Enrollment at Capacity for Radius Indiana’s New Regional Economic Development Course

Enrollment at Capacity for Radius Indiana’s
New Regional Economic Development Course

BEDFORD, Ind. (March 1, 2017) — Radius Indiana’s inaugural economic development course scheduled for March 28-30 at the French Lick Resort is sold out and the waitlist for additional registrants continues to grow.

The Radius Indiana Economic Development for Community Leadership Program is the first course of its kind to be offered in the area. It will feature national and regional speakers teaching educational sessions on topics such as real estate development, business attraction, workforce, marketing, business finance and incentives, and entrepreneurship.

“We are pleased but not surprised by the strong interest we have experienced from our southern Indiana neighbors,” said Radius Indiana President and CEO Jeff Quyle. “Holding these classes right here in the heart of our region has opened the door for more people to attend the course and learn the principles that build successful long-term economic development strategies.”

The course’s 45 registrants include mayors, council members, county commissioners, chamber of commerce leaders, tourism directors, economic development professionals and congressional staffers. Representing 18 counties, two thirds of the attendees hail from the eight Radius counties and the remaining third come from counties scattered across southern and central Indiana.

“Our community leadership really benefits from listening to experts in economic development explain what the best practices are for local governments that want to increase business activity,” Bedford Mayor Shawna Girgis said. “That’s why I’m so pleased we have five people from Lawrence County attending the course; the more of us who understand these things and collaborate, the better the results we can achieve for our citizens.”

Corporate sponsors and tuition payments will fund the program, including generous support from Duke Energy, Hoosier Energy, Indiana Municipal Power Agency, Vectren, Smithville Fiber, and Springs Valley Bank & Trust.

“This class is not intended to produce revenue, we will instead measure its value in the number of community leaders that will be better prepared to help contribute to the growth of our regional economy,” Quyle stated. “Economic development success grows from the grassroots up, from local people who can be part of the local investment in economic growth.”

Based on the high level of interest that sold the course out one month before its first session, Radius Indiana expects to offer the program again in 2018. Those interested in being added to the waitlist should contact the Radius Indiana office at 812-277-9778.

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.

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