Category: News

Martin County Economic Development Names Potts as Executive Director

Posted on by Radius Indiana

Loogootee, IN (Aug 09, 2022) – The Martin County Alliance for Economic Growth Board of Directors hired local businesswoman Jessica Potts as the organization’s new Executive Director.  The Martin County Alliance for Economic Growth is an organization charged with leading business attraction, retention, and expansion efforts in Martin County.

Jessica is excited to work with local cities and towns as well as civic organizations and chambers of commerce to help promote Martin County. She enjoys the challenge of getting projects completed on a budget and has a passion for bringing everyone to the table to accomplish goals.

Mike Arvin, president of the Alliance board stated, “I am very excited to have Jessica Potts join the Alliance as our Executive Director.  We have made great progress over the last year in our Martin County community and Jessica has the talent, skills and love for our community to lead us into the future. ”

A Martin County native, Jessica graduated from Loogootee High School and went on to continue her education at the University of Southern Indiana with a bachelor’s degree in Health Services with concentrations in Gerontology and Health Administration. She has diverse work experience ranging from workforce development to defense contracting. In her most recent position, she worked for the Southern Indiana Development Commission (SIDC) to help the five-county region they serve to develop an economic recovery and resiliency plan. Additionally, she served as a liaison between local governments, nonprofit organizations and the EDA to help identify and acquire grant resources.

Martin County is home to NSA Crane, the third-largest U.S.  Naval installation in the world. Other primary industries include mining, agriculture, and small business. Affordable housing, natural beauty in the scenic landscape, and short commutes to major employers are only a few of its many strengths to attract business and workforce to the area.

Potts will work closely with Radius Indiana on projects related to economic development.  Radius is an eight-county regional economic development organization that includes Martin County.

“We’re delighted to have Jessica as a partner who can direct us on promoting and serving economic development in Martin County communities. We’ve already been impressed with her work ethic and her creativity when we’ve collaborated with her on projects in her SIDC capacity. Her experience in the defense industry and with SIDC will be extremely valuable and we look forward to the success to come,” said Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius.

Jessica enjoys being a part of her small rural community in Loogootee where she resides with her husband Mark, and their two children Judd and Morgan.

Jessica will begin her role as Executive Director August 8. If you would like to reach out to the Alliance, you can reach her at:

Jessica Potts/Executive Director

Martin County Alliance for Economic Growth

2664 US Hwy 50, Loogootee, IN 47553

Jessica.Potts@martinalliance.org

812-295-4800

 

ABOUT RADIUS INDIANA

Radius Indiana is a regional economic development partnership representing eight counties in Southern Indiana. 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.

Discover Southern Indiana Launches Sweets And Treats Trail

Posted on by Radius Indiana

Discover Southern Indiana – Tourism organization welcomes locals, visitors to participate in this sweet adventure across eight counties

BEDFORD, Ind. (July 21, 2022) — Discover Southern Indiana has launched its new Sweets and Treats
Trail, which invites locals and visitors to check out more than 25 participating businesses across the
region to receive special offers and earn prizes.

Consumers are encouraged to download the free Sweets and Treats Trail mobile passport by visiting
https://discoversouthernindiana.com/sweetsandtreatstrail/ and check-in to as many businesses as
possible. At each location, participants will be given a unique PIN code to enter into the passport and
track their progress. Participants will be eligible to win special prizes after checking in to various locations.
Prizes include a sticker after five check-ins, a branded ice cream scoop after 10 check-ins, and a branded
tote bag after 20 check-ins. Those who make it to all locations on the trail will receive a special treat from
one of the participating trail locations. All prizes will be mailed to winners.

“We have so many local businesses across our eight counties that offer some of the best desserts you
can get your hands on,” said Misty Weisensteiner, Chief Operating Officer of Discover Southern Indiana.
“The Sweets and Treats Trail is a fun way for both visitors and those who have lived in the area for their
entire lives to find a new favorite treat.”

Radius Indiana launched Discover Southern Indiana, making it the first region-wide tourism initiative of its
kind. Tourism is the region’s sixth-largest economic driver. The initiative bolsters the commercial interests
of the region by highlighting the opportunities, attractions and events for visitors traveling to Crawford,
Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Martin, Lawrence, Orange and Washington counties. Discover Southern
Indiana’s Sweets and Treats Trail, originally named the Ice Cream Trail, launched in 2020 and is returning
with even more delectable desserts.

For a full list of trail stops and to download your mobile passport, visit: https://discoversouthernindiana.com/sweetsandtreatstrail/.

About Discover Southern Indiana:
Headquartered in Bedford, IN, Discover Southern Indiana is a regional tourism initiative serving a total of
eight counties. The initiative aims to boost awareness of all that Southern Indiana has to offer, inviting
visitors and prospective residents to explore the charming spirit of the bustling region while indulging in
thrilling world-class experiences. Travelers have the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of
family-friendly, one-of-a-kind experiences, including five-star accommodations, Indiana’s finest State
Parks, prestigious golf courses, and much more. Your pleasant surprises await.

Radius Indiana and Crane Regional Defense Group host congressional events in U.S. Capital

Posted on by Radius Indiana

ODON, Ind. (July 5, 2022) – Radius Indiana and Crane Regional Defense Group (CRDG) hosted a series of events last month in Washington D.C in coordination with NSA Crane and industry peers. The events served to engage government leaders, defense and technology firms, and constituents in conversations and updates about ongoing developments for the base and southern Indiana’s defense industry.

The annual Team Crane Congressional Breakfast was held on Capitol Hill for the first time since 2019 after a pause due to pandemic restrictions. Indiana Senators Mike Braun and Todd Young and Indiana Congressmen Larry Bucshon, and Trey Hollingsworth hosted the breakfast, sponsored by Radius Indiana in partnership with the Federal Manager’s Association (FMA) Crane Chapter 170, Indiana Innovation Institute (IN3), and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC). 

As Naval Support Activity (NSA) Crane continues to demonstrate the success of its technologies and products, Radius and its partners took this opportunity to highlight the increasing military value of Crane and give insight into the future goals for the base. The events also served to underscore the positive impact NSA Crane has on the advancement of technology in the state of Indiana and to the continued well-being of nearby communities as it remains the region’s largest employer.

“We are immensely grateful for our relationship with Crane and the work with our many regional partners to strengthen the defense innovation ecosystem in southern Indiana,” said Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius and emcee for the Breakfast. “Radius is dedicated to growing the region’s prosperity, using economic development tools to strengthen our current business community as well as attract new companies. The rise of technological innovation at Crane is initiating conversations with companies that seek to grow here for access to the talent and innovation that reside in this region.”

As a prelude to the Congressional Breakfast, CRDG brought together the defense ecosystem for a first-of-its-kind networking event in our nation’s capital. Guests had a unique opportunity to interact with other defense industry peers along with academic and government officials and staff to discuss relevant topics. Additionally, CRDG officers and members were available to discuss the organization’s role in the southern Indiana community as an effort to expand community support and advocate for Crane at the local and federal levels. 

“As the Chief of Staff for the headquarters element overseeing 14 U.S. Navy installations, Naval Support Activity, Crane tops the list in terms of support from external Navy partners,” said Captain John Hewitt, Chief of Staff, Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic. “NSA Crane and their resident Navy and Army commands have and will continue to have tremendously strong support from a range of stakeholders including private industry, academia, the State of Indiana, civic organizations such as Radius Indiana and IN3, and Indiana’s Congressional delegation. These partners understand the vital work that goes on aboard NSA Crane – everything from ammunition manufacturing and storage all the way to advancements in hypersonic technology – and how the installation supports the broader context of America’s national defense.”

There were nearly 100 attendees for each event, including defense industry representatives, flag officers, congressional delegation members, senior executive service members, program office personnel, Department of Defense officials, professional staff members (House and Senate), corporate partners, Congressional Delegation staff members, and academic partners. 

“It was a pleasure and success to see so many industry peers and leaders together again in one room, not just once, but twice with the addition of the CRDG reception,” said Kent Parisien, chair of CRDG. “Our organization looks forward to hosting and attending both events again next year as we continue to advocate for Crane and the defense sector at the local, state and national level.”

Radius and CRDG expect to participate annually, and planning for future events has already begun. 

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ABOUT RADIUS INDIANA and CRANE REGIONAL DEFENSE GROUP: Radius Indiana is a regional economic development partnership representing eight counties in Southern Indiana. 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 is also the parent organization of the Crane Regional Defense Group, formed to preserve the strategic value of Crane by supporting local outreach and legislative initiatives that protect military installations in the region and state, and leverage the installation’s potential to bring economic growth to Southern Indiana. 

 

 

Kupros awarded first place in Crane IP Defense Innovation Pitch Competition

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (July 1, 2022) — A Loogootee-based start-up, Kupros, won first place in the third-annual Crane IP Defense Innovation Pitch Competition on Tuesday, June 28.   

Radius Indiana sponsored the virtual competition in coordination with Elevate Ventures, Naval Surface Warfare Center-Crane Division (NSWC Crane), Indiana Innovation Institute (IN3), the Indiana Small Business Development Center (ISBDC), and The Mill. Judges included southwestern Indiana defense and business leaders who had previous experience with pitch competitions and knowledge of NSWC Crane. 

The top three contestants shared cash prizes totaling $12,000. 

  1. Kupros: ($6,000 prize): Kupros manufactures an all-metal copper filament that revolutionizes the 3D printed antenna and electronics market and is led by Ian Ramsdell. This unique filament is 80 times more conductive than anything currently available and can be used successfully with low-cost, commercial-grade FFF/FDM printers, offering a more cost-effective, versatile, and efficient printing process than any other existing solution. 
  2. Blazing Audio ($4,000 prize): Blazing Audio, a deep tech consumer company pioneering a new style of immersive sensory interaction for real-world and virtual applications, is led by David Charlot. The company pitched building Hardware as a service (HaaS) Extended Reality (XR) solutions to provide responsive and interactive remote virtual training to billions around the world currently without access.
  3. HG ASEAN Invest ($2,000 prize): HG ASEAN Invest, led by Hubert Goodman, offers an automated data preprocessing tool that can create value from raw data to enhance an organization’s capability with modern data. Goodman’s Information Consulting will help organizations turn data into information that generates a return on investments. 

“The Crane IP Defense Innovation Pitch start-up competition was a well structured and challenging event with a high caliber field of start-up businesses,” said Ramsdell. “Kupros Inc is honored to have been selected as the winning entry and we thank the competition organizers Radius Indiana for this award.”

Radius Indiana created the royalty-free IP pitch competition as an opportunity for interested businesses, start-ups, and entrepreneurs to take advantage of NSWC Crane’s Rapid Response Licensing Program, which launched in Spring 2020 in response to COVID-19. The competition offered royalty-free access for those who seek to commercialize patented technologies and concepts developed at NSWC Crane. 

“NSWC CRANE is a rock star location for new innovation. Radius Indiana helps amplify this by fostering a startup-friendly environment,” said Charlot. “I found the judges’ questions and advice for Blazing Audio to have commercial success insightful and will use the wisdom shared to navigate the fun journey ahead. I really appreciate the opportunity to participate in the wonderful forum Radius Indiana has created to showcase startups bringing Crane IP to the commercial marketplace.”

This event was the fifth pitch competition hosted by Radius since 2019. These competitions have included pitch opportunities for high school students, adults, startups, and established businesses or products and ideas. 

“Participating in the NSWC Crane ecosystem through the Mill and sharing how our business will leverage the IP tech with Radius was a great experience and I’m grateful for the opportunity,” said Goodman. 

Radius plans to host additional pitch competitions in 2022. More information will be announced in the coming months.

“Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s pitch competition,” said Blaine Parker, director of entrepreneurship and small business support for Radius Indiana. “We are looking forward to seeing great things happen with the businesses that pitched for us, and Radius is here to help facilitate growing relationships with NSWC Crane.”

To view NSWC Crane’s entire IP portfolio, please visit www.techlinkcenter.org.

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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.

About NSWC Crane: NSWC Crane is a naval laboratory and a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) with mission areas in Expeditionary Warfare, Strategic Missions and Electronic Warfare. The warfare center is responsible for multi-domain, multi-spectral, full life cycle support of technologies and systems enhancing capability to today’s Warfighter.

About Elevate Ventures: Elevate Ventures is a private venture development organization that nurtures and develops emerging and existing high-growth businesses into high-performing, Indiana-based companies. Elevate Ventures accomplishes this by providing access to capital, rigorous business analysis and robust advisory services that connect companies with the right mix of resources businesses need to succeed long term. To learn more about Elevate Ventures, visit elevateventures.com.

About Indiana Small Business Development Center: The Indiana SBDC creates a positive and measurable impact on the formation, growth, and sustainability of Indiana’s small businesses by providing entrepreneurs expert guidance and a comprehensive network of resources.

About Indiana Innovation Institute: IN3 (Indiana Innovation Institute) works with academia, industry, and government to create a hub of national security innovation that helps solve critical defense priorities. IN3 connects regional, state and national partners through a variety of means including convening research and business teams to solve emerging technical challenges for the U.S. Department of Defense. IN3 is focused on hypersonics, cyber-physical systems, trusted microelectronics and artificial intelligence. Learn more at www.in3indiana.com.

About The Mill: The Mill is the heart of southern Indiana’s startup ecosystem and its largest coworking space. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit center for entrepreneurship in Bloomington, funded by membership and event space fees, as well as by generous donations from corporate sponsors and angel investors from south-central Indiana.

Radius Indiana welcomes two new members to its staff

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (June 15, 2022) – Radius Indiana is proud to announce the addition of two members and positions to its staff  – Christy Johnson and Haley Leffler.

Johnson joins the Radius team as the Population Attraction Program Coordinator. She will carry out administrative activities related to the Choose Southern Indiana campaign aimed at attracting people to move to the Radius region. In this role, Johnson will head communication with interested out-of-state clients, answer questions about life in southern Indiana, and manage programs and projects that help new residents acclimate to their new community.

Previously, Johnson worked for the Kentucky Workforce Cabinet before moving to Greene County. With personal experience relocating to the Radius region, she is well versed in the transition to the area and can greatly assist those looking to do the same.

Blaine Parker, director of entrepreneurship and small business support for Radius Indiana, will help transition the population attraction program to Johnson. “In our first few months, we’ve been able to learn a great deal about this new program and the need to be attentive to the needs of our new residents. The program is evolving and Christy will have the opportunity to adjust it to the lessons we learn going forward,” said Parker.

Taking over the Southern Indiana Business Report, Leffler will serve as the Business and Community News Content Manger for Radius Indiana. The digital news site brings an in-depth level of coverage of business and economic development, including advanced manufacturing,  tourism and hospitality industry news, agribusiness updates, defense sector, business finance and incentive reporting, and insights into how local initiatives, state policies, and other factors impact the local economy in southern Indiana. 

Southern Indiana Business Report will provide a solution to the region’s loss of local business and economic reporting in recent years, which has inhibited the ability of businesses and communities to communicate their successes in economic development.

Leffler is a recent graduate of Indiana University Southeast with a communications degree. 

“We are grateful to be in a position of growth and look forward to adding to the Radius team,” said Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius Indiana. “As we move past the pandemic the local leaders in our communities are partnering with us to help them capitalize on the potential that is blossoming in their private sector and civic sector constituencies.”

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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 graduates new class from Economic Development for Community Leadership Program

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (May 24, 2022) — The fifth annual Radius Indiana economic development course at French Lick Resort concluded last Thursday, graduating community leaders from seven Indiana counties. 

Participants in the Radius Indiana Economic Development for Community Leadership Program attended educational sessions on topics related to local economic development, networked with other community leaders, and built skills in strategic planning and community problem-solving.

“The economic development field is constantly changing and we are grateful for the continued trust from leaders in southern Indiana to educate them on many aspects of the industry,” said Radius Indiana President and CEO Jeff Quyle. “We will continue to grow and evolve this program to best serve our region and state.”

The program is the only course of its kind to be offered in the southern Indiana area. Since the first course in 2017, nearly 150 people representing 25 Indiana counties have gathered to learn from national and regional speakers about topics and skills including site development, business attraction, workforce, marketing, quality of place, business finance and incentives, and entrepreneurship. 

This year’s course’s registrants included city, town and county representatives, consultants, economic development professionals, utility representatives, and marketing specialists.

“Being new in the economic development world, the course was beyond beneficial for me. There are so many moving parts in the day-to-day work, and it was nice to be able to sit down and have a few key components explained in detail,” said Shea Jones, business office manager for Daviess County Economic Development Corporation, who participated in this year’s course. “It doesn’t matter if you have been in economic development for five months or five years – it is always beneficial to learn from others.”

Course speaker Courtney Zaugg, founder and CEO of Plaka + Associates, joined the conference on day two to discuss entrepreneurship-led economic development.

“I always enjoy engaging with community leaders who are interested in learning about innovative ways to grow their economies,” said Zaugg. “Learning about the beneficial impacts of entrepreneurship-led economic development (and then implementing them) will solidify the Radius Region’s place as a key leader of economic development throughout the state.”

Other sessions and speakers included representatives from economic development groups and consultants including Regional Opportunity Initiatives, the Purdue Center for Regional Development, Indiana Small Business Development Center, local universities and university-led groups, state-run organizations, and finance companies.

Corporate sponsors and scholarships helped fund the program, including generous support from Hoosier Energy, Runnebohm Construction, Milestone Contractors, Smithville Fiber, Duke Energy, Clark Dietz, and Indiana Municipal Power Agency.

Those interested in attending a Radius Indiana course in the future should 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 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 reinstates its annual stakeholder meeting

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (May 16, 2022) – Radius Indiana hosted its annual stakeholder’s luncheon for the first time since 2020 last Wednesday at the French Lick Resort. The meeting featured a panel of local leaders who explored the topic ‘Building Capacity in Our Region’.

Radius Indiana Board of Directors’ Chair Becky Skillman opened the meeting, thanking stakeholders for their continued support throughout the pandemic, as well as recognizing Susie Vaughn as a retiring member of the Radius board.

“The Radius team has been blessed for many years to have Susie as our partner working on our behalf in the Indiana Economic Development Corporation for more than eight years,” said Skillman. “She has driven countless miles across a wide swath of rural southern Indiana, visiting all of our communities at one time or another as she has supported business growth. We will miss her as part of our team and wish her the best on her next endeavor.” 

Skillman then introduced Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius Indiana. Quyle provided an update on the programs and initiatives that make up the ‘Radius family tree’ and ways in which the organization has evolved to best serve the region’s needs.

The pandemic inspired programs that didn’t exist before 2020, such as Radius’s workforce and talent attraction program, Choose Southern Indiana. The program aims to tell the region’s story and demonstrate to interested individuals what life is like in southern Indiana.

In addition, Quyle updated attendees on the region’s growing tourism initiative, Discover Southern Indiana. This year, Radius is dedicating more resources to the program to create the biggest regional initiative in the Midwest with the help of both internal staff and local leaders in the participating counties.

“For the cities, towns, and counties in our region to achieve lasting growth, the local leaders need to have the skills and assets to set priorities and to then take the steps needed to carry out those plans,” said Quyle. “Radius is here to help its communities develop capacity and self-reliance to make success possible.”

The second half of the meeting consisted of a panel of local leaders in the Radius community who have and are actively participating in programs offered by the organization. The panel included individuals involved with ongoing initiatives:

  • Kent Parisien, First Savings Bank | Crane Regional Defense Group; 
  • Cindy Barber, Purdue Extension Daviess County | Recast Cities;
  • Jill Campbell, Daviess County Economic Development Corporation | Choose Southern Indiana; and
  • Nancy Eckerle, Jasper Chamber of Commerce | Radius Indiana’s Women in Economic Development Program.

The panel, moderated by Radius Indiana’s Director of Communications Amanda Craft, discussed the ways Radius has helped build capacity in its eight counties. From creating relationships with community and regional partners to fostering the mentality of what is wanted for the region, the panel discussed the impact that Radius has had on their community and the lessons they have learned and taken to other opportunities.

“Recast Cities has been a very overwhelming but eye-opening experience, leading to many rich conversations with key players in Daviess County,” said Barber. “I have a lot of positive thoughts as we continue to move forward and the experience has been very telling about the capacity of local entrepreneurs and leaders who are all aspiring to revitalize their downtowns.”

If you are interested in attending Radius Indiana’s Stakeholder Meeting next year, please 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 Southwest Central Indiana to drive attraction, retention and expansion of business, thereby increasing employment and investment opportunities and quality of life within the region.

Entrepreneurs and start-ups invited to enter third annual royalty-free pitch competition

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (May 9, 2022) – Entrepreneurs, inventors and start-ups can pitch innovative proposals to southwestern Indiana defense and economic development industry leaders on June 28 at Radius Indiana’s third annual virtual “Crane IP Defense Innovation Pitch Competition” with royalty-free IP. 

The competition offers unprecedented, royalty-free opportunities to commercialize the patented technologies and concepts developed at Naval Surface Warfare Center-Crane Division, Indiana’s only federal research laboratory. Individuals or teams are invited to develop an innovative proposal using any piece of intellectual property available from NSWC Crane’s Technology Transfer Program.

“This is a great opportunity for entrepreneurs to explore moving tech from the lab and into the marketplace and we’ve had a lot of success with this competition in the past,” said Jenna Dix, technology transfer director for NSWC Crane. “Initiatives such as this are demonstrative of the innovative culture and entrepreneurial ecosystem that exists within the Radius region.”

The competition is hosted by Radius Indiana, in coordination with Elevate Ventures, Naval Surface Warfare Center-Crane Division, Bloomington-based Mill, Indiana Innovation Institute, and the Indiana Small Business Development Center. Entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to connect with industry leaders from these organizations, and cash prizes totaling $12,000 will be available to the top three contestants. Additional prize funds will be available for competitors with locations in the Radius region of southern Indiana. 

“Radius Indiana is looking forward to the third annual Crane IP Pitch Competition and we are excited to see entrepreneurs pitch us their ideas for using this amazing technology coming out of NSWC Crane,” said Blaine Parker, director of entrepreneurship and small business support for Radius Indiana. “The winners from past years have gone on to do great things with their new relationship with Crane.”

The pitch competition is being held in conjunction with PROPELS Accelerator, a Mill program offering instruction on how to commercialize cutting-edge technology developed at NSWC Crane. The program takes place over six weeks and focuses on a full business development plan with support from experts in defense and entrepreneurship. Registrants participate in a demonstration at the end of the session and are then encouraged to pitch their idea at the Radius Indiana Crane IP Pitch Competition.

“The Mill couldn’t be happier to support the Radius/Crane IP Pitch Competition as a sponsor with a commitment to expanding our entrepreneurial ecosystem. We’re currently helping folks in our PROPELS Accelerator develop commercialization plans around Crane IP, and the Radius competition is their best next step. This event really unleashes the potential of cross-sector collaboration and innovation around top-notch IP,” said Andy Lehman, head of accelerator programming at the Mill. 

The competition is free for participants. Entrants will receive a template to create a slide presentation for the competition. 

The registration deadline is June 17. Visit www.radiusindiana.com to learn more and register for the competition. 

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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.

About NSWC Crane: NSWC Crane is a naval laboratory and a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) with mission areas in Expeditionary Warfare, Strategic Missions and Electronic Warfare. The warfare center is responsible for multi-domain, multi- spectral, full life cycle support of technologies and systems enhancing capability to today’s Warfighter.

About Elevate Ventures: Elevate Ventures is a private venture development organization that nurtures and develops emerging and existing high-growth businesses into high-performing, Indiana-based companies. Elevate Ventures accomplishes this by providing access to capital, rigorous business analysis and robust advisory services that connect companies with the right mix of resources businesses need to succeed long term. To learn more about Elevate Ventures, visit elevateventures.com.

About Indiana Innovation Institute: IN3 (Indiana Innovation Institute) works with academia, industry, and government to create a hub of national security innovation that helps solve critical defense priorities. IN3 connects regional, state, and national partners through a variety of means including convening research and business teams to solve emerging technical challenges for the Department of Defense. IN3 is focused on hypersonics, cyber-physical systems, trusted microelectronics, artificial intelligence and 5G. Learn more at www.in3indiana.com and follow us on Twitter @IN3indiana and LinkedIn.

About Indiana Small Business Development Center: The Indiana SBDC creates a positive and measurable impact on the formation, growth, and sustainability of Indiana’s small businesses by providing entrepreneurs expert guidance and a comprehensive network of resources. To learn more about you can access free resources through the ISBDC network, visit us at www.isbdc.org. 

About The Mill: The Mill’s mission is to spark Bloomington’s innovation economy by launching and accelerating startups, and its vision is to become Indiana’s center of gravity for entrepreneurship. For more information on Crossroads Collegiate Pitch Competition, visit https://crossroadscollegiate.com/.

Radius Indiana’s Women in Economic Development Program flourishes in southern Indiana

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (March 11, 2022) – Radius Indiana’s Women in Economic Development Leadership Series continues to provide professional development opportunities for women in the industry. Established in 2018, the growing program continues to be the first-ever of its kind across the region and state as it enters its fifth year.

The course focuses on a broad range of topics, including business attraction, retention, and expansion, entrepreneurship, quality of life initiatives, networking, and international business etiquette. The program was designed to encourage an open dialogue among participants to share successes, challenges, and best practices.

In 2021, participation increased to include nearly 30 women across 11 southern Indiana counties, covering all eight counties in the Radius region, as well as Pike, Perry, and Spencer. The group met bi-monthly in both virtual and in-person settings.

Planned topics for 2022 include:

  • READI Grant Update
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Broadband
  • Housing TIF
  • IEDC State Incentives
  • Site Selection

“Radius Indiana’s Women in Economic Development group provides an opportunity to share best practices with professional women throughout the region. Despite the unique differences in each of our communities, we share similar experiences, and our meetings provide the critical thinking skills necessary to seek opportunities and problem solve,” said Rachel Steckler, director of community development for the city of Huntingburg. “In this group, we support and encourage each other both professionally and personally, and we discuss a wide range of topics including everything from economic development training to personal and professional development.”

Radius underwent strategic plan updates in 2018 and this course was created as an initiative for its focus on Regional Leadership and Education. It serves as one of several educational courses Radius sponsors throughout the year, including its annual Economic Development for Community Leadership Program, Economic Development Incentive Seminar, and site selector visits.

Radius Indiana partners with Chelsey Manns, president of Manns Consulting, to lead the group in bi-monthly meetings. 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. 

“This has been such a great group to work with over the years and watch grow and develop both professionally in economic development and personally,” said Manns. “The ability to have a place where women can come and learn from other women on key topics that impact the profession has been an invaluable opportunity for the region and beyond.”

Those interested in learning more about Radius Indiana’s Women in Economic Development Leadership Series should contact the 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.

Radius Indiana’s Entrepreneur Survey shows interest in start-ups post-pandemic

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (Feb. 24, 2022) –– A new study of entrepreneurship in southern Indiana provides insights that both confirm and confound expectations about business start-ups as the economy emerges from the pandemic era. The survey of entrepreneurs, carried out by Radius Indiana, is a follow-on to a 2019 survey before COVID-19 upended numerous aspects of business activity.

The 2021 Radius Indiana Entrepreneur Survey shares information on the demand for spaces, resources, and other support to grow entrepreneurship and support remote working in southwest central Indiana. Just over 100 respondents to the online survey revealed their needs and preferences as entrepreneurs and small business owners in the eight-county region.

The survey showed an appetite for entrepreneurship among women in the region (47 percent of respondents were female), as well as diversity in the types of businesses survey-takers plan to start. These statistics reconfirm that the region’s entrepreneurs are diverse, and the services and initiatives put into place to support entrepreneurship must be flexible and customizable to the wide variety of situations.

“The diversity that our regional entrepreneur’s display was a pleasant surprise. Almost half are females, and veterans make up nine percent of respondents – perhaps a result of the influence of NSA Crane – which draws people with an interest in the defense sector,” Blaine Parker, director of entrepreneurship and small business support for Radius Indiana, said.

“We’ve all grown accustomed to hearing about serial entrepreneurs, who start or own multiple businesses. Our survey confirms that those leaders are very present in our region, with nearly half of the survey respondents owning multiple businesses, especially in the retail and professional services fields,” Parker added.

Chamberlin/Dunn, an analysis and strategy firm that works to gather, improve, and apply better information for better decisions for its clients, conducted the survey in December 2021 and January 2022.

The survey is a follow-on to the 2019 survey that was part of the Southwest Indiana Technology and Collaboration Hub Network or “SWITCH” Network Feasibility Study run by Radius Indiana and the Southern Indiana Development Commission.

“One of the biggest benefits of this survey is that it shows coworking or shared office amenities may be in higher demand than even survey takers realize,” Nicole Dunn, who helped administer both the 2019 and 2021 surveys, said. “In both surveys, the same percentage of respondents (55 percent) said they would not use a coworking space frequently or at all. But in this second survey, we asked a more detailed question about coworking space amenities, and that showed about two-thirds of respondents would indeed use those services for themselves or their employees.”

Both surveys showed the highest demand was for access to funding, grants, and capital, and mentorship from other entrepreneurs. COVID does not seem to have changed that.

The survey also reported:

  • There is a high demand for assistance with marketing and marketing research;
  • There is interest in starting businesses in both downtown and non-downtown locations;
  • And there is demand in the region for certain services, especially broadband, printing/copying, and conference room space.

Three counties in the region showed new business start-up levels above the national average in 2020, according to the US Census Bureau. While national numbers of new business growth increased by 24.3 percent in 2020, Dubois (28.14 percent), Greene (36.13 percent), and Lawrence County (25.54 percent) all saw higher rates of new business formation. The Radius survey results suggest that the strong new business formation may continue into 2022 and 2023.

“One of Radius Indiana’s goals is to focus on boosting new businesses in the downtown cores of our communities, as both an economic development initiative as well as a quality of place improvement, and we’re encouraged by the number of individuals who indicated they have a high likelihood of opening in a downtown,” Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius Indiana, said. “We are actively assisting the downtown revitalization process now with our programs, and this gives us candidates we can talk to for our next cohort.

“This survey confirms that the steps we’re taking to develop a dedicated revolving loan fund for downtown startups will be a useful achievement this year.”

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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