BEDFORD, Ind. (Oct. 1, 2018) — Radius Indiana is conducting a Wage and Benefits Survey across several counties in southern Indiana–a first for the area. The survey will gather employer pay and benefit information to help create a very accurate, up-to-date understanding of what the real-world labor market is like in southern Indiana.

Approximately 400 companies, with employee size ranging between 1 and 1,000 workers from 15 counties in the region, have been invited to participate in the survey . The survey asks about positions within each company, annual wages, and benefits employees receive and how those benefits translate financially, such as with health and life insurance. Topics such as time-off and leave, vacation, bereavement and paid holidays are also included in the survey.

“This survey will not only help employers in our region create an appropriate competitive work compensation package, but will also be used to inform companies and businesses interested in locating or expanding in the Radius region,” said Jeff Quyle, CEO and president of Radius Indiana. “We are excited to be able to facilitate this survey for our region and will share our results with the companies completing the survey and each participating county’s local economic development organization.”

Radius is collaborating with additional counties in the 11-county Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI) region of Southwest Central Indiana known as the Indiana Uplands, and counties within the Southwest Indiana Development Council (SWIDC) area to provide a broader regional snapshot of the labor market in southern Indiana.

The consultant on the survey, Kevin Whorton of Whorton Marketing and Research, created the survey framework, and then collaborated with Radius as well as select test companies to develop the final questionnaire. With help from each county’s local economic development organization, companies were identified and emailed a unique link to access the survey in mid-September. The full report on the survey’s findings is planned for release in early 2019.

While this is the first large-scale Wage and Benefit survey for the region, a similar effort in recent years conducted in Dubois County showed the potential value of capturing this type of data. Dubois Strong has been a strong advocate for the Radius Wage and Benefit survey, which expands on the work of its county-specific survey and broadens the scope and understanding of hundreds of companies located in this part of the state.

“It is very important for businesses to have the best wage and benefit information available to attract and retention employees in a very low unemployment environment,” said Ed Cole, President of Dubois Strong.

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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.

BEDFORD, Ind. (Sept. 7, 2018) — Radius Indiana traveled to Cleveland last week to meet with site selectors and share the advantages of doing business in the Radius region. This was Radius’s third site selector trip to Cleveland, and the organization is continuing its outreach program efforts that began in 2016.

Radius Indiana President and CEO Jeff Quyle met with six site selectors during the trip. Agribusiness in the region was one of the topics of interest for the site selectors, Quyle was able to highlight the existing businesses and opportunities along the supply chain in the area.

Radius Indiana’s agricultural sector is a state leader in poultry production and grain processing. With abundant farmland and sites for commercial development the region has a well-established agriculture infrastructure that enables companies to set up operations and get products to market quickly.

“The Radius message was more fun to deliver than usual this summer because of the many positive project announcements and events we’ve had take place in recent weeks,” said Quyle.  “From Eagle Rail in Washington to Lehigh in Mitchell to SIMCO in Crawford County, or the Parklands of Jasper, there are visible signs of the pro-active spirit of the region.”

Radius Indiana will continue its outreach program efforts with more site selector trips to finish 2018 and into 2019. The organizations first international trip to Japan will take place this October, and is an opportunity to bring foreign direct investment to the Radius region.

“We continue to see a positive impact on our region through site selector trips,” said Quyle. “Being able to highlight different industry sectors that are important to our counties is something that Radius will continue to do as well as continuing to spread education about what we have to offer.”

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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.

 

LOOGOOTEE, Ind. (July 23, 2018) –  Southern Indiana Development Commission received a $50,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration to support entrepreneurship in the region through the study of the Southwest Indiana Technology and Collaboration Hub Network or “SWITCH.”

This study will help establish a network of entrepreneurial centers in southwest Indiana and allow the sharing of resources throughout the network. Once completed, this study will bring together the public and private sectors by building an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment and create jobs throughout the region.

Kent Utt, president Knox County Economic Development Corporation stated, “Two of KCDC’s primary goals vetted out during our recent comprehensive strategic plan are to create an entrepreneurial ecosystem and improve retention and attraction of talent. These goals will be further advanced through the SWITCH feasibility study and enhance a collaborative region focused on innovation and entrepreneurship.”

The study is a partnership of 11 different local economic development organizations (Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Knox, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Orange, Pike and Washington), three regional planning commissions (SIDC, River Hills and IN 15), two regional economic development organizations(Radius Indiana and the Southwest Indiana Development Council), as well as Regional Opportunity Initiatives, Inc. and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.

“Regional partnerships are challenging, but with clear focus the benefits created from a region working together create more opportunities than working alone. This initiative, if done right, will be a model for the rest of the country for increasing entrepreneurship and collaboration in rural America,” said Greg Jones, director of SIDC.

Radius Indiana received an initial grant from the IEDC to begin studying the concept of a SWITCH network and will use those funds to match the EDA grant.

“We cannot thank IEDC enough for the initial investment in this concept and by partnering with the EDA I believe we will have enough funds to study the issue and stand up the framework for a lasting entrepreneurial ecosystem,” added Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius Indiana.

Local economic development organizations are excited for the next steps in the process. Ed Cole with Dubois Strong said, “I am looking forward to the expanded opportunities for co-working space collaboration the SWITCH Network will bring to Southwest Indiana.”

Ron Arnold with Daviess County Economic Development Corporation said,  “SWITCH Network will allow Daviess County and the region to identify and understand steps needed to participate in an ever changing economy. I applaud the efforts of Radius Indiana and SIDC to bring the region together.”

The planning process will kick off in the fall of 2018.

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About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov): The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.

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 Chairman of the Board Becky Skillman was featured on Indiana Chamber’s EchoChamber podcast earlier this week. She discussed her work with Radius, her hometown of Bedford, Crane, and other topics.

To listen to the podcast, visit https://www.indianachamber.com/news-resources/multimedia/echochamber-podcast/.

BEDFORD, Ind. (June 1, 2018) — Radius Indiana visited Chicago to meet with Consul General of Japan Naoki Ito as part of its efforts to increase opportunities for foreign investment in the region.

The two-day trip included dinner with Consul General Ito at his residence near the city, followed by a tour of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Office the next day. This visit marks the third economic outreach visit to Chicago over the past year, but is the first one dedicated to forging the relationship with Japan.

“This trip was a great opportunity to continue the conversation that started when the Consul General visited French Lick back in March for the Radius-Japan Dialogue,” said Radius President and CEO Jeff Quyle. “We want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the Consul General and JETRO for their hospitality and interest in our region. We know that our region can support more foreign investment and we are working to find the right opportunity for our communities, workforce and potential investors.”

Along with Radius staff, six members from the Radius region and the President of Vincennes University joined the effort to tout the assets and benefits of what the local economic landscape has to offer. Local mayors, county commissioners, and members of economic development councils were among those who made the trip, with several members of the group meeting the Consul General for the first time.

“The trip was awesome. I think our region has a lot of potential to do business with Japan,” said John Wilkes, Mayor of Linton. “Having dinner with Consul-General Ito was both enjoyable and very informative. I look forward to building better business relations with Japan in the future.”

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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.

 

BEDFORD, Ind. (May 24, 2018) – Radius Indiana released an update today to its Radius Manufacturing Index (RMI). The index shows that the manufacturing sector continues to see growth in several components across the region.

RMI was developed by Radius Indiana and gives the organization an analytic tool that monitors several facets to gauge the strength of the manufacturing industry in the region in southern Indiana.

The RMI shows how the region is performing in comparison to the state of Indiana. Radius’s overall index increased from 60.15 to 60.2 between quarter four of 2017 and quarter one of 2018, while the state increased from 54.87 to 55.46 between the same quarters. While overall the index increased, the number of manufacturing jobs dropped slightly, which may suggest that workforce in the Radius region is becoming more skilled and productive, requiring fewer workers to complete the same amount of work.

For the region, yearly wages increased by $869 bringing the average manufacturing wage to $46,283, and manufacturing GDP as a percent of total GDP also has increased by 0.71.

“As the economy continues to grow, the increased wage numbers is a great sign that our organizations are feeling confident in the market,” said Shance Sizemore, CEO at the Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce and Lawrence County Economic Growth Council. “This kind of increase benefits a lot of aspects of our local economy and it’s important that we have access to this kind of information.”

The location quotient for manufacturing, which measures how concentrated a business sector is in a region or state compared to that sector’s national average, decreased between the two quarters from 2.21 to 2.05. This decline may reflect that the regional economy is becoming more diversified, and other sectors are becoming stronger. Both healthcare and tourism showed increased location quotients for the quarter.

“The RMI has helped Radius understand exactly how manufacturing is affecting the region and allows us to make sure that we are staying competitive with the rest of the state,” said Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius. “We are able to learn things about manufacturing that otherwise we wouldn’t know, and we work with that information to keep things growing within the sector.”

The Radius Manufacturing Index uses statistics from publicly available sources to provide an estimate of the state of health of the manufacturing sector in the region. The Index is a backward looking tool that reflects conditions approximately six months in the past, based on the dates for some of the statistics used.

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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.

 

BEDFORD, Ind. (April 26, 2018)- Radius Indiana has re-engineered its office functions with the addition of three new team members to its staff in March and April: January Roush, Blaine Parker and Anthony Christian.

Roush is stepping into the position of Radius Business Office Manager with 13 years of experience working in local government. With Radius, Roush will be responsible for day-to-day oversight of the facilities and office management, as well as the management and monitoring of the organization’s budget and financial reports. Roush will also support and maintain two economic development assistance programs administered by Radius, the Regional Impact Fund, and the Intermediary Relending Program. In addition, Roush will be available to the constituents in the Radius region to provide information about Radius programs and activities.

In her last position, January Roush served as the auditor of Martin County, where she was responsible for maintaining all financial and personnel records for Martin County Government, along with serving as secretary to the Board of Commissioners and Council. Roush’s background allows her to comprehend the needs of local governments in the region, as well as to provide excellent customer service and monitor the day-to-day operations at Radius.

“Radius has gained a wonderful employee in January Roush,” said Martin County Commissioner Dan Gregory. “She will be greatly missed as our Auditor, but we are all very happy that she is with Radius where she can continue to help move our county, and our region, forward.”

Blaine Parker joins the Radius team as the Director of Tourism and Quality of Place. She will head the current Radius region’s tourism project, which is aimed at developing a strategy to make Southern Indiana a recreation destination. Parker will collaborate with stakeholders to enhance the region’s image, perception, and success and create a consensus among key stakeholders for a future strategy that will optimize the economic opportunity for tourism in Southern Indiana. Parker will also assist with initiatives that help communities become more desirable places to live and work for current and potential residents.

Previously, Parker spent three years as the Membership and Communications Director for the Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce, where she collaborated with local officials, business leaders, and members to enhance the community. She also served as Interim President for six months from 2015 to 2016, administering day-to-day operations and managing her personnel staff.

Taking the position of Director of Data Analysis and Development is Anthony Christian, where he will work to develop relevant and useful data about the economic conditions and development opportunities in the region. Christian will also be available as a resource for those communities in the Radius region seeking advice and information related to entrepreneurship.

Previously, Christian was worked for the City of Bloomington in its Community and Family Resources Department where he worked with the council on community accessibility and local
businesses to increase access for disabled persons and assess viability. Christian, who holds an MBA from the IU School of Environmental and Public Affairs, brings his experience creating an economic development policy and analyzing effectiveness of current policy into his new role at Radius.

“I am looking forward to the new ideas and insights that will be provided by our new team members. Radius is always looking to learn about new opportunities, and I foresee the additions to the staff to provide just that,” said Radius Indiana President and CEO Jeff Quyle. “We have many new initiatives planned this year, and I know our new staff will only add to the success we’ve already seen in 2018.”

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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.