BEDFORD, Ind. (Jan. 26, 2017) – Radius Indiana kicked off its new Women In Economic Development Leadership Initiative Jan. 24 at the West Baden Hotel. This is the first-ever course of its kind for the region, and the state, and is designed to promote professional development for women.

The course will focus on a broad range of topics, including business attraction, retention and expansion, entrepreneurship, quality of life initiatives, networking, and international business etiquette. The initiative will span 2018 and encourage an open dialogue among participants to share successes, challenges and best practices.

This program adds to the portfolio of educational economic development initiatives that Radius currently leads, like the Economic Development for Community Leadership Program that will be held for the second time this year in March.

“Radius Indiana has undertaken a number of initiatives to strengthen the culture and practice of economic development in Southern Indiana. We saw that there were a number of new people who have come on the economic development scene in a relatively short period of time all in a compact area, and we felt this course could help them all and their communities,” said Radius Indiana President and CEO Jeff Quyle. “We opened up the program to our region and surrounding counties and have nearly a dozen participants from eight counties representing local economic development, the utility sector, community development, chambers of commerce, marketing and telecommunications.”

Quyle selected Chelsey Manns, president of Manns Consulting, LLC to facilitate the course. Manns is a veteran in economic development and helps communities develop and execute project plans for business growth, quality of life initiatives and community development. Manns formerly served as the Executive Director of Morgan County Economic Development Corporation, and as business development director for Banning Engineering, a central Indiana-based civil engineering and surveying firm. She began her career as a project manager with the Indy Partnership.

“I commend the Radius Indiana team for spearheading this new program,” said Manns. “I am excited for the opportunity to be involved and look forward to sharing my experiences and helping to strengthen the foundation of economic development professionals in the area.”

Manns and Quyle both hope that this initiative will leave participants with a better sense of the industry, and see this as a chance to serve as a networking opportunity for the region.

Rachel Steckler, director of Communication & Community Development for the City of Huntingburg, who is attending the course, added, “The Women in Economic Development Initiative is a great opportunity for women in this industry to discuss important issues in our region, and share best practices to not only sustain our communities, but to promote and enhance them, as well. I applaud Radius for supporting regional collaboration, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be included with this great group of economic development professionals.”

BEDFORD, Ind. (Jan. 23, 2018) – Radius Indiana and Southwest Indiana Development Council (SWIDC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will guide growing cooperation between the two organizations.

Radius and SWIDC developed the MOU to promote economic development coordination across their respective regions, which share similar demographics and industry clusters including high concentrations of agriculture and manufacturing.

“This newly formed relationship has the opportunity to bring more business and success to the counties involved,” said Radius Indiana President and CEO Jeff Quyle. “We look forward to working alongside SWIDC and seeing what can be achieved as we expand our regional approach. We are already in the planning stages to co-host a site selector event in Chicago, and have started discussions to include representatives from SWIDC in our international outreach efforts.”

The two groups will identify opportunities to collaborate on outreach, such as joint site selector events, and continuing professional education in topics related to economic development for economic development professionals and elected civic leaders, as well as through other opportunities for mutual support that may arise. In addition, an annual meeting will be held between Radius and SWIDC to facilitate conversations among both regions’ Local Economic Development Organizations.

“Collaboration among stakeholders is key to economic development especially in rural areas. This MOU between Radius and SWIDC is a positive step toward improving the capabilities of all represented counties in bringing economic development to southwest Indiana,” said Alvin Evans, chairman of Southwest Indiana Development Council. “I applaud the leadership of Radius Indiana in reaching out to SWIDC to improve all our efforts.”

As neighboring regional economic development groups, Radius and SWIDC represent multiple counties in Southern and Southwest Indiana and there are three counties, Daviess, Martin, and Dubois that are members of both organizations.

“Dubois Strong is member of both regional groups. The new collaborative partnership agreement opens many opportunities to promote Southern Indiana as a great place to live, work, play and invest,” said Ed Cole, president of Dubois Strong.

Ron Arnold, executive director of Daviess County Economic Development Corporation added, “There are challenges related to workforce and the continued migration of our bright young residents to the urban areas. It will take all of us working together utilizing all our resources to remain competitive.”

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.

ABOUT SWIDC: Southwest Indiana Development Council is a gateway to economic development resources in Southern and Southwest Indiana. As one of the nation’s most dynamic, growing regions, we welcome new and expanding businesses. The experienced Local Economic Development (LEDO) directors of SWIDC (Daviess, Dubois, Knox, Martin, Perry, Pike, Posey and Spencer counties) have teamed to offer project specific assistance designed to identify, maximize, secure, and apply all available incentives to make Southwest Indiana the most attractive location for business.

BEDFORD, Ind. (Jan. 10, 2018) – The Radius Indiana Board of Directors begins 2018 with new Board members and a number of new initiatives for the organization, including an international economic development marketing venture.

The board reconfirmed former Radius Indiana CEO Becky Skillman as Board Chair, the election of three new Board members, and ratified a 2018 budget that includes several new priorities and projects to benefit the Radius region.

Additional officers include Vice Chair Don Schulte, Schulte Consulting; Secretary Tim Kinder, Martin County Alliance; and Treasurer Neil Dauby, German American Bank. Rounding out the Executive Committee are Misty McCammack, Duke Energy; Sabrina Burdine, Washington County Economic Growth Partnership; Doug Kellams, East Gate Business & Technology Park; and Mayor of Washington Joe Wellman.

New board members elected to three-year terms are Tim Robinette, Old National Bank; Steve Bartels, Patoka Lake Marina & Winery; Mike Roeder, Vectren; and Misty Weisensteiner, Orange County Economic Development Partnership.

“The board members bring additional perspectives to our leadership for regional economic development,” said Radius Indiana President and CEO Jeff Quyle. “I look forward to seeing what the group will accomplish for the region in 2018.”

The board also approved a 2018 budget that includes funding for the second Economic Development for Community Leadership Program, increased marketing and graphic design activities, increased support for Crane Community Development and funding to support a regional tourism strategy. The new budget also includes a Radius Indiana sponsored economic development trip to Japan slated for late fall 2018.

“The Radius Indiana trip to Japan will be the first international trip for us as a regional economic development group and will include local elected officials and several economic development professionals from around the region,” said Quyle. “Foreign investment in Indiana is a powerful economic driver and we continue to see more and more companies choosing our state for new ventures. We want to ensure that the Radius region is top of mind for companies looking to expand or locate new facilities in the Midwest.”

Other initiatives include multiple site selector trips to share the benefits of doing business in the area, regional marketing efforts, as well as a continued commitment to skilled workforce development, community development and defense industry strategy.

ORLEANS, Ind. (Dec. 28, 2017) — Orange County Economic Development Partnership announced today that the Paoli LLC building has new ownership and a revitalized purpose as the Jasper Group plans to expand its operations at the Orleans facility early next year.

HNI, the parent company of Paoli LLC, generously donated the building to OCEDP in December. OCEDP was then able to quickly convert the donation into a real estate sale that brings in the Jasper Group as the new owners of the 1.2 million-square-foot facility.

“We are dedicated to helping Orange County and to growing a local economy that attracts investment and creates jobs,” said OCEDP Executive Director Misty Weisensteiner. “Orange County has long been known for excellence in furniture manufacturing and has a skilled labor force that is in high demand — we want to take every opportunity to capitalize on our strengths.”

Jasper Group’s four brands manufacture furniture for business interiors, public spaces and the hospitality industry. The company has multiple facilities in close proximity in southern Indiana including five in Dubois County, one of which is its headquarters, and now three in Orange County, with operations in French Lick, Paoli and the newly added facility in Orleans.

When HNI announced in October 2016 that Paoli LLC would be closing in Orleans, the future of the building, and its employees, had been uncertain. Currently, about 120 people still work at the plant as Paoli LLC employees; and community stakeholders, including the OCEDP, have worked diligently to find a solution for the building that could keep jobs in the county.

“I want to thank HNI; while they could not continue operations here in Orleans, they understood the need to have an employer here that employs citizens from Orange and surrounding counties. That is why they felt compelled to donate the building to the OCEDP,” said OCEDP Board Chair Alan Beck. “They knew that our board would be more than capable of finding a party to purchase the building and continue to offer employment.”

Jasper Group plans to retain the current production employees and possibly add more workers to the manufacturing floor when it begins operations in the first quarter of 2018. The company also plans to use part of the facility for warehousing and shipping for its multiple product lines.

Paoli LLC will likely wind down operations by the end of February, and during that time Jasper Group will begin bringing in raw materials and finalizing equipment purchases that can be used immediately in its new operation.

“We plan for a seamless transition and are very optimistic about our new employees and our new building in Orleans, which is now the largest facility for the Jasper Group, and a perfect complement to our other operations,” said Jasper Group’s President, CEO and Chairman of the Board Mike Elliott. “We have had a great experience working with the OCEDP to make this expansion happen and couldn’t be more pleased to keep jobs here in Orange County.”

Beck added, “Mike Elliot and the Jasper Group share the same concerns as the OCEDP, HNI, the residents and other business owners in the county; we need to save jobs, offer new employment and provide tax revenue that flows to the school system and local municipality.”

About Orange County Economic Development Partnership: OCEDP is committed to recruiting new business to the county, as well as promoting the retention and expansion of existing industry. We are organized as a 501(c)3 organization, funded by both public and private organizations that reflect the diverse assets of Orange County.  Likewise, our board consists of 12 members, including county commissioners, county council, four town councils, and business/industry. Since our inception, we have fostered the growth of dozens of new and expanding businesses, providing personalized assistance in identifying sources of business capital; connecting businesses with educational, workforce development, supply chain, and other resources; and matching relocating and expanding companies’ needs with available properties.

BEDFORD, Ind. (Dec. 20, 2017) – The tourism economy continues to grow in the Radius Indiana region, according to a newly released study by market research firm Rockport Analytics. The study shows visitor spending totaling $283.4 million, increasing $11.8 million from the previous year and a regional economic impact of $206.2 million.

The study compared tourism data during a two-year period for Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Orange and Washington counties and includes jobs in the industry directly supporting the visitor such as hotel accommodations, as well as in supply chain sectors like transportation.

“Tourism creates a broad variety of jobs in our region. Success in this industry is important to the people who live in our region and we believe it’s important that they directly see the benefits,” said Radius Indiana President and CEO Jeff Quyle. “It helps to relieve the tax burden of households in the region as well as benefit over 3,700 public school students.”

The Indiana Office of Tourism Development and Radius Indiana commissioned the study. It shows that the region’s tourism employment growth was over five percent in 2016 and is the seventh largest industry in the Radius Region.

“This report shows how important tourism is as an economic driver for the State of Indiana and that its impact continues to grow,” said Mark Newman, IOTD’s executive director. “We’re excited to see how tourism will continue to impact Indiana through future studies.”

Radius Indiana facilitates a regional tourism advisory council, and the group will use the study to create new initiatives that will support this vital part of the local economy. The group is currently exploring a regional tourism branding initiative that could create an identity for the region and surrounding counties in Southern Indiana.

“The data shows us that 73 cents of every $1 spent on tourism stayed in the local economy and saves our taxpayers about $375 per year in taxes. This savings is money that can be directly put back into businesses right here in the Radius region,” said Quyle.

Highlights of the study show Orange County had the largest amount of tourism spending for the region, as well as an increase in four of the five expenditure categories; Washington County recorded a 17 percent increase in retail sales during the study period.

BEDFORD, Ind. (Dec. 19, 2017) – Radius Indiana released an update today to its Radius Manufacturing Index (RMI). The index shows that the manufacturing sector continues to see growth across the eight-county region.

RMI was developed by Radius Indiana and provides 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 58.27 to 60.15 between quarter three and quarter four, while the state dropped from 55.65 to 54.87 between the same quarters. The index indicates that the state’s economy may be growing more diversified, while the Radius region continues to see a growing manufacturing concentration.

For the region, yearly wages increased by $593 bringing the average manufacturing wage to $45,414, and manufacturing GDP as a percent of total GDP also has increased. Between quarters, job growth is up nearly half a percent at 0.48.

“This year has been extremely successful for the Radius region. Our manufacturers have created a positive work environment that has kept these jobs in our area,” said Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius. “Manufacturing has seen a constant increase in our region for all of 2017 and I have high hopes that will continue into the New Year.”

Earlier this year, Radius hosted the region’s first economic development incentive seminar to educate area accountants and financial managers about business growth opportunities. After the session, Radius reached out to the participants for feedback on the current status of their clients’ businesses and the local economy.

Of the respondents, 50 percent report that Radius region businesses have hired employees in the past year, and predict that they will have to hire more in the next year. Radius believes this is indicative of further increases in the job growth for the region. In addition, the survey revealed that 75 percent of the financial managers expect no decrease in sales or production for 2018, and a majority are seeing new company formations.

The survey results support this quarter’s RMI by showing that job growth has increased, and that the accountants and financial managers are continuing to see growth in key sectors across the Radius region.

Chief Executive Officer of the Bedford Chamber and Lawrence County Growth Council, Shance Sizemore added, “We are seeing activity and interest in manufacturing sites that could lead to more growth right here in Lawrence County. Our local manufacturers are reporting increased demand for products, and we believe this activity is a result of a healthy and growing economy that is providing a boost to the manufacturing sector overall–especially in our region.”

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.

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.