Tag: News

Radius Indiana to host region’s first Home Brew Competition

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (Dec. 05, 2022) – Radius Indiana invites local homebrewers to put their skills to the test in its first-ever regional Home Brewing Competition Saturday, March 18 in Jasper, Indiana. 

As the regional economic development organization for the region, Radius works to create opportunities for entrepreneurs to further develop their products and ideas. The new homebrew competition is the latest initiative for residents to showcase their talents.

The competition is open to any home brewer who has perfected the art of brew-making, or perhaps a beer lover that wants to try for the first time. Competitors must be a resident of one of the eight Radius Indiana counties: Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Orange, or Washington. 

Competitors will be judged by a panel based on their specific brew category and cash prizes are guaranteed to raise a few cheers from the lucky winners. Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each category.

Categories include: 

  • Light – Pilsners, light ales and lagers
  • Amber – Oktoberfests, nut browns and Irish reds  
  • Hoppy – Beer that showcases a strong hop profile 
  • Wheat – Beer that contains wheat or rye 
  • Dark – Stouts and porters 

There is a $5 entry fee per brew that must be paid at the time of submission. Submissions can be made beginning March 1 at any of the dedicated dropoff locations below: 

  • Daviess County Economic Development, 201 E Main St Suite 202, Washington, IN 47501
  • Dubois Strong Economic Development, 961 College Ave, Jasper, IN 47546
  • Orange County Economic Development, 505 S Maple St, French Lick, IN 47432
  • Radius Indiana, 1504 I St, Bedford, IN 47421

To register, please visit www.radiusindiana.com.

For questions or more specific information on dropoff hours and times, please email info@radiusindiana.com.

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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.

 

Southern Indiana Employers Increase Workforce and Wages with Plans to Continue

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (Nov. 30, 2022) – Southern Indiana employers say a workforce pay increase is expected in the next 12 months in addition to the ones given in 2022, according to Radius Indiana’s third biennial survey of wages and benefits throughout the region. 

The 2022 Radius Indiana Wages and Benefits Survey gives local companies up-to-date, real-world information about the labor market in the eight-county region and how it compares to the state of Indiana and the United States. Ninety-two firms participated in the survey, contributing compensation data for 13,257 employees. 

The survey included 63 job classifications, and with the region’s diverse economy, the jobs covered everything from service and support positions like receptionist and customer service to production and logistics positions such as machinists, front-line manufacturing supervisors, general laborers, and forklift operators. Results also showed growth in tech and IT positions such as electronic technicians, system analysts, and network administrators. 

“The Radius Indiana wages and benefits survey is a great tool we use to ensure that we are offering competitive pay and benefits compared to other employers in the Radius region,” said Alex Barnes, president of W.F. Meyers, a Bedford-based manufacturer of cutting tools and equipment for the stone-cutting industry.

Whorton Marketing and Research, a consulting firm that performs industry and membership research, conducted the survey in August and September 2022, and Dubois Strong sponsored its completion. To protect privacy, Radius did not receive employee names or other personal information in the production of the report. Martin County had the highest level of participation with 23 companies providing data for the survey, a substantial increase from the four companies that participated in 2020.

“As the new executive director at the Martin County Alliance, I’m thrilled to see our local businesses take advantage of the survey as we seek to learn more about their current workforce and how we can continue to help them succeed,” said Jessica Potts. “These results will be a vital tool as we launch a new business retention and expansion program in Martin County aimed at supporting our local businesses. This is one tool to help build individual connections that strengthen relationships and provide assistance our local companies may need.”

Among the survey’s findings: A sample of seventeen positions, spread across three important sectors in the region, experienced a four-year growth in wages of 7.43 percent from 2018 to 2022. The Technology/Growth sector led with an average increase of 19.4 percent, followed by the Production/Logistics sector with a 4.9 percent increase, and the Services/Support sector dropped by 0.9 percent.

The survey also reported: 

  • Employers adding workers over the next 12 months: 74 percent;
  • Employers offering multiple insurance plans: 53 percent;
  • Employers contributing to a 401(k) plan: 89 percent;

“This data provided by employers in the region reveals that wage growth is diverging among different sectors of the economy, offering clues to employers and employees about future opportunities to maximize their resources,” said Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius Indiana. “We are grateful for the participation we received for this survey; together we created a great tool to help our local businesses grow and learn.”

Other findings from the survey include:

  • Respondents reported an employee turnover rate of 24%;
  • 74% of firms expect to add workers in the next 12 months;
  • 30% now have some employees who split their schedule between the workplace and remote locations; 37 % allowed remote work during the pandemic but have since returned to working in the office. 19% have some employees who work remotely full time.

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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 grows team with two new hires

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (Nov. 8, 2022) – Radius Indiana welcomes two new staff members to its team who will strengthen the organization’s response to regional economic opportunities – Carol Johnson and Janna Foxx.

Taking the reins of the Southern Indiana Business Report, Johnson will serve as the Business and Community News Content Manager for Radius Indiana. The digital news site brings in-depth 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 provides 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.

Before joining Radius, Johnson had an extensive career in journalism and spent 30-plus years at the Bedford Times-Mail covering city government, downtown development, education, breaking news, local nonprofits, and human interest stories.

Foxx joins the Radius team as support for Radius’s Crane Community Support initiative led by Director Matt Craig. The addition of Foxx will allow the pair to enhance the region’s opportunities to collaborate with NSA Crane through organizations such as the White River Military Coordination Alliance (WRMCA) and the Crane Regional Defense Group (CRDG).

Created in 2018 to strengthen the relationship between Crane and the community, the 24-member Alliance promotes community growth, supports the military missions of Crane, and establishes effective, timely means of communication between the community and Crane to coordinate opportunities and address concerns. Subsequently, CRDG was formed as a subcommittee of WRMCA to preserve the strategic value of Crane and bring economic growth to Southern Indiana by supporting local outreach and legislative initiatives.

Previously, Foxx served as the Acting Technical Director for Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division before opening her own consulting firm in July 2021. Foxx most recently served as NSWC’s acting director in April 2020, leading the organization through its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, while maintaining normal business processes and establishing the initial business processes for COVID-19-specific needs. Upon retiring from Crane, she started Foxx Consulting, a woman-owned small business (WSOB) that provides consultation to businesses working on federal contracts.

“The speed of change that businesses encounter in the world today calls for the Radius team to be able to respond to new opportunities and evolving demands,” said Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius Indiana. “Adding people of the caliber of Carol and Janna to our staff gives us more ways to serve the needs of the public and private sector clients we serve.”

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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 teams with South Central Indiana for Louisville economic outreach

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (Nov. 2, 2022) — Radius Indiana partnered with South Central Indiana Economic Development Group to share insights about their respective southern Indiana regions as co-hosts of an educational session for site selectors and business advisers in downtown Louisville Oct. 27.

The event marks the third joint economic effort by the two organizations, representing a total of 17 southern Indiana counties. 

The session is part of Radius Indiana’s ongoing outreach program to raise awareness about the business strengths and opportunities in the region. The leaders from Radius Indiana and SCIED Group shared the regions with their southern neighbors, showcasing the benefits of doing business in the regions, as well as new programs at work to attract population and strengthen existing businesses.

Tony Denhart, executive vice president of Workforce and Talent for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation served as the guest speaker for the session and shared initiatives underway to help Indiana businesses attract and retain talent. 

Representatives from the regions’ Local Economic Development Organizations as well as Wendy Dant Chesser or One Southern Indiana joined Radius President and CEO Jeff Quyle and SCIED President Darrell Voelker for the event. 

“New development in either of our areas can have a significant effect on our neighboring counties. We share resources, workforce and infrastructure with many of the Radius counties and any opportunity we have to work together only strengthens our ability to attract and grow business,” said Voelker.

Jessica Potts, Executive Director of the Martin County Alliance, who joined the organization this summer added, “This was my first opportunity to meet with site selectors and share information about Martin County to decision makers outside our region. The collaboration between Radius and South Central Indiana shows how much working together can provide a greater reach for our economic development efforts.”

“We are continually looking for opportunities to share our region with business leaders who help national and global companies make decisions about where to locate or expand their businesses,” said Quyle. “We are happy to reinstate this event after having to take a two-year break from in-person meetings. It is in the true spirit of regionalism that Radius and the SCIED Group came together for this effort. We have diverse assets, but a common mission—to grow the economy in southern Indiana.”

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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 visits Atlanta for site selector trip

Posted on by Radius Indiana

 

BEDFORD, Ind. (Oct. 19, 2022) — Radius Indiana traveled to Atlanta earlier this month to meet with site selectors and share information about the business climate in the Radius region. This was Radius’s first site selector trip to Atlanta since 2015.

Radius Indiana President and CEO Jeff Quyle met with six site selectors during the visit. Workforce availability dominated the topics addressed by business advisors, who cite labor shortages as a key question they face from clients in locations across the country.

“The Radius message was that there are numerous regional programs available to try to help with workforce needs of both existing as well as new businesses, and there are many tools that can help companies find the right talent in southern Indiana,” said Quyle. “The site selectors were also interested in learning about the growth of the Crane-related tech companies that are continuing to locate in the region.”

Radius has instituted several workforce attraction and retention initiatives over the last few years, and the southern Indiana region as a whole is dedicated to helping grow the workforce. Programs such as Catapult aim to enhance the skills of members of the population seeking to enter the manufacturing workforce, while Choose Southern Indiana looks to recruit new residents with a $5,000 incentive for those who relocate to southern Indiana.

Additionally, outside programs, including Regional Opportunities Initiative’s UpSkill Work and Learn, offers high school students a chance to discover career interests and pathways they cannot learn in the classroom. Students are paired with a local employer and have the opportunity to work a paid job, gain career credentials and earn college credit while still in high school.

Radius Indiana will continue its outreach program efforts with additional site selector trips through the end 2022 and into 2023, including collaborative marketing activities with other regional groups in the Southern half of the state. The next outing will take place in Louisville, Kentucky later this month.

“We continue to see a positive impact on our region through site selector trips such as this,” said Quyle. “Being able to highlight different industry sectors that are important to our counties is a top priority for Radius as well as continuing to educate the country about what our region has to offer.”

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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.

Radius Indiana Celebrates National Manufacturing Day

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (Oct. 6, 2022) — Radius Indiana joins the U.S. Small Business Administration and the National Association of Manufacturers in recognizing Manufacturing Day, an annual event on the first Friday of October, which celebrates modern manufacturing and is meant to inspire the next generation of manufacturers. 

Manufacturing is the fifth-largest employer in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over 19,400 workers are employed in the manufacturing industry in the Radius Region which represents an increase of 350 new jobs created in the sector over the past ten years, despite the disruption of the COVID pandemic. 

The regional Location Quotient for manufacturing in the Radius Region is 2.64, revealing that the sector is more than two-and-a-half times more concentrated regionally than it is nationally. Manufacturing represents 21.4 percent of total regional employment compared to the national total of 8.1 percent of employment in the sector. 

Production jobs dominate manufacturing occupations in Radius’s eight counties; over 60 percent of all manufacturing jobs are classified as production, while 10 percent are transportation and material moving, slightly over seven percent are office and administration, and the remainder are scattered over a variety of functions. 

“Manufacturing remains one of the most important pillars of our regional economy,” said Radius President and CEO Jeff Quyle. “From high-demand furniture manufacturing to the factories supplying important parts for the automotive industry, the strength in manufacturing appears to be providing the financial fuel to allow other parts of the economy to grow.” 

Wages among production workers vary greatly according to the occupational skills needed. Entry level meat cutters in the agribusiness sector average annual wages in the low-$30,000 range, while skilled assemblers and machine operators average wages in the mid-$40,000s. Average wages for all workers of $52,614 are below the national average, but are among some of the highest paying wages in the region. 

The region’s number of manufacturing firms is on the rebound in recent years. From a high of 363 manufacturing establishments in 2011, the numbers decreased to around 340 in the following decade, but have climbed every year from 2019 to 2021 back to 360 establishments. 

Counties throughout the region are participating in Manufacturing Day in their own unique ways. In Orange County, 8th grade students from Orleans, Paoli and Springs Valley will visit local manufacturing/distributing partners such as Jasper Seating, Inc, Best Home Furnishings, Pluto Inc., and Boston International. 

Additionally, the Lawrence County Economic Growth Council is continuing its trend from 2021 to celebrate a 5-day Manufacturing Week that includes activities with students from The

Collaboration of Shoals, Orleans, and Mitchell Schools (COSMOS) and the North Lawrence Career Center to introduce the industry through informational sessions and tours with local manufacturers. Those companies include WF Meyers, Stone City Products, CAP, IN-FAB, and PRD. 

“We applaud our manufacturers, their employees and the contributions they make to our economy in the Radius Region. We will continue to monitor this important sector and work with our regional employers to help them thrive as well as make the region a choice location for new investment,” said Quyle. 

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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.

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.