April 7, 2026
By: Janna Foxx, Director of Crane Community Support for Radius Indiana
Although businesses, communities, and military installations all benefit from working together, there is often a barrier of entry and a lack of knowledge on how to attain a contract with a military installation. Seeking to bridge this gap, the Crane Regional Defense Group (CRDG) hosts events to connect defense contractors, community business leaders, and legislators to Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane and Crane Army Ammunition Activity.
Founded in 2020, CRDG expands community support for and advocates for Crane at the local and federal levels, leveraging the installation’s potential to bring economic growth to Southern Indiana. To accomplish this mission, CRDG conducts defense-related outreach such as hosting events and legislative advocacy (attending local and state committee meetings, meeting with local, state, and federal representatives, etc.).
During its last “Connect to Mission” event, held quarterly, CRDG drew in a crowd of over 400— a big increase from the under 100 attendees the organization had when it first began events in 2022. At the Connect to Missions, event attendees have the opportunity to listen to briefs and panels from various NSWC Crane divisions and Crane Army Ammunition Activity, which rotate for events throughout the year. They also have a chance to network with fellow defense contractors and attend one-on-one networking sessions with various Crane divisions and Crane partners.
In addition to its Connect to Mission events, CRDG hosts an annual reception in Washington D.C. as a precursor to the Crane Congressional Breakfast on Capitol Hill, an annual “State of the Installation Address” from the Naval Weapons Station Crane Commanding Officer, and various other initiatives. By holding these events and building connections between defense contractors, the community, and military installations, CRDG is promoting growth and economic success in southern Indiana and throughout the state. Similar organizations to CRDG exist in other areas near military installations, and supporting these organizations is a step forward in creating the symbiotic relationship between local communities and military installations that strengthen the region.