ORLEANS, Ind. (Dec. 28, 2017) — Orange County Economic Development Partnership announced today that the Paoli LLC building has new ownership and a revitalized purpose as the Jasper Group plans to expand its operations at the Orleans facility early next year.

HNI, the parent company of Paoli LLC, generously donated the building to OCEDP in December. OCEDP was then able to quickly convert the donation into a real estate sale that brings in the Jasper Group as the new owners of the 1.2 million-square-foot facility.

“We are dedicated to helping Orange County and to growing a local economy that attracts investment and creates jobs,” said OCEDP Executive Director Misty Weisensteiner. “Orange County has long been known for excellence in furniture manufacturing and has a skilled labor force that is in high demand — we want to take every opportunity to capitalize on our strengths.”

Jasper Group’s four brands manufacture furniture for business interiors, public spaces and the hospitality industry. The company has multiple facilities in close proximity in southern Indiana including five in Dubois County, one of which is its headquarters, and now three in Orange County, with operations in French Lick, Paoli and the newly added facility in Orleans.

When HNI announced in October 2016 that Paoli LLC would be closing in Orleans, the future of the building, and its employees, had been uncertain. Currently, about 120 people still work at the plant as Paoli LLC employees; and community stakeholders, including the OCEDP, have worked diligently to find a solution for the building that could keep jobs in the county.

“I want to thank HNI; while they could not continue operations here in Orleans, they understood the need to have an employer here that employs citizens from Orange and surrounding counties. That is why they felt compelled to donate the building to the OCEDP,” said OCEDP Board Chair Alan Beck. “They knew that our board would be more than capable of finding a party to purchase the building and continue to offer employment.”

Jasper Group plans to retain the current production employees and possibly add more workers to the manufacturing floor when it begins operations in the first quarter of 2018. The company also plans to use part of the facility for warehousing and shipping for its multiple product lines.

Paoli LLC will likely wind down operations by the end of February, and during that time Jasper Group will begin bringing in raw materials and finalizing equipment purchases that can be used immediately in its new operation.

“We plan for a seamless transition and are very optimistic about our new employees and our new building in Orleans, which is now the largest facility for the Jasper Group, and a perfect complement to our other operations,” said Jasper Group’s President, CEO and Chairman of the Board Mike Elliott. “We have had a great experience working with the OCEDP to make this expansion happen and couldn’t be more pleased to keep jobs here in Orange County.”

Beck added, “Mike Elliot and the Jasper Group share the same concerns as the OCEDP, HNI, the residents and other business owners in the county; we need to save jobs, offer new employment and provide tax revenue that flows to the school system and local municipality.”

About Orange County Economic Development Partnership: OCEDP is committed to recruiting new business to the county, as well as promoting the retention and expansion of existing industry. We are organized as a 501(c)3 organization, funded by both public and private organizations that reflect the diverse assets of Orange County.  Likewise, our board consists of 12 members, including county commissioners, county council, four town councils, and business/industry. Since our inception, we have fostered the growth of dozens of new and expanding businesses, providing personalized assistance in identifying sources of business capital; connecting businesses with educational, workforce development, supply chain, and other resources; and matching relocating and expanding companies’ needs with available properties.

BEDFORD, Ind. (Dec. 20, 2017) – The tourism economy continues to grow in the Radius Indiana region, according to a newly released study by market research firm Rockport Analytics. The study shows visitor spending totaling $283.4 million, increasing $11.8 million from the previous year and a regional economic impact of $206.2 million.

The study compared tourism data during a two-year period for Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Orange and Washington counties and includes jobs in the industry directly supporting the visitor such as hotel accommodations, as well as in supply chain sectors like transportation.

“Tourism creates a broad variety of jobs in our region. Success in this industry is important to the people who live in our region and we believe it’s important that they directly see the benefits,” said Radius Indiana President and CEO Jeff Quyle. “It helps to relieve the tax burden of households in the region as well as benefit over 3,700 public school students.”

The Indiana Office of Tourism Development and Radius Indiana commissioned the study. It shows that the region’s tourism employment growth was over five percent in 2016 and is the seventh largest industry in the Radius Region.

“This report shows how important tourism is as an economic driver for the State of Indiana and that its impact continues to grow,” said Mark Newman, IOTD’s executive director. “We’re excited to see how tourism will continue to impact Indiana through future studies.”

Radius Indiana facilitates a regional tourism advisory council, and the group will use the study to create new initiatives that will support this vital part of the local economy. The group is currently exploring a regional tourism branding initiative that could create an identity for the region and surrounding counties in Southern Indiana.

“The data shows us that 73 cents of every $1 spent on tourism stayed in the local economy and saves our taxpayers about $375 per year in taxes. This savings is money that can be directly put back into businesses right here in the Radius region,” said Quyle.

Highlights of the study show Orange County had the largest amount of tourism spending for the region, as well as an increase in four of the five expenditure categories; Washington County recorded a 17 percent increase in retail sales during the study period.

BEDFORD, Ind. (Dec. 19, 2017) – Radius Indiana released an update today to its Radius Manufacturing Index (RMI). The index shows that the manufacturing sector continues to see growth across the eight-county region.

RMI was developed by Radius Indiana and provides the organization an analytic tool that monitors several facets to gauge the strength of the manufacturing industry in the region in southern Indiana.

The RMI shows how the region is performing in comparison to the state of Indiana. Radius’s overall index increased from 58.27 to 60.15 between quarter three and quarter four, while the state dropped from 55.65 to 54.87 between the same quarters. The index indicates that the state’s economy may be growing more diversified, while the Radius region continues to see a growing manufacturing concentration.

For the region, yearly wages increased by $593 bringing the average manufacturing wage to $45,414, and manufacturing GDP as a percent of total GDP also has increased. Between quarters, job growth is up nearly half a percent at 0.48.

“This year has been extremely successful for the Radius region. Our manufacturers have created a positive work environment that has kept these jobs in our area,” said Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius. “Manufacturing has seen a constant increase in our region for all of 2017 and I have high hopes that will continue into the New Year.”

Earlier this year, Radius hosted the region’s first economic development incentive seminar to educate area accountants and financial managers about business growth opportunities. After the session, Radius reached out to the participants for feedback on the current status of their clients’ businesses and the local economy.

Of the respondents, 50 percent report that Radius region businesses have hired employees in the past year, and predict that they will have to hire more in the next year. Radius believes this is indicative of further increases in the job growth for the region. In addition, the survey revealed that 75 percent of the financial managers expect no decrease in sales or production for 2018, and a majority are seeing new company formations.

The survey results support this quarter’s RMI by showing that job growth has increased, and that the accountants and financial managers are continuing to see growth in key sectors across the Radius region.

Chief Executive Officer of the Bedford Chamber and Lawrence County Growth Council, Shance Sizemore added, “We are seeing activity and interest in manufacturing sites that could lead to more growth right here in Lawrence County. Our local manufacturers are reporting increased demand for products, and we believe this activity is a result of a healthy and growing economy that is providing a boost to the manufacturing sector overall–especially in our region.”

The Radius Manufacturing Index uses statistics from publicly available sources to provide an estimate of the state of health of the manufacturing sector in the region. The Index is a backward looking tool that reflects conditions approximately six months in the past, based on the dates for some of the statistics used.

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.

BEDFORD, Ind. (Oct. 23, 2017) Radius Indiana announced today its support for the Midstate Corridor, which is planned as an interstate-level route connecting U.S. Highway 231 in southern Dubois County to a point along I-69 in the north.

Also known as the I-67 Corridor, the proposed highway would increase connectivity in the eight-county Radius region, create opportunities for economic development, and add valuable new infrastructure to the region’s list of economic assets.

“A new Midstate Corridor would provide a powerful economic engine for rural southwest central Indiana. Our region would attract more businesses and existing companies would expand. We could expand the workforce due to easier commutes, and bring more tourists to our world-class attractions,” said Former Indiana Lt. Gov. and Chair of the Radius Indiana Board of Directors Becky Skillman.

The regional initiative led by OFS Brands President and CEO Hank Menke has been working to set up the groundwork for the connection since 2012; Menke leads the I-67 Development Corporation. The group is now spearheading growth of a Regional Development Authority in order move the project up on the priority list with the Indiana Department of Transportation.

The State Legislature passed a bill this year that allows municipalities participating in a regional development authority to create a fund specifically for regional infrastructure projects – such as the Midstate Corridor. The legislation also permits RDAs to apply for federal FASTLANE grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation, which fund road and bridge projects.

“We have taken another important step in the recent formation of the Midstate Corridor Regional Development Authority, which will allow local investment to partner with INDOT to drive the necessary planning and construction of this important four-lane limited access highway through Dubois and other area counties to eventually connect to I-69,” said Menke.

While no final route has been established, the corridor was named a Tier 2 project by the state’s Blue Ribbon Commission in 2014, a committee that determined which transportation projects needed to be done and when they should be completed. Tier 2 projects are targeted for completion in six to eight years.

“We applaud the work of the I-67 group and its tireless efforts for the Midstate Corridor. We will continue to monitor the project’s progress and its impact on our region as proposed routes are studied. Finally, we look forward to being partners with others in the region to help improve the prospects for action on this highway,” said Radius Indiana President and CEO Jeff Quyle, who will join the private sector I-67 Development Corporation Advisory Board.

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.

BEDFORD, Ind. (Oct. 19, 2017) — Radius Indiana economic development leaders took information and insights about their southern Indiana region to Indianapolis for a day as hosts of an educational session for site selectors from six companies. The October session is part of Radius’s 2017 outreach program to raise awareness about the business strengths and opportunities in the eight-county region.

The leaders from Southern Indiana spoke to business advisors about available sites and buildings in the region, as well as the demographics and the quality of the workforce that powers the existing businesses in the eight counties.

Radius Indiana President and CEO Jeff Quyle welcomed the group with an overview of the regional assets available to companies looking to locate in the area such as WestGate@Crane Technology Park and the I-69 Corridor. Other Radius staff members, and five local economic development leaders from Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Martin, and Washington counties joined Quyle to discuss the latest developments in the regional economy.

“This event allowed us to showcase the region and our individual communities to a group of premier site selectors in Indiana. I was able to share information about Martin County’s scenic beauty, as well as the technology and innovation that guide our community, which truly make Martin County a place where nature and tech connect,” said Tim Kinder, executive director of the Martin County Alliance for Economic Growth.

Kinder added that the Radius outreach events facilitate promotion of the entire region and help counties that have often been overlooked raise awareness for economic development initiatives.

Among those site selectors in attendance was Indianapolis-based KSM Location Advisors, which works with companies across the country to maximize state and local incentive packages and help them make fully informed location decisions.

“This lunch was simply a great event,” said Garth Brazelton, chief operating officer for KSM Location Advisors. “It was a great venue to get updates from Radius and the local economic development organizations about their sites and the bright economic future for Southern Indiana.”

Representatives from the region’s counties have taken an active role in the Radius outreach program this year, and plans are already underway to schedule more site selector events for 2018 as a regional team.

“The local leaders do a very good job of presenting information about their community assets to these business advisers, and they also expand their own network of contacts who they can work with on an ongoing basis,” Quyle added.

BEDFORD, Ind. (Oct. 10, 2017) – Radius Indiana’s economic outreach included traversing two states in three days last week to meet with site selectors and business advisers.

Radius first made a stop in Cincinnati and then traveled to Chicago to join the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s site selector trip in an effort to raise awareness about the pro-business environment in the Hoosier state and the Radius region. For Radius, the visit adds to a series of economic development trips that it has conducted for 2017, and continues on the successful outreach program the organization began in 2016.

During the three-day journey, President and CEO of Radius Indiana Jeff Quyle shared information about the region’s assets, its logistical advantages, and interstate connectivity as well as developments in the region, particularly the new partnership involving Purdue University and WestGate@Crane Technology Park.

“Our continued outreach to neighboring states has helped make site selectors more familiar with the Radius Indiana region,” said Quyle. “By meeting with site selectors we are able to learn specifically what companies are looking for in a location, and how to best position our region to be competitive in business expansion and relocation projects.”

Radius Indiana and the region’s eight local economic development organizations will continue 2017 outreach efforts by hosting an October luncheon in Indianapolis for more than 10 area site selectors. Ensuring that decision makers know about the area’s offerings is a primary focus for the regional partnership, which represents Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Orange, and Washington Counties.

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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Linton, Ind. (Sept. 25, 2017) – ProMark Building Solutions, a commercial and residential steel roofing manufacturer, celebrated the beginning of operations and the creation of 17 new jobs by 2020 with a ribbon cutting ceremony today at its new facilities located at 575 N. 1000 W. in Linton.

The company’s new headquarters in Greene County mark a $1.56 million investment in three new buildings totaling 35,280 square feet situated on 10 acres. ProMark will manufacture steel roofing, which includes the rolling sheet metal for roofing and siding. The business will also serve as a distribution center for Richland Laminated Columns, which will distribute products to southern Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee and Missouri for the Ohio-based company. The new location also includes a retail center, which will give customers the opportunity to purchase lumber, roofing supplies and pole barn packages.

Greg Elliott of Linton, and Mark Graber of Montgomery partnered with Elmer Sensenig, owner of Richland Laminated Columns in Greenwich, Ohio, to create ProMark Building Solutions.

“Since selecting our site location, we have been warmly welcomed by Linton,” said Elliott. “This was a big undertaking, but with the strong collaboration between the city, county and the state partners, we are ready to start serving our customers. Most importantly, we are excited to be able to do business here and provide new jobs to our community.”

Joining ProMark for the ribbon cutting were Susan Vaughn, Director Southwest Regional Office for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation; Mayor John Wilkes from the City of Linton; Brianne Jerrels, Executive Director of the Greene County Economic Development Corporation; Cheryl Hamilton, Executive Director of the Linton-Stockton Chamber of Commerce; Connie Neininger, Economic Development Director, Indiana State Department of Agriculture; and Jeff Quyle, President and CEO of Radius Indiana.

The IEDC provided $85,000 in conditional Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) tax credits, which incentivize businesses to support job creation, capital investment and to improve the standard of living for Indiana Residents. The state also awarded ProMark a $15,000 grant from the Industrial Development Grant Fund. Greene County supports the project.

“We want to thank the state for providing incentives to help ProMark become a reality in Greene County,” said Jerrels. “This project is a true testament to how the community and state can work together to grow the local economy and support new jobs.”

The Regional Impact Fund, administered by Radius Indiana, also awarded funds to the City of Linton to help complete the necessary infrastructure improvements for ProMark operations at the new site.

“We welcome ProMark to the county and look forward to seeing their success,” said Quyle. “Radius and the Regional Impact Fund are committed to supporting the entrepreneurs and small businesses that are the backbone of our regional economy. We will continue to champion startups that add to the vitality and strength of the region.”

ProMark is one of nearly 9,000 small businesses in the Radius Indiana eight-county region and one of nearly 500,000 small businesses across Indiana, which employ 1.2 million Hoosiers across the state, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. Small businesses employ 45 percent of the state’s private-sector workforce.

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. For more information about Radius, visit www.radiusindiana.com.

BEDFORD, Ind. (Sept. 5, 2017) – Radius Indiana traveled to St. Louis last week along with representatives from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) and the Daviess County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC) to meet with site selectors.

The visit marks Radius Indiana’s first trip to St. Louis in an effort to raise awareness about economic opportunities in the eight-county region. For Radius, the visit adds to a series of economic development trips that it has conducted for 2017, and continues on the successful outreach program the organization began in 2016.

Jeff Quyle, Radius Indiana president and CEO, Susan Vaughn, director of the Southwest Regional Office of IEDC and Ron Arnold, executive director of DCEDC shared the advantages of doing business in the region and the state.

During the visit, Quyle highlighted the Radius region’s assets, its logistical advantages, interstate connectivity, its proximity to the Louisville metropolitan area as well as developments in the region.

“St. Louis is a relatively close and familiar market for southern Indiana, but our meetings showed us that there is always a benefit to creating a connection for the region,” said Quyle. “One of the site selectors we met with is actually exploring the Louisville market for a current project, and we were able to expand his knowledge about our Radius counties that can effectively service that particular market.”

“The State of Indiana and in particular the Radius Region has so much to offer including a work ethic of its citizens it is important we take every opportunity to tell our story”, stated Ron Arnold

Radius Indiana will continue to partner with the IEDC and Local Economic Development Organizations from the region’s respective counties for the remainder of this year’s outreach efforts in Indiana and other states across the country. Ensuring that decision makers know about the area’s offerings is a primary focus for Radius Indiana, the regional partnership representing Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Orange, and Washington Counties.

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.