportunities and quality of life within the region.
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