‘Choose Southern Indiana’ Emerges as National Competitor in Talent Attraction

Bedford, IN (Aug 26, 2022) – The first year of Radius Indiana’s talent attraction and workforce development initiative, Choose Southern Indiana, has provided $135,000 in relocation packages to 27 new residents and their families as an incentive to move to the region. The response has exceeded initial expectations and proven that southern Indiana can compete with other areas of the country to attract talent.

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

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.

“We are excited about the level of interest in the Choose Southern Indiana program and the commitment from our new neighbors in the region,” said Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius Indiana. “From our strong job market to our quality of life and low cost of living – everyone seems eager to experience all we have to offer in the region and we look forward to the opportunity to help people learn more about our communities.”

Dubois and Orange Counties joined the program in summer 2021 to recruit both remote workers and veterans to add to their workforce. Since then, Daviess and Greene Counties have also joined the initiative and are excited about the early success and potential for more. Dubois county has provided the most incentives thus far at 18, and more are expected to come. Recipients have filled jobs in fields such as healthcare, government, education and manufacturing, and have moved from many states across the country including California, Florida and Tennessee. In many cases, their spouses and partners have also become members of the local workforce.

“I am so happy I moved to Jasper and love the small town community,” said Caroline Brinster, incentive recipient and new Dubois County resident. “It boasts a vibrant economy and I am excited and fortunate enough to be working as an attorney for Dentons Bingham Greenebaum, a leading law firm that serves clients both locally and across the globe.”

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. It also provides key data and analytics to assist in reporting. To date, the Choose Southern Indiana initiative has received over 1,000 applications, and the 27 recipients along with their families account for more than 70 new residents, who will bring over $1.2 million in annual income to the communities. Additionally, an economic impact increase of over $750,000 can be attributed to this initiative, which measures revenue from property taxes, local household spending and other socioeconomic factors.

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.

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

 

 

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.