Tag: News

Radius Indiana boosts tourism effort with new team leader

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (Oct. 8, 2021) — Misty Weisensteiner joins the team at Radius Indiana as the first Chief Operating Officer of Discover Southern Indiana, the regional tourism marketing arm of Radius. Weisensteiner will lead regional tourism efforts and help grow the relationship with industry members and partners in southern Indiana. 

Weisensteiner returned to her southern Indiana roots when she joined Radius Oct. 4. In her new leadership role, she will work to elevate the Discover Southern Indiana brand, collaborate with the numerous regional counties and their ongoing tourism efforts, and help to further increase the impact of tourism as a vital component of the regional economy. 

“I am very excited to be back home and working in southern Indiana,” Weisensteiner said. “Leaders in this part of the state understand the importance of tourism and quality of place, and together we will work to strengthen and build Discover Southern Indiana.”

Weisensteiner has over 20 years of experience in hospitality and tourism management. Prior to joining Radius, she served as Director of Core Strategy Implementation for the Indiana Destination Development Corporation. She also worked as the executive director of the Indiana Office of Tourism Development, Orange County Economic Development Partnership and Visit French Lick West Baden.

While serving at the state level, Weisensteiner served on several regional, state and local boards, and built connections at both the state and national levels. This experience allows her to build on the already-existing regional tourism brand and expand the reach of its target audiences.

“The state has done a great job of making Indiana a destination and getting visitors here,” Weisensteiner said. “The new approach and strategy of the Indiana Destination Development Corporation aligns nicely with the missions of Radius and Discover Southern Indiana. I am looking forward to the continued partnership”

Tourism is a key factor in the overall economic prosperity of the region. In 2018, more than $300 million in tourism spending was accounted for in the eight Radius counties alone, with $157 million in total economic impact, according to Rockport Analytics. Additionally, ongoing improvements in quality of place and tourism efforts are anticipated to help attract businesses and workforce to the region and help retain current residents.

In addition to hiring Weisensteiner, Radius has made an internal staffing change. Blaine Parker, former director of tourism and quality of place, is now the Director of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Support, helping communities develop and support diverse, locally-owned small business sectors.

“With the READI program in mind, Radius is hopeful that there may be significant funding to help augment our engagement in tourism branding in years to come,” said Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius Indiana. “We are grateful for the opportunity to have Misty lead our region’s team and we cannot wait for so many people to discover Southern Indiana.” 

Follow Discover Southern Indiana at Discover Southern Indiana on Facebook and @DiscoverSoIn on both Instagram and Twitter.

Misty Weisensteiner, Chief Operating Officer of Discover 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 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 hosts annual regional economic development seminar

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (Oct. 6, 2021) — Area accountants, financial managers, and leaders in economic development attended a regional economic development incentive seminar on Sept. 22 hosted by Radius Indiana. 

The event, which took place at the West Baden Springs Hotel, aimed to educate local attendees about economic incentives that are available to businesses in the region. These incentives can help local businesses grow their companies or expand operations.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the presentation and gained valuable insight into new programs and tax incentives for local businesses,” said Debbie Deckard, CPA at Turpen & Deckard. “I am very grateful Radius and the other presenters took the time out of their busy schedules to address our CPA group.”

Presenters from local organizations and financial firms provided information on a variety of the financial tools available to assist local businesses as they grow. 

Speakers at the event included:

  • Jeff Quyle (Radius Indiana) covered state incentives such as the Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) Tax Credit and the Hoosier Business Investment (HBI) Tax Credit, which support job creation and capital investment. Quyle also closed the event with an overview of the Regional Impact Fund (RIF), the only deal-closing fund in Indiana, which is dedicated solely to economic development projects in the Radius region.
  • Heidi Amspaugh (BakerTilly) provided an overview of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and tax abatement, focusing on how local communities can best utilize and benefit from tax incentives. She also offered a brief introduction to New Market Tax Credits, which offer federal tax incentives for private investments in many Radius communities.
  • Harold Gutzwiller (Hoosier Energy) offered a utility perspective for the group and explained Economic Development Riders, which can provide discounts and savings for relocating or expanding businesses.

“Supporting growth for the existing businesses in our region continues to be one of our most important focus areas,” said Quyle. “We appreciate the opportunity to help businesses understand and take advantage of the powerful business support incentives we have available in our state and region.”

Those interested in attending a Radius Indiana course in the future can 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 the region to drive attraction, retention and expansion of business, thereby increasing employment and investment opportunities and quality of life within the region.

Indiana Senate Leader joins Radius Indiana’s September board meeting

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (Sept. 23, 2021) — Indiana State Senate President Pro Tempore Rod Bray traveled to southern Indiana to be the featured speaker at Radius Indiana’s Board of Directors meeting in Jasper on Sept. 8. 

Bray, who was elected in 2012, represents Morgan County as well as parts of Johnson, Owen and Putnam counties. He shared stories and insights with the board on community development successes in his district, along with discussion about likely policies to be addressed through the READI program in the Radius region and other regions in the state. He was introduced to the Board by Radius Chair former Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman.

“I’m honored to have this opportunity to speak to the leaders who sit on the Radius Board,” Bray said. “Our State is launching innovative approaches to enhance the quality of place for our residents as well as attract new people to move to Indiana. I’m excited to see how these communities will partner to grow and improve southern Indiana.”

Radius, which is based in Bedford, traveled to Jasper to hold its quarterly board meeting at the newly constructed Thyen-Clark Cultural Center, home of Jasper Community Arts and the Jasper Public Library.

Other meeting updates included: 

  • Catapult program: Christian Blome, dean of students at Vincennes University Jasper Campus (VUJC), provided the board with an update of the Catapult program at the meeting. Catapult is a training program aimed at preparing individuals for a career in advanced manufacturing. VUJC hosted one cohort in 2021 and hopes to add several more in the coming year, Blome said. 
  • Local relocation incentive program: Radius provided an update on Choose Southern Indiana, a relocation incentive program aimed at bringing new talent to southern Indiana. Over 300 individuals have applied for the program, which offers a $5,000 relocation incentive to qualified out-of-state individuals or families who relocate. 
  • Cooperative advertising program: Earlier this year, six Radius member counties joined a brand-new cooperative advertising program with Discover Southern Indiana. The program focuses on both regional and local tourism marketing opportunities. 
  • Crane Regional Defense Group (CRDG): A sub-branch of the White River Military Coordination Alliance, CRDG expands community support and advocates for NSA Crane at the local and federal level. The has a newly completed website and is accepting member applications. Membership application and benefits are available on the website.

“Our staff has not let the pandemic slow down our progress and I am looking forward to the projects we have yet to come,” said Jeff Quyle, Radius CEO and President. “Huge thank you to our board for its continued support; we’ve got a great group and together we will continue to make a difference 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 Southwest Central Indiana to drive attraction, retention and expansion of business, thereby increasing employment and investment opportunities and quality of life within the region.

Crawford County Tourism and Crawford County Economic Development Receive $22,500 Through Region’s First Cooperative-Advertising Program

Posted on by Radius Indiana

ENGLISH, Ind. (Aug. 17, 2021) — Representatives from Crawford County Tourism, Crawford County Economic Development, Radius Indiana and Discover Southern Indiana will hold a press event Wednesday, Aug. 18 at 10:30 a.m. at the Crawford County Welcome Center, 5935 S. State Road 66 in English. The group will discuss the county’s participation in a new cooperative advertising program created by the region’s tourism initiative, Discover Southern Indiana, which will provide $22,500 in funding to bolster tourism advertising.

Discover Southern Indiana is a regional tourism brand launched in 2019 by Radius Indiana, the eight-county economic development organization representing Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Orange and Washington counties. Since its inception, Discover Southern Indiana has launched multiple advertising campaigns, outdoor ads and the region’s first Ice Cream Trail, which takes visitors on a 15-stop, region-wide tour of locally owned ice cream shops. Its new cooperative advertising program allows counties to receive matching funds of up to 150 percent to promote local attractions along with Discover Southern Indiana.

“We are delighted to have Crawford County join in our efforts to bring new visitors to our southern Indiana region,” said Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius Indiana. “By working together to showcase our attractions, we are strengthening the tourism industry that is so important to our region, especially in Crawford County. Through the co-op advertising campaign, we will be able to expand our visibility and reach to cities and states and a new audience of visitors.

This program will allow Crawford County to attract more tourists by highlighting and promoting Crawford County’s already existing attractions through mixed media advertising. Tourism is the biggest industry in Crawford County and it is important to utilize tools that will help continue growth in that area. A portion of this contribution will support Discover Southern Indiana’s regional tourism efforts through the purchase of advertising in publications, digital and social media marketing, paid written stories, and sponsorship of regional promotion in travel agent conferences.

“As our economic development has consistently indicated, we will collaborate with any person or organization committed to prosperity in Crawford County,” said Michael Thissen, executive director of the Crawford County Economic Development Partnership. “Our long-term partnership with the Tourism Commission has paved the way for boosting our profile for visitors and potential investors. I am excited for the next steps and am grateful to our regional partner in Radius Indiana for this unique opportunity.”

“We are excited to continue our attempts to strengthen tourism in the county by partnering with Crawford County Economic Development and Radius Indiana to increase advertising and attract people from all over the state of Indiana and beyond,” added Mark Stevens, Crawford County Tourism Board President and County Councilman.

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About Crawford County Tourism: Crawford County, IN is home to Marengo Caves, Cave Country Canoes, Patoka Lake, O’Bannon Woods State Park, Sycamore Springs, and many other popular attractions. For information on Crawford County attractions, events, and lodging, visit crawfordcountyindiana.com or contact us at 812-739-2246 or info@crawfordcountyindiana.com. We Are Outdoor Recreation!

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.

About Crawford County Economic Development Partnership: The Crawford County Economic Development Partnership (CCEDP) serves Crawford County Indiana to meet business, employment, and quality of place needs. The CCEDP is a collaborative organization to assist businesses, entrepreneurs, employment seekers, and quality of place initiatives to generate increased assessed value for the new generation economy. The CCEDP is committed to growing a prosperous Crawford County… together. Visit selectcrawfordcounty.com for more information or contact us at info@selectcrawfordcounty.com or 812-739-4479.

Registration now open for Radius Indiana Economic Education Session

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (July 28, 2021) — Area accountants and financial managers are invited to participate in Radius Indiana’s second economic development incentive seminar.

The Radius Indiana Economic Education Session will take place Sept. 22 from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the West Baden Hotel. Attendees at the course will learn about financial incentives that are available in the region and from the State of Indiana that can help local businesses grow their company or expand operations.

“After so much uncertainty caused by the pandemic, we wanted to offer our economic education course to support the growth of our local businesses in the Radius region,” said Radius Indiana President and CEO Jeff Quyle. “This education session will provide great information for the attendees and help them better understand and utilize some of the helpful incentives available to them through the state and local programs.”     

Speakers from state agencies, local organizations, and financial firms will share best practices and offer perspectives on local and regional economic strategies. The program aims to support local businesses by adding to their financial tools and offering their advisors the latest incentives and state resources they can use for planning.

Confirmed speakers and subjects for the course will include:

  • Susan Vaughn, Indiana Economic Development Corporation – State Incentive Programs;
  • Heidi Amspaugh, BakerTilly – TIF/Abatement;
  • Utility Panel – Electric Incentive Rates; and
  • Jeff Quyle, Radius Indiana – The Regional Impact Fund.

The Radius Indiana Economic Education Session is free for those located in the region, and lunch will be provided. Registration is now available at www.Radiusindiana.com or by calling 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.

‘Choose Southern Indiana’ aimed at increasing talent pool in Radius region

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (July 19, 2021) — Radius Indiana, in coordination with Dubois Strong and the Orange County Economic Development Partnership, is proud to announce its latest economic development initiative for talent attraction and workforce development, Choose Southern Indiana.

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

Dubois County is offering this program to recruit remote workers to relocate, while Orange County has set its focus on finding veterans to move to its county. Other counties are expected to join the regional program as well.

“We believe the rich variety of recreational opportunities and the quality of life and safety in our small cities and towns are going to appeal to any number of people when they discover this chance for an introduction to southern Indiana,” said Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius Indiana. “We’re excited to help people learn more about our communities with the Choose Southern Indiana program.” 

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.

“Southern Indiana is a hidden gem,” Evan Hock, Co-Founder of MakeMyMove, said. “Movers looking for the great outdoors, affordable cost-of-living, and a tight-knit community should look no further. We’re proud to partner with Radius to help recruit some fresh faces to the region.”

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.

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.

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

The Indiana Uplands is READI to Go

Posted on by Radius Indiana

 

 

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI) and Radius Indiana are pleased to announce that the 11 counties of the Indiana Uplands will continue their shared commitment to economic and community prosperity through participation in the Indiana Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI). Each of the 11 counties affirmed their participation in the Indiana Uplands READI application through formal resolutions provided by key entities across the region, including county commissions, city and town councils, school districts, and other entities.

On July 1, ROI notified the Indiana Economic Development Corporation of its intent to seek funding, alongside its partner organizations, through READI on behalf of the Indiana Uplands region, comprised of Brown, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Orange, Owen, and Washington counties.

“READI, as its acronym so aptly communicates, has the potential to position this region to accelerate the work we have been collectively pursuing through regionally relevant, demand-driven strategies focused on economic growth and community prosperity,” said ROI President and CEO, Tina Peterson. “READI will allow our region of 406,000 individuals living in 48 cities and towns to take the next steps in further activating a rural region with rapidly growing technology-driven sectors, world-class education assets, and incredible natural resources. We have momentum, and we are READI to build upon it.”

ROI has opened an online tool to allow Uplands organizations and individuals to provide information on potential projects and programs that have the capacity to grow the region’s economic outcomes through investments in place-based talent, business, and quality of place opportunities. The online READI submission tool captures information about the project or program, its regional impact, and the anticipated budget. Submissions can represent projects/programs in various stages of development from conception to implementation. Information provided via the tool will inform an updated Indiana Uplands strategic plan and the Regional Development Plan required to participate in READI. The online tool will accept submissions through July 30.

In May, Indiana Gov. Eric J. Holcomb and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) announced the launch of READI. This transformational initiative will dedicate $500 million in state appropriations to strategically advance quality of place and quality of life, innovation, entrepreneurship, and talent attraction within self-defined Indiana regions. Through READI, regional grants of up to $50 million will support projects and programs that help make Indiana a magnet for talent and economic growth. Regions will be required to provide matching dollars to leverage the potential of READI.

In addition to involvement by leadership in all 11 counties, ROI and Radius Indiana are coordinating efforts on behalf of the READI program in collaboration with stakeholders representing major regional employers and other anchor institutions.

In 2015, Lilly Endowment Inc. awarded three grants to three organizations totaling $42 million to fund regional development initiatives identified in the 2014 Strategic Plan for Economic and Community Prosperity in Southwest Central Indiana. Regional Opportunity Initiatives, formed in 2016 alongside the Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement and the Indiana Innovation Institute, has a mission to grow potential and possibility in the Uplands through a focus on advanced industry sectors, regionalism, transformative school and workforce redesign, and placemaking strategies.

Radius Indiana is a regional economic development partnership representing eight counties in the Indiana Uplands region: 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.

“Our region’s wealth of recreational and tourism attractions will really shine brighter as the READI program allows us to enhance the quality of place and nourish the dynamic economic growth and entrepreneurship that are part of the culture here,” said Jeff Quyle, President and CEO of Radius Indiana.

As part of the READI effort, regional stakeholders are working to update the strategic plan developed for Southwest Central Indiana in 2014. Aspects of the updated Indiana Uplands strategic plan, including fundable projects and programs, will be used for the READI application due by August 31, 2021. READI funding decisions are expected to be made by IEDC in December 2021.

More information is available at: https://regionalopportunityinc.org/readi

Southern Indiana shovel-ready site becomes first in state to be Verisite and state-certified

Posted on by Radius Indiana

LINTON, Ind. (June 28, 2021) — A shovel-ready site in Linton received certification from the state of Indiana through the Verisite certification process, becoming the first in Indiana to be both Verisite and state-certified. 

Leaders from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA), Radius Indiana, Verisite, the City of Linton, Greene County Economic Development Corporation and the Linton-Stockton Chamber of Commerce partnered to celebrate the certification of the site.

“By being designated as site certified, Linton has illustrated their commitment to economic growth,” said OCRA Executive Director Denny Spinner. “This shows that the Dunkerly site is ready for investment and has the resources needed to be successful. This is an exciting achievement for the community and I congratulate all community members and partners involved in making this designation happen.”

The event featured comments from Spinner, Jeff Quyle from Radius Indiana, Courtney Zaugg from Plaka and Associates/Verisite, and Mayor John Wilkes from the City of Linton.

The 60.97-acre site in Greene County completed the Verisite certification process and received a Silver Site certification in August 2020. The Silver Certification gives companies and site selectors the assurance the site is ready for expedited development and that all needed documentation and data has been compiled and verified, which results in cost savings and speed to market for a new business. Indiana Municipal Power Agency (IMPA) provided financial support and engagement in the certification process.

 “When we say ‘You’ll like Linton’, it’s not just a slogan. We mean that sincerely, and we apply it equally to new residents and new businesses. Our community is prepared to treat newcomers with hospitality and warmth,” said Mayor Wilkes.

Site certification creates opportunities for cities and counties to become preferred locations for industrial growth and innovation. OCRA and Verisite each offer their own certification programs for sites that are ready for economic development. 

The certification process assures site selectors and companies that the area is ready for development and provides documentation with all test results. Criteria to become certified include distance from a major highway, proper zoning, utility capacity and distance, and the number of continuous acres. 

“Our Radius team appreciates all the cooperation that we experienced while working with everyone from OCRA staff to Verisite professionals to Linton City leaders,” said Quyle. “Their team-oriented attitude is exactly what a company wants to experience when they begin a business expansion effort in a community like Linton.”

From left to right: Jeff Quyle (Radius Indiana), Mayor John Wilkes (City of Linton), Denny Spinner (OCRA), Courtney Zaugg (Plaka and Associates/Verisite)

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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.

Bloomington-based start-up wins Crane IP Defense Innovation Pitch Competition

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (June 24, 2021) — A Bloomington-based start-up, Semiring Inc., won first place in the second-annual Crane IP Defense Innovation Pitch Competition on Wednesday, June 23.   

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 economic development industry leaders who had previous experience with pitch competitions and knowledge of NSWC Crane. 

The top three contestants shared cash prizes totaling $7,000. 

  1. Semiring Inc: ($4,000 prize): Semiring pitched the use of Crane technology for data pre-processing with natural language processing, an existing project into which they incorporated Crane technology. The team consisted of six team members and was headed by Dr. Damir Cavar, a cofounder of Semiring and Associate Professor of Computational Linguistics at Indiana University.
  2. Vieaura ($2,00 prize): Vieaura, ran by co-owners Shrikant Yarlagadda and Srini Morampudi and team members Karey Koscevic and Dr. Mohan Tatikonda, focused on Crane technology involving virtual 3D model generation and navigation using opportunistically captured images.
  3. Exocetus Autonomous Systems ($1,000 prize): Exocetus Autonomous Systems, led by Paul Lwin and Joe Turner, directed its pitch on Crane technology to develop a networked buoy underwater communications system.

“After months of uncertainty during the pandemic, fears that we are facing dark and troubled times, this pitch competition was an extremely positive and motivating event and experience,” said Cavar. “The IP coming from Crane and its researchers is amazing, and it was refreshing to see so many people using this unique opportunity to look for ways to make the technologies available to our local and regional communities, as well as the entire nation and world. Such opportunities are essential for so many, and we hope that we can give back to Crane and the Department of Defense in general, as well as to our compatriots.”

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 last spring 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. 

“The participants put together an impressive display of product ideas, and it was amazing to hear ideas and directions to take these patents that haven’t been considered before,” said Annie Bullock-Yoder, NSWC Crane Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Specialist. “We hope that this competition will spark further innovation and support economic growth using Crane’s IP, and we are looking forward to continuing building relationships with all participants from the competition.”

This event was the fourth 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. 

“Technology coming out of Crane clearly has commercial applicability, and Radius is honored to serve as a conduit to strengthen the region’s defense ecosystem through this competition,” said Keeley Stingel, vice president of Innovation and Economic Development at Radius. “The diversity of businesses that participated, from companies yet to form to ones that have been established for 50 years, was a testament to the innovation housed here in the Radius region through NSWC Crane.” 

Radius plans to host additional pitch competitions in 2021. More information will be announced in the coming months.

“This pitch competition was an example of an economic development project that creates success stories in multiple ways,” said Radius CEO and President Jeff Quyle. “We are very pleased with all the ways our partners and participants have benefited from the event.”

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.

Annual Radius Indiana economic development course returns to French Lick Resort

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (June 17, 2021) — The annual Radius Indiana economic development course at French Lick Resort concluded last Friday, graduating 44 community leaders from 15 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.

“After conducting all of our events virtually for the last 15 months, it was special to get to host this course again and see so many new and familiar faces,” said Radius Indiana President and CEO Jeff Quyle. “This year’s program exceeded my expectations with a record number of participants and I continue to be blown away by how motivated and dedicated our local leaders are to continue furthering their economic development education.”

The program is the only course of its kind to be offered in the southwestern-Indiana area. Since the first course in 2017, nearly 140 people representing 25 Indiana counties have gathered to learn from national and regional speakers about topics and skills including real estate development, business attraction, workforce, marketing, business finance and incentives, and entrepreneurship.

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

“Now more than ever it is vital for community leaders to support the economic development initiatives in our region,” said Cindy Barber, an educator from the Purdue Extension Community Development who participated in this year’s course. “Through this program, Radius elevates the most important elements needed for economic prosperity by introducing the major players in Indiana to leaders & elected officials. ”

Course speaker Brittany Mann, vice president of incentives and location advisors at Bradley Company, joined two panels during the course to discuss site selection and marketing in economic development.

“I really enjoyed this year’s conference and the opportunity to share best practices from my own client site selection experiences,” said Mann. “Radius Indiana is helping leaders in their community put their best foot forward by sending them off better educated on what economic development is and how to best plug into the ecosystem by offering continual trainings through its annual economic development conference.”

Other sessions and speakers included representatives from economic development groups and consultants including Regional Opportunity Initiatives, 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, Smithville Fiber, Duke Energy, 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.