Category: News

Radius Indiana Hires for new Regional Main Street Program

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (April 09, 2024) – In an effort to support the launch and operation of Main Street programs along the Monon South Trail, Radius Indiana recently welcomed another staff member to its team. A Lawrence County native, Sadie Miskuf, will serve as the organization’s first Regional Main Street Director.

Established by the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, the Indiana Main Street program supports and encourages community-driven revitalization of downtown areas in cities and towns. Miskuf will assist member communities with the initial application process of community meetings, stakeholder awareness, board formation, financial forecasting, and a formal work plan. Once accredited, the communities along the Monon South Trail will become Indiana’s first Regional Main Street organization and will be eligible for exclusive grant opportunities, technical assistance and educational resources.

The position was created in coordination with the recent Monon South Trail development, as the cities and towns will soon be joined together by the nearly 60-mile recreational asset and experience a new wave of visitors. This poses a unique opportunity for the communities’ downtown or commercial districts in the Magnificent Monon South Regional Main Street program. Miskuf will accelerate trail-based economic development in partnership with community leaders, local business owners and residents to spur revitalization and excitement surrounding the downtowns.

“Mitchell appreciates seeing this kind of hands-on assistance with the Main Street program. Having Sadie from Radius step in will relieve a lot of the administrative and organizational load our downtown businesses would face,” said Don Caudell, Mayor of Mitchell, Indiana. “This lets our local leaders focus on the community and maximize how we grow to meet the needs of the Monon South Trail visitors who will come here.”

In 2023, Indiana Main Street communities completed 262 rehabilitation projects, opened 196 new downtown businesses, created over 3,000 jobs and finalized 171 public improvement projects across the state. These initiatives were made possible by the 1,600 passionate volunteers throughout the communities that dedicated nearly 43,000 hours of their time.

“Our communities along the trail share this opportunity to capitalize on the business growth that the Monon South Trail will bring, and by providing our regional resources to help them utilize the power of the Main Street program, we expect to accelerate the strengthening of their existing downtown businesses as well as enable the growth of new businesses. We’re very excited and grateful that Sadie brings the relevant Main Street experience to smooth the implementation of the program,” said Jeff Quyle, President of Radius.

Miskuf previously served as Main Street Director for a small town in Florida before returning to Indiana and has a proven history of fostering collaboration among stakeholders, implementing strategic initiatives, and leveraging resources to build vibrant communities. She also has a strong passion for philanthropy, revitalization of small-town assets, and Hoosier heritage.

“I am thrilled for the opportunity to bring the Magnificent Monon South Main Street program to life,” said Miskuf. “It’s an honor to be part of something so special that will bring communities together across Southern Indiana, allow visitors to experience what the region has to offer, and continue to thrive for many generations to come.”

Over 100 gather for Radius stakeholder update at French Lick Resort

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (March 5, 2024) – Radius Indiana hosted over 100 attendees from across the region for its annual stakeholder’s luncheon Feb. 28 at the French Lick Resort. Remarks included a review of Radius’ accomplishments over the previous year and included an unveiling of design renderings for the Monon South Trail. Additionally, Radius welcomed special guests from the Consulate and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Chicago as well as Indiana State Treasurer, Daniel Elliott.

Radius Board of Directors Chair Jeff Pipkin opened the meeting with a brief overview of the organization’s programs and thanked stakeholders for their continued support. Pipkin became the board chair at the start of 2024, stepping in for Becky Skillman who retired from the board at the end of 2023 after more than 10 years of service. 

“Radius continues to evolve in order to stay up-to-date with the world of economic development, and the growing list of programs it offers reflects that,” said Pipkin. “I look forward to serving a larger role to the organization as its Chair and being a small part of the amazing impact it brings to southern Indiana.” 

Pipkin then introduced Indiana State Treasurer Daniel Elliott, who spoke about the Indiana Bond Bank and its ability to be a resource for communities. Additionally, Elliott highlighted the importance of broadband in rural communities and its impact on education, development and growth.

Following, Radius president and CEO Jeff Quyle introduced special guests Consul-General Jun Yanagi and JETRO Chicago Executive Director Hiroyuki Nemoto. This was an opportunity for attendees to hear directly from representatives of these organizations, who are often on the front lines in facilitating new contacts with Japan for economic development opportunities. 

Consul-General Yanagi shared that there are currently 320 Japanese business facilities in Indiana, providing 70,700 jobs.

“I am optimistic about the partnership between the United States and Japan because it has been built from the ground up, supported by multiple layers of human connection, sharing basic values such as democracy, freedom, and human rights,” said Consul-General Yanagi.

Quyle then provided an overview of the organization’s accomplishments from 2023, including the 16 employers throughout the Radius region that have participated in Choose Southern Indiana’s Employer Incentive Program, and the nearly 60,000 visitors to the Southern Indiana Business Report website. 

In addition, Quyle updated attendees on the Monon South Trail progress, slated to span nearly 60 miles through Lawrence, Orange, Washington, and Clark counties. Clark Dietz, the lead civil engineering firm, and Taylor Seifker Williams Design Group, the trail’s design firm, are completing the infrastructure design, construction, and master planning efforts. Attendees had the first look at the initial design concepts for the trailheads, including structures, bike and pedestrian rest stops, restrooms, and other amenities planned along the trail.

“With the support from our partners at the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the design team, we are making great progress on the trail in record time and learning more than we originally imagined,” said Quyle. “Additional design plans will be released later this spring, and we are currently on track to open the municipal segments of the trail later this fall.”

Other important events were scheduled in coordination with the stakeholder’s luncheon, including a reception and dinner to renew the relationship between the Radius region and both the Consulate and JETRO Chicago, and a breakfast networking event for the local mayors, the region’s economic development leaders, and Japanese officials. 

If you are interested in attending Radius Indiana’s Stakeholder Meeting next year, please 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.

Radius Indiana, design teams present the Monon South Trail Annual Report to the Communities

Posted on by Radius Indiana

SALEM, Ind. (Feb. 2, 2024) — Leaders from southern Indiana gathered at the first “Monon South Annual Report to the Communities” hosted by Radius Indiana to learn about the latest developments in the creation of the Monon South Trail, slated to span nearly 60 miles through Lawrence, Orange, Washington, and Clark counties.

Through the state’s Next Level Trails program, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources awarded $23.4 million to Radius Indiana, the region’s economic development partnership, to facilitate the purchase and trail creation of a railbanked CSX railway corridor. Along with additional funding from the READI program, the design and initial construction of phase 1 of the trail began in 2023.

As part of the Annual Report, Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius, shared information on the projects and programs already in progress. To date, existing rail and crossties have been removed, road crossings have been improved, and the rail bed is being prepared for trail construction.

“We have seen a lot of progress during the first year of development for the Monon South and we are actively pursuing additional grant funding for phases 2 and 3,” said Quyle. “The engagement of our local leaders has been vital to our success, and this first report to the communities is a way to ensure that those leaders, who are our partners, supporters, and owners of this monumental project, continue to be involved and informed.”

Several initiatives to engage the communities along the trail are also underway. Cities and towns will be invited to participate in public art programs, which will add local touches to the trail corridor, and hundreds of residents have attended public meetings to give input on the design, location of trailheads, amenities, and sustainability of the trail. 

In addition, Radius partnered with the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Land at Indiana University to develop park master plans to enhance and strengthen each community’s connectivity and engagement with the Monon South. In fall 2023, Radius launched a crowdfunding campaign, securing $50,000 to restore a historic boxcar located near the future trail in downtown Salem. And coming in 2024, Radius will work with downtowns connected to the trail to create the state’s first regional Mainstreet Program to encourage downtown revitalization and open opportunities for state funding and assistance.

Ryan Hughes from Clark Dietz, the lead civil engineering firm, and Ron Taylor from Taylor Seifker Williams Design Group, the trail’s design firm, gave a behind-the-scenes look at the Monon South’s infrastructure design, construction, and master planning efforts. Attendees had the first look at the initial design concepts for trailhead structures, bike and pedestrian rest stops, restrooms, and other amenities planned along the trail.

Orleans Clerk-Treasurer and Executive Director of the Orleans Chamber of Commerce Robert Henderson was in attendance and has been following the Monon South from its inception, “I am excited about all of the energy and effort being put in along the corridor. This event really showed all of the thought and detail that has gone into the work, and I appreciate Radius putting together this forum to allow us to stay up-to-date and engaged. I was interested to learn more about future funding and grant opportunities that will help bring the trail to life,” he added.

Radius plans to hold this event each year to share construction progress and new community developments for the Monon South. To learn more, visit www.mononsouth.com and follow Monon South Trail on Facebook. 

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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 holds final board meeting of 2023, votes in new slate of officers for 2024

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (Dec. 20, 2023) – Radius Indiana’s Board of Directors announced new members as well as a new set of officers at its final meeting of the year on Wednesday, Dec. 13 at the French Lick Resort.

The board also ratified its 2024 budget that outlines opportunities for the organization and the region to maximize Radius’ current programs and initiatives that it currently supports. 

These funding activities include ongoing strong support for tourism marketing through the Discover Southern Indiana brand, the development of multiple aspects of the Monon South Trail, Radius’ business retention and expansion program, the continued evolution of Choose Southern Indiana’s population attraction incentive program, and further support for Naval Support Activity Crane and the Crane Regional Defense Group.

“Radius is excited to dedicate its 2024 budget to continue to grow and support the wide array of programs we’ve developed to help expand our communities’ ecosystems throughout southern Indiana,” said Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius Indiana. “We are looking forward to new opportunities in 2024, specifically in defense, tourism and workforce attraction.”

During the meeting, the board also elected a new slate of officers for 2024. The 2024 Radius Board officers includes: 

  • Chair Jeff Pipkin, Hoosier Energy
  • Vice Chair Bryant Niehoff, Uplands Science and Technology Foundation
  • Secretary Heather Setser, Lake Patoka Marina
  • Treasurer Brent Sternberg, German American Bank
  • Executive Committee members Shance Sizemore, Lawrence County Economic Growth Council; Sam Craig, Mayor of Bedford; and Paul Quick, Smithville.

Four Radius board members were recognized as retiring board members. Former Indiana Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman, Justin Green (Mayor of Salem), Bryan Brackemyre (Indiana Municipal Power Agency), and Shanni Simmons (Vincennes University) were honored with a proclamation for their service on the board. 

Special recognition was given to former Radius CEO and current board Chair, Becky Skillman, as she retires after more than 10 years of service to the organization. Quyle thanked Skillman for her passion and dedication to the region, and noted her immeasurable impact throughout her tenure.

“It’s been a true honor and my absolute pleasure to serve on the Radius Indiana board for the past decade,” said Skillman. “I have no doubt the organization is in great hands moving forward and will continue to lead the state in groundbreaking regional economic development achievements.”

The meeting also featured guest speaker Matthew W. Finn, chief economist at 1834, a division of Old National Bank. In his role, he is responsible for the company’s economic outlook, asset allocation guidance and portfolio management. Finn provided insight into the current state of the economy, future trends and areas of opportunity, emphasizing how labor markets have entered a new and persistent reality of tightness that does not appear to be headed toward loosening in the near future.. 

Radius will hold its annual stakeholder luncheon in February 2024. More details will be available early in the new year.

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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 opens registration for Elected Officials Economic Development Webinar Series

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (Dec. 18, 2023) — Radius Indiana announced earlier this week that registration is now open for its economic development webinar series for elected officials. 

Hosted by Radius Indiana, the Elected Officials Economic Development Webinar Series is a virtual, free, region-wide economic development course for elected officials, both newly-elected and incumbents. Radius created this four-week seminar, which will specifically target the policy and educational needs of elected officials, as an extension of Radius’s Economic Development for Community Leadership Program. 

The weekly series is intended to strengthen leadership and collaboration in area counties, cities and towns, and aligns with Radius Indiana’s strategic focus to serve as an educational leader for economic development. “Local elected officials can be extremely valuable partners in local economic development once they understand the policies and programs they can use to make their communities’ local economies stronger,” said Radius Indiana President and CEO Jeff Quyle. 

The sessions include economic development experts, marketing consultants, and legal advisors. Speakers and sessions include:

  • January 10 | Use of Economic Development Incentives with Matt Eckerle, Baker Tilly;
  • January 17 | Site Development and Utility Partners in Economic Development with Chelsey Manns, Manns Consulting;
  • January 24 | Excelling at Existing Business Retention & Expansion and The Art of Business Attraction, with Jason Hester, Greater Columbus Economic Development Corporation and Jim Plump, Jackson County Industrial Development Corporation;
  • January 31 | Focusing on Quality of Place, Tourism and Talent Attraction with Blaine Parker, Kristal Painter and Jeff Quyle.

“We are excited to continue our economic development course and believe that the virtual format encourages participation from all corners of the region,” explained Quyle. “Being a leader in education is a big part of who Radius is an organization, and we are grateful to our speakers who will continue to build the skills and knowledge of our local elected officials.”

This event is sponsored by Duke Energy, Indiana Municipal Power Agency, and Hoosier Energy.

Click here to register for the course, or visit www.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 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 reaches fundraising goal for Monon South Trail – Salem Trailhead Boxcar Restoration

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (Dec. 8, 2023) –  Radius Indiana will receive a $25,000 matching grant to restore an original L&N 40 boxcar as part of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority’s (IHCDA) CreatINg Places program. Over 90 donors contributed $25,000 for the boxcar through the Patronicity online crowd-funding platform, which enabled the project to receive the grant funds that will be used for the restoration of the new Salem Monon South trailhead landmark.

Radius will repurpose the boxcar for the community’s use at the Salem trailhead on the Monon South Trail and restore it to its original appearance. The downtown Salem trailhead will be located just two blocks from the Salem Courthouse Square and will provide a welcoming location for both local residents and trail visitors to enjoy downtown Salem’s attractions.

“This boxcar will become a local landmark for trail users as they visit Salem in the coming years,” said Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius Indiana. “We look forward to providing this unique, attractive memorial to mark the importance of the railroad in Salem history.”

Renovations are expected to be completed in 2024 and more information about a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be available in the future.

Since the CreatINg Places program began in 2016, projects have raised more than $9.4 million in public funds and an additional $7.7 million in matching IHCDA funds. The program is available to projects located in Indiana communities. Non-profit entities (with 501c3 or 501c4 status) and local units of government are eligible to apply. Eligible projects must have a minimum total development cost of $10,000, where the recipient will receive $5,000 in IHCDA matching funds should it successfully raise $5,000 through Patronicity. IHCDA will provide matching grant funds up to $50,000 per project.

Several communities in the Radius region have used the Patronicity program for crowd-funding to participate in CreatINg place program in recent years, helping to provide invaluable assistance in investing in quality of place for rural communities. The boxcar project is the first time Radius Indiana has participated in the program.

For updates on the boxcar restoration and the Monon South Trail Project, please visit www.mononsouth.com and follow Monon South Trail on Facebook.

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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. It 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, Regional Opportunity Initiatives offer new defense talent attraction program

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (Nov. 3, 2023) – The expected demand for a massive influx of new specialized talent in the defense sector in southern Indiana is leading Radius Indiana to offer an innovative new talent attraction incentive program in conjunction with a new partner, Regional Opportunity Initiatives. Radius currently operates three existing talent attraction programs and thanks to this generous grant from ROI, that portfolio continues to grow.

The Defense Sector Talent Attraction Program will work to fill in-person, defense industry jobs in the Indiana Uplands region. All eight Radius counties (Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Orange, and Washington) will participate in this program along with Brown, Monroe, and Owen from the Indiana Uplands. Interested defense sector employers may apply for the incentive for qualified newly hired individuals who are going to relocate from out-of-state to any community in the Uplands region regardless of the location of their employment in the region. If approved, new employees must earn at least $60,000 and commit to moving to the region for at least two years.

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 existing Radius talent attraction programs have 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.

“Bringing new talent to our region is a vital piece to growing our communities and companies and we are excited to partner with ROI to introduce this new program. ROI and Radius have been partners on several previous initiatives supporting our region,” said Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius Indiana. “We are continuously looking for opportunities to assist our private sector defense industry.”

The Uplands region is home to Naval Support Activity Crane, the third-largest naval installation in the world, with a current civilian and support contractor workforce totaling 6,000 jobs. This number is expected to increase in the near future with the current construction and infrastructure expansion projects on base, as well as the recently announced $84 million development for a microelectronics campus, WestGate One, that will create a hub for semiconductor excellence to support the surrounding DoD needs.

To learn more and apply to the defense sector 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. It 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.

Lt. Gov. Crouch, IHCDA launch crowdfunding campaign for Monon South Trail – Salem Trailhead Boxcar Restoration

Posted on by Radius Indiana

$25,000 goal to receive a matching grant through IHCDA’s CreatINg Places initiative

SALEM, Ind. (Oct. 11. 2023) — Salem will soon have a new trailhead featuring a restored boxcar if this crowdfunding campaign reaches its goal of raising $25,000 by Nov. 25, 2023. If successful, the project led by Radius Indiana will receive a matching grant as part of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority’s (IHCDA) CreatINg Places program.

“The Monon South Trail is a wonderful addition to the Salem area, and the proposed enhancement of the trailhead will highlight access to recreation, promote healthy lifestyles and shine a spotlight on the trail,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Funds from this campaign will be used to repurpose a boxcar to serve as the trailhead for the newly developed Monon South Trail in the heart of Salem.

“CreatINg Places is helping us bring an incredible opportunity back to life, and we are very excited to carry out this project, restoring an original and very unique L&N 40 boxcar,” said Jeff Quyle, President and CEO of Radius Indiana. “This project will create a memorable tourism asset in Salem and will anchor a downtown trailhead the Salem community can cherish. Thank you to our community members who will support us during this project and throughout the rest of the development of the Monon South Trail.”

Since the CreatINg Places program began in 2016, projects have raised more than $9.4 million in public funds and an additional $7.7 million in matching IHCDA funds. The program is available to projects located in Indiana communities. Non-profit entities (with 501c3 or 501c4 status) and local units of government are eligible to apply. Eligible projects must have a minimum total development cost of $10,000, where the recipient will receive $5,000 in IHCDA matching funds should it successfully raise $5,000 through Patronicity. IHCDA will provide matching grant funds up to $50,000 per project.

Radius Indiana partners with Eppley Institute for Monon South Trail community engagement

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (Oct. 9, 2023) – Radius Indiana and the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands launched a collaborative effort for community development along the new Monon South Trail. This partnership allows Eppley to assist in the planning and execution of public input meetings that will provide each community with information needed to develop park master plans.

Eppley works within Indiana University’s system of research centers to enhance the quality and accessibility of natural, cultural, and recreational experiences for all by advancing and applying current best practices in the management of parks and public lands. 

Eppley Institute Director Steve Wolter shares that parks, recreation, and the outdoors are critical factors in how a community expresses itself, how it creates a sense of place, and how it defines its quality of life. “We know from our experience at Indiana University that the vibrancy and attractiveness of every town and city includes easy access to natural areas, active spaces, trails, and holding community events,” said Wolter. “It’s the one planning process that the government undertakes voluntarily, that all residents can participate in, that addresses visitor needs and business support of visitors, considers the local environment, and plans for the gatherings of the entire community. Eppley has developed dozens of plans across the nation but none so important as the ones in these south-central communities along the Monon South Trail.”

With Eppley’s assistance, five participating communities (Borden, Mitchell, New Pekin, Orleans, and Salem) will submit park plans to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for approval. This process serves as a qualification to apply for, and receive, grant funds from Indiana DNR for park projects included in the plans. 

“The town of New Pekin is so thankful to Radius for coordinating the partnership with the Eppley Institute,” said Jaden Stone, New Pekin Town Manager. “A park master plan opens the door to many opportunities for the future of our town and its community park by identifying areas of need while allowing residents to be involved in the process.” 

This partnership with Eppley is just one element of the comprehensive development approach Radius has applied to the Monon South Trail. Park improvements are expected to not only lead to an enhanced quality of life for southern Indiana residents, but may also allow the communities to invest in their own Monon South trailhead facilities, providing additional opportunities to the towns and cities, their residents, and all who visit. 

“This partnership represents the opportunity our communities have to make the most out of this new recreational asset,” said Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius Indiana. “The Monon South Trail is expected to further enhance strong connections between our southern Indiana communities, and improved parks are a great way to showcase all they have to offer.”

Additional components of Radius’s comprehensive development include freshly regraded surfaces at all road crossings along the corridor’s route to improve driving conditions, and a demonstration on how to use crowdfunding to build trailhead amenities in communities. Further development programs will be announced as they are established in the coming months. 

To learn more about the new Monon South Trail, please visit www.mononsouth.com. Progress, updates and trail development can also be found on the organization’s Facebook page. 

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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 unveils new website, new talent attraction programs

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (Sep. 29, 2023) – Choose Southern Indiana announced a new logo and website last week to accompany the official launch of its four workforce and talent attraction programs. In addition to its established Remote Worker Program and Employer Incentive Program, Choose now offers a relocation incentive to two new groups of qualified individuals – those with a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and those employed by the defense sector.

In response to the recent program expansion, the new website features enhanced capabilities and has been reorganized with the user experience in mind. Prospective movers can navigate by program of interest, view qualification requirements, and click a link to apply. Participating counties are also featured to provide applicants with information about their future home in southern Indiana.

Local economic development organizations (LEDOs) throughout the Radius Indiana region will utilize the new incentive programs to further assist businesses in their area with attracting new talent. All eight Radius region counties (Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Orange, and Washington) are now participating in Choose.

“We are very pleased that we have the regional collaboration enabling us to expand our programs to reach a wider audience and bring more workers to southern Indiana,” said Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius Indiana. “Our new website allows interested workers to search by program and learn about each incentive and the communities they can move to.”

Choose Southern Indiana completed its second year of recruitment this past August and has welcomed 44 movers from 15 states and four countries to date. This success paired with data gathered from MakeMyMove, an online platform that offers opportunities to market to remote workers seeking to move to new locations, influenced the recent decision to extend the programming to recruit CDL drivers. Choose Southern Indiana is the first program under MakeMyMove to offer this uniquely targeted incentive program.

“Attracting talent to our region is essential to growing our workforce and supporting our existing businesses and our new website is going to help us highlight our region as a great place to live and work which will help us get more workers into our communities,” said Kristal Painter, population attraction program coordinator for Choose Southern Indiana. “We will continue to evaluate these programs and look for additional opportunities to expand our offerings to reach more potential residents.”

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 programs specify that they are targeting the attraction of talent from outside the state of Indiana, in order to avoid depleting talent in other Indiana communities.

To learn more and apply to Choose Southern Indiana’s programs, 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.