Author: Radius Indiana

Radius Indiana renews relationship with Japanese trade organization

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (Oct. 27, 2021) — Local community leaders met the newest Consul-General of Japan and members of his staff at Radius Indiana’s “An Evening with Japan” event to renew the relationship between the Radius region and both the Consulate and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Chicago. 

Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius Indiana, Becky Skillman, chairwoman of the Radius Board of Directors, and nearly 60 guests welcomed Consul-General Hiroshi Tajima and JETRO Chief Executive Director Ralph Inforzato to the Radius region at the French Lick Resort Oct. 18. Guests included local economic development professionals, business leaders and a sizable number of local, state, and federally elected officials and representatives. 

The event was Consul-General Tajima’s first official speaking engagement in Indiana since he was appointed to the position last month. It was designed for Radius stakeholders to learn more about the Indiana-Japan relationship as well as explore opportunities for collaboration.

“The Radius region, the state of Indiana, and Japan understand that one of the best ways to create more opportunities and prosperity for our people is to look outside our borders,” Skillman said. “The grand evening and enthusiastic information exchange should propel the partnership forward.”

During the event, Consul-General Tajima spoke about the current relationship between Japan and Indiana and the Japanese economy. Inforzato discussed the importance of building relationships with Japanese firms and thanked Radius for its continued efforts to strengthen its relationship with JETRO.

This was the first opportunity for many Radius members to hear directly from the Consul-General of Japan and JETRO, which are often on the front lines in facilitating new contacts with Japan for economic development opportunities.

“I am happy to see how close Radius and their community leaders have worked with and received Japanese companies operating in their region,” Consul-General Tajima said. “Our Consulate and I will continue to work with Radius and offer any support and assistance we can.”

Over the last 10 years, the number of Japanese business facilities in the United States increased by 45 percent, accounting for 957,000 jobs in 2018. In the Midwest, 1,637 Japanese business facilities provided more than 150,000 jobs in 2020, with 344 Japanese business facilities providing more than 70,000 jobs in Indiana. Indiana has the largest amount of Japanese investment per capita in the nation, and Radius hopes to use that momentum to bring Japanese firms into the Radius region.

Inforzato and members of the JETRO team also visited Linton and its mayor, John Wilkes, for lunch and a tour of the community. Wilkes began his relationship with JETRO in 2018. He has continued it over the last three years, traveling to both the JETRO Chicago office and Japan through the Japan Foundation “Grassroots Exchange Network-Japan (Gen-J)” in 2019.

The Radius visit concluded with a trip to meet with M&C Tech’s president Masato Adachi and a tour of the company’s facility in Washington, which was the first investment by a Japanese company in the Radius region. M&C Tech invested $4.6 million into a 40,000 square foot building, which opened in 2018. The company added 35 new jobs to the Radius region, with more to come.

“The leadership of Radius Indiana understands the deep value of and supports manufacturing investment from Japan,” Inforzato said. “Their leadership, particularly the mayors we met from southern Indiana, are truly focused on relationship building with JETRO to better understand how to approach and to make relationships with Japanese companies considering investment expansion in the midwest.”

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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.

NSA Crane aims to strengthen and modernize infrastructure

Posted on by Radius Indiana

By: Matt Craig, Director of Crane Community Support for Radius Indiana

 

High-quality infrastructure can increase productivity, streamline projects, and create a more optimal work environment for employees. For two of Naval Support Activity (NSA) Crane’s major tenants, modernizing infrastructure can help lead to solutions for some of the world’s most complex technological challenges.

Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane (NSWC Crane) and Crane Army Ammunition Activity (CAAA) both celebrated new facilities this fall to strengthen the organizations’ infrastructure. 

CAAA opened two facilities on Sept. 2, a plating shop and a centralized receiving department. The plating shop features automated lines to chemically treat steel, aluminum, stainless steel, copper, and brass surfaces. The receiving department is CAAA’s first-of-its-kind centralized facility, which will be used primarily for receiving inbound shipments of ammunition and explosives.

CAAA team members have worked to design, fund, and construct these facilities for more than a decade. This is one of the first times that CAAA has completed two projects around the same time, which made last month’s ribbon-cutting ceremony especially monumental.

Earlier this week, NSWC Crane held a groundbreaking for the Strategic Radiation Testing Modernization Facility, which will conduct testing for radiation hardness. Radiation can harm the operation of microelectronic materials used for military applications, even causing malfunctions and failures in aerospace electronics. The need for materials that can withstand radiation has grown in the past decades, especially because satellites that transmit data rely on these materials.

Several years ago, studies indicated that there was not enough capacity or capability in the strategic radiation testing equipment to continue supporting the base’s current strategic mission.

This facility will provide important capacity to support testing for multiple, concurrent, future nuclear modernization programs.

The new facilities demonstrate both NSWC Crane and CAAA’s commitment to modernizing operations. The new equipment, processes, and renewed commitment to safety will help Crane provide the highest quality product to the 21st-century force.

Radius Indiana applauds the efforts of both organizations for their commitment to modernizing their infrastructure.

Radius Indiana boosts tourism effort with new team leader

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (Oct. 8, 2021) — Misty Weisensteiner joins the team at Radius Indiana as the first Chief Operating Officer of Discover Southern Indiana, the regional tourism marketing arm of Radius. Weisensteiner will lead regional tourism efforts and help grow the relationship with industry members and partners in southern Indiana. 

Weisensteiner returned to her southern Indiana roots when she joined Radius Oct. 4. In her new leadership role, she will work to elevate the Discover Southern Indiana brand, collaborate with the numerous regional counties and their ongoing tourism efforts, and help to further increase the impact of tourism as a vital component of the regional economy. 

“I am very excited to be back home and working in southern Indiana,” Weisensteiner said. “Leaders in this part of the state understand the importance of tourism and quality of place, and together we will work to strengthen and build Discover Southern Indiana.”

Weisensteiner has over 20 years of experience in hospitality and tourism management. Prior to joining Radius, she served as Director of Core Strategy Implementation for the Indiana Destination Development Corporation. She also worked as the executive director of the Indiana Office of Tourism Development, Orange County Economic Development Partnership and Visit French Lick West Baden.

While serving at the state level, Weisensteiner served on several regional, state and local boards, and built connections at both the state and national levels. This experience allows her to build on the already-existing regional tourism brand and expand the reach of its target audiences.

“The state has done a great job of making Indiana a destination and getting visitors here,” Weisensteiner said. “The new approach and strategy of the Indiana Destination Development Corporation aligns nicely with the missions of Radius and Discover Southern Indiana. I am looking forward to the continued partnership”

Tourism is a key factor in the overall economic prosperity of the region. In 2018, more than $300 million in tourism spending was accounted for in the eight Radius counties alone, with $157 million in total economic impact, according to Rockport Analytics. Additionally, ongoing improvements in quality of place and tourism efforts are anticipated to help attract businesses and workforce to the region and help retain current residents.

In addition to hiring Weisensteiner, Radius has made an internal staffing change. Blaine Parker, former director of tourism and quality of place, is now the Director of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Support, helping communities develop and support diverse, locally-owned small business sectors.

“With the READI program in mind, Radius is hopeful that there may be significant funding to help augment our engagement in tourism branding in years to come,” said Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius Indiana. “We are grateful for the opportunity to have Misty lead our region’s team and we cannot wait for so many people to discover Southern Indiana.” 

Follow Discover Southern Indiana at Discover Southern Indiana on Facebook and @DiscoverSoIn on both Instagram and Twitter.

Misty Weisensteiner, Chief Operating Officer of Discover Southern Indiana

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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.

Radius Indiana hosts annual regional economic development seminar

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (Oct. 6, 2021) — Area accountants, financial managers, and leaders in economic development attended a regional economic development incentive seminar on Sept. 22 hosted by Radius Indiana. 

The event, which took place at the West Baden Springs Hotel, aimed to educate local attendees about economic incentives that are available to businesses in the region. These incentives can help local businesses grow their companies or expand operations.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the presentation and gained valuable insight into new programs and tax incentives for local businesses,” said Debbie Deckard, CPA at Turpen & Deckard. “I am very grateful Radius and the other presenters took the time out of their busy schedules to address our CPA group.”

Presenters from local organizations and financial firms provided information on a variety of the financial tools available to assist local businesses as they grow. 

Speakers at the event included:

  • Jeff Quyle (Radius Indiana) covered state incentives such as the Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) Tax Credit and the Hoosier Business Investment (HBI) Tax Credit, which support job creation and capital investment. Quyle also closed the event with an overview of the Regional Impact Fund (RIF), the only deal-closing fund in Indiana, which is dedicated solely to economic development projects in the Radius region.
  • Heidi Amspaugh (BakerTilly) provided an overview of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and tax abatement, focusing on how local communities can best utilize and benefit from tax incentives. She also offered a brief introduction to New Market Tax Credits, which offer federal tax incentives for private investments in many Radius communities.
  • Harold Gutzwiller (Hoosier Energy) offered a utility perspective for the group and explained Economic Development Riders, which can provide discounts and savings for relocating or expanding businesses.

“Supporting growth for the existing businesses in our region continues to be one of our most important focus areas,” said Quyle. “We appreciate the opportunity to help businesses understand and take advantage of the powerful business support incentives we have available in our state and region.”

Those interested in attending a Radius Indiana course in the future can contact the Radius office at 812-277-9778.

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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 the region to drive attraction, retention and expansion of business, thereby increasing employment and investment opportunities and quality of life within the region.

Indiana Senate Leader joins Radius Indiana’s September board meeting

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (Sept. 23, 2021) — Indiana State Senate President Pro Tempore Rod Bray traveled to southern Indiana to be the featured speaker at Radius Indiana’s Board of Directors meeting in Jasper on Sept. 8. 

Bray, who was elected in 2012, represents Morgan County as well as parts of Johnson, Owen and Putnam counties. He shared stories and insights with the board on community development successes in his district, along with discussion about likely policies to be addressed through the READI program in the Radius region and other regions in the state. He was introduced to the Board by Radius Chair former Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman.

“I’m honored to have this opportunity to speak to the leaders who sit on the Radius Board,” Bray said. “Our State is launching innovative approaches to enhance the quality of place for our residents as well as attract new people to move to Indiana. I’m excited to see how these communities will partner to grow and improve southern Indiana.”

Radius, which is based in Bedford, traveled to Jasper to hold its quarterly board meeting at the newly constructed Thyen-Clark Cultural Center, home of Jasper Community Arts and the Jasper Public Library.

Other meeting updates included: 

  • Catapult program: Christian Blome, dean of students at Vincennes University Jasper Campus (VUJC), provided the board with an update of the Catapult program at the meeting. Catapult is a training program aimed at preparing individuals for a career in advanced manufacturing. VUJC hosted one cohort in 2021 and hopes to add several more in the coming year, Blome said. 
  • Local relocation incentive program: Radius provided an update on Choose Southern Indiana, a relocation incentive program aimed at bringing new talent to southern Indiana. Over 300 individuals have applied for the program, which offers a $5,000 relocation incentive to qualified out-of-state individuals or families who relocate. 
  • Cooperative advertising program: Earlier this year, six Radius member counties joined a brand-new cooperative advertising program with Discover Southern Indiana. The program focuses on both regional and local tourism marketing opportunities. 
  • Crane Regional Defense Group (CRDG): A sub-branch of the White River Military Coordination Alliance, CRDG expands community support and advocates for NSA Crane at the local and federal level. The has a newly completed website and is accepting member applications. Membership application and benefits are available on the website.

“Our staff has not let the pandemic slow down our progress and I am looking forward to the projects we have yet to come,” said Jeff Quyle, Radius CEO and President. “Huge thank you to our board for its continued support; we’ve got a great group and together we will continue to make a difference in southern Indiana.”

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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.

Crawford County Tourism and Crawford County Economic Development Receive $22,500 Through Region’s First Cooperative-Advertising Program

Posted on by Radius Indiana

ENGLISH, Ind. (Aug. 17, 2021) — Representatives from Crawford County Tourism, Crawford County Economic Development, Radius Indiana and Discover Southern Indiana will hold a press event Wednesday, Aug. 18 at 10:30 a.m. at the Crawford County Welcome Center, 5935 S. State Road 66 in English. The group will discuss the county’s participation in a new cooperative advertising program created by the region’s tourism initiative, Discover Southern Indiana, which will provide $22,500 in funding to bolster tourism advertising.

Discover Southern Indiana is a regional tourism brand launched in 2019 by Radius Indiana, the eight-county economic development organization representing Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Orange and Washington counties. Since its inception, Discover Southern Indiana has launched multiple advertising campaigns, outdoor ads and the region’s first Ice Cream Trail, which takes visitors on a 15-stop, region-wide tour of locally owned ice cream shops. Its new cooperative advertising program allows counties to receive matching funds of up to 150 percent to promote local attractions along with Discover Southern Indiana.

“We are delighted to have Crawford County join in our efforts to bring new visitors to our southern Indiana region,” said Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius Indiana. “By working together to showcase our attractions, we are strengthening the tourism industry that is so important to our region, especially in Crawford County. Through the co-op advertising campaign, we will be able to expand our visibility and reach to cities and states and a new audience of visitors.

This program will allow Crawford County to attract more tourists by highlighting and promoting Crawford County’s already existing attractions through mixed media advertising. Tourism is the biggest industry in Crawford County and it is important to utilize tools that will help continue growth in that area. A portion of this contribution will support Discover Southern Indiana’s regional tourism efforts through the purchase of advertising in publications, digital and social media marketing, paid written stories, and sponsorship of regional promotion in travel agent conferences.

“As our economic development has consistently indicated, we will collaborate with any person or organization committed to prosperity in Crawford County,” said Michael Thissen, executive director of the Crawford County Economic Development Partnership. “Our long-term partnership with the Tourism Commission has paved the way for boosting our profile for visitors and potential investors. I am excited for the next steps and am grateful to our regional partner in Radius Indiana for this unique opportunity.”

“We are excited to continue our attempts to strengthen tourism in the county by partnering with Crawford County Economic Development and Radius Indiana to increase advertising and attract people from all over the state of Indiana and beyond,” added Mark Stevens, Crawford County Tourism Board President and County Councilman.

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About Crawford County Tourism: Crawford County, IN is home to Marengo Caves, Cave Country Canoes, Patoka Lake, O’Bannon Woods State Park, Sycamore Springs, and many other popular attractions. For information on Crawford County attractions, events, and lodging, visit crawfordcountyindiana.com or contact us at 812-739-2246 or info@crawfordcountyindiana.com. We Are Outdoor Recreation!

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 the region to drive attraction, retention and expansion of business, thereby increasing employment and investment opportunities and quality of life within the region.

About Crawford County Economic Development Partnership: The Crawford County Economic Development Partnership (CCEDP) serves Crawford County Indiana to meet business, employment, and quality of place needs. The CCEDP is a collaborative organization to assist businesses, entrepreneurs, employment seekers, and quality of place initiatives to generate increased assessed value for the new generation economy. The CCEDP is committed to growing a prosperous Crawford County… together. Visit selectcrawfordcounty.com for more information or contact us at info@selectcrawfordcounty.com or 812-739-4479.

New citizen-led committee formed to leverage potential of southern Indiana

Posted on by Radius Indiana

By: Matt Craig, Director of Crane Community Support for Radius Indiana

 

Local business, financial, and political leaders recently formed a citizen-led committee to expand support for southern Indiana’s military base and support the region’s economic growth.  

The Crane Regional Defense Group (CDRG) was established in 2020 as a grassroots effort to expand community support and advocate for Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) at the local and federal level. Members work with government, industry and military leaders to accelerate regional economic and community development and accelerate the strategic value of Crane. 

CDRG is a subcommittee of the White River Military Coordination Alliance, a community organization that was formed in 2018 to promote positive development and growth in the areas surrounding NSA Crane. 

Our organization has four main objectives:

  1. To educate and inform the businesses, citizens and governments of the region about the economic and cultural benefits of a strong military presence in the region and the importance of supporting regional infrastructure.
  2. To support the expansion of technical and industrial jobs across the full life cycle in Research, Development, Acquisition, Production, Logistics, Depot, Demilitarization, defense-related opportunities as well as the overall growth and diversity of the defense economy in our region.
  3. To provide leadership to facilitate coordination and build consensus on key projects with various entities who have similar interests in maintaining a healthy and stable community, economy and Department of Defense installations in our area.
  4. To serve as a catalyst to assist other government and private organizations in promoting the Logistics, Depot and Production assets at Crane Army Ammunition Activity and the Science and Technology assets at NSWC Crane and in the larger Indiana Uplands communities.

CRDG began meeting regularly in January 2021. In just six months, the committee has appointed an executive committee, established bylaws and membership guidelines, launched membership recruitment, and planned its inaugural event, the 2021 Key Leader Series. 

CRDG is currently accepting registrations for new members. Organizations that join will have opportunities to influence agenda with local defense and community leadership, receive direct briefings on the activities both inside and outside the NSA Crane gates, network with Crane commands and other government agencies, and participate in yearly events. 

Small and large businesses, and businesses that both are and are not involved in the defense industry are welcome to apply.  

To learn more or apply today, visit https://www.craneregionaldefensegroup.org/. 

Registration now open for Radius Indiana Economic Education Session

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (July 28, 2021) — Area accountants and financial managers are invited to participate in Radius Indiana’s second economic development incentive seminar.

The Radius Indiana Economic Education Session will take place Sept. 22 from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the West Baden Hotel. Attendees at the course will learn about financial incentives that are available in the region and from the State of Indiana that can help local businesses grow their company or expand operations.

“After so much uncertainty caused by the pandemic, we wanted to offer our economic education course to support the growth of our local businesses in the Radius region,” said Radius Indiana President and CEO Jeff Quyle. “This education session will provide great information for the attendees and help them better understand and utilize some of the helpful incentives available to them through the state and local programs.”     

Speakers from state agencies, local organizations, and financial firms will share best practices and offer perspectives on local and regional economic strategies. The program aims to support local businesses by adding to their financial tools and offering their advisors the latest incentives and state resources they can use for planning.

Confirmed speakers and subjects for the course will include:

  • Susan Vaughn, Indiana Economic Development Corporation – State Incentive Programs;
  • Heidi Amspaugh, BakerTilly – TIF/Abatement;
  • Utility Panel – Electric Incentive Rates; and
  • Jeff Quyle, Radius Indiana – The Regional Impact Fund.

The Radius Indiana Economic Education Session is free for those located in the region, and lunch will be provided. Registration is now available at www.Radiusindiana.com or by calling 812-277-9778. 

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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.

‘Choose Southern Indiana’ aimed at increasing talent pool in Radius region

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (July 19, 2021) — Radius Indiana, in coordination with Dubois Strong and the Orange County Economic Development Partnership, is proud to announce its latest economic development initiative for talent attraction and workforce development, Choose Southern Indiana.

The pilot program is offering a $5,000 relocation incentive to qualified out-of-state individuals or families who relocate to Dubois or Orange County. Those who relocate to southern Indiana must maintain residency for a minimum of two years. Such incentive programs are being used by numerous states and communities throughout the country to attract talent. Though not the first attraction program in Indiana, the Radius program is the first rural regional approach.

Dubois County is offering this program to recruit remote workers to relocate, while Orange County has set its focus on finding veterans to move to its county. Other counties are expected to join the regional program as well.

“We believe the rich variety of recreational opportunities and the quality of life and safety in our small cities and towns are going to appeal to any number of people when they discover this chance for an introduction to southern Indiana,” said Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius Indiana. “We’re excited to help people learn more about our communities with the Choose Southern Indiana program.” 

Radius partnered with Indianapolis-based MakeMyMove, the first and only marketplace for move-ready talent. MakeMyMove’s platform and marketing services help communities pitch their wares and attract new residents.

“Southern Indiana is a hidden gem,” Evan Hock, Co-Founder of MakeMyMove, said. “Movers looking for the great outdoors, affordable cost-of-living, and a tight-knit community should look no further. We’re proud to partner with Radius to help recruit some fresh faces to the region.”

Talent attraction and workforce development are now two of the most important aspects of economic development. Talent attraction focuses on recruitment from the talent pipeline outside of a given community, while workforce development aims to further an individual’s ability to grow their skills and develop the tools they need for business success in their community. The Radius program has specified that it is targeting the attraction of talent from outside the state of Indiana, in order to avoid depleting talent in other Indiana communities.

The Radius region has a workforce of over 108,000 people, and many communities are finding that their companies have additional vacant positions that need to be filled. Attracting talent to the region is a critical part of growing the local workforce, which stimulates economic growth and prosperity in communities.

To learn more and apply to the relocation incentive program, visit www.choosesouthernindiana.com.

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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.

The Indiana Uplands is READI to Go

Posted on by Radius Indiana

 

 

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI) and Radius Indiana are pleased to announce that the 11 counties of the Indiana Uplands will continue their shared commitment to economic and community prosperity through participation in the Indiana Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI). Each of the 11 counties affirmed their participation in the Indiana Uplands READI application through formal resolutions provided by key entities across the region, including county commissions, city and town councils, school districts, and other entities.

On July 1, ROI notified the Indiana Economic Development Corporation of its intent to seek funding, alongside its partner organizations, through READI on behalf of the Indiana Uplands region, comprised of Brown, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Orange, Owen, and Washington counties.

“READI, as its acronym so aptly communicates, has the potential to position this region to accelerate the work we have been collectively pursuing through regionally relevant, demand-driven strategies focused on economic growth and community prosperity,” said ROI President and CEO, Tina Peterson. “READI will allow our region of 406,000 individuals living in 48 cities and towns to take the next steps in further activating a rural region with rapidly growing technology-driven sectors, world-class education assets, and incredible natural resources. We have momentum, and we are READI to build upon it.”

ROI has opened an online tool to allow Uplands organizations and individuals to provide information on potential projects and programs that have the capacity to grow the region’s economic outcomes through investments in place-based talent, business, and quality of place opportunities. The online READI submission tool captures information about the project or program, its regional impact, and the anticipated budget. Submissions can represent projects/programs in various stages of development from conception to implementation. Information provided via the tool will inform an updated Indiana Uplands strategic plan and the Regional Development Plan required to participate in READI. The online tool will accept submissions through July 30.

In May, Indiana Gov. Eric J. Holcomb and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) announced the launch of READI. This transformational initiative will dedicate $500 million in state appropriations to strategically advance quality of place and quality of life, innovation, entrepreneurship, and talent attraction within self-defined Indiana regions. Through READI, regional grants of up to $50 million will support projects and programs that help make Indiana a magnet for talent and economic growth. Regions will be required to provide matching dollars to leverage the potential of READI.

In addition to involvement by leadership in all 11 counties, ROI and Radius Indiana are coordinating efforts on behalf of the READI program in collaboration with stakeholders representing major regional employers and other anchor institutions.

In 2015, Lilly Endowment Inc. awarded three grants to three organizations totaling $42 million to fund regional development initiatives identified in the 2014 Strategic Plan for Economic and Community Prosperity in Southwest Central Indiana. Regional Opportunity Initiatives, formed in 2016 alongside the Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement and the Indiana Innovation Institute, has a mission to grow potential and possibility in the Uplands through a focus on advanced industry sectors, regionalism, transformative school and workforce redesign, and placemaking strategies.

Radius Indiana is a regional economic development partnership representing eight counties in the Indiana Uplands region: 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.

“Our region’s wealth of recreational and tourism attractions will really shine brighter as the READI program allows us to enhance the quality of place and nourish the dynamic economic growth and entrepreneurship that are part of the culture here,” said Jeff Quyle, President and CEO of Radius Indiana.

As part of the READI effort, regional stakeholders are working to update the strategic plan developed for Southwest Central Indiana in 2014. Aspects of the updated Indiana Uplands strategic plan, including fundable projects and programs, will be used for the READI application due by August 31, 2021. READI funding decisions are expected to be made by IEDC in December 2021.

More information is available at: https://regionalopportunityinc.org/readi