Client News
Further expanding an established strategic trend, workforce housing projects totaling more than $37 million have broken ground in the city of Washington (Daviess County) in the past five months, with several other projects also underway.
WASHINGTON (Indiana) – A $12 million housing project featuring townhomes and single-family homes now has homes built and sales in progress in the city of Washington, marking the third major housing project begun in 2022. RJ Community Builders LLC, owned and operated by local Washington natives Ross Wade and Jeff Steimel, are building the $7.3 million 25 single-family-home Buffalo Trace development. Steimel is separately investing $4.7 million for an adjacent 20 townhome project: Villas at Eagle’s Point development.
Both projects are located in east Washington, close to other new developments underway by Kerstiens Development, Simplified Developments and other builders. The new Buffalo Trace and Villas at Eagle’s Point developments on 100 East will “foster significant density of new workforce housing in the city,” said Bryant Niehoff, executive director of the Daviess County Economic Development Corporation. “Having a variety of housing products available at different price points is vital to growing our community.”
(Coverage from this release appeared on several news outlets, including Inside Indiana Business and WTHI-TV lead story)
Want to make a positive billion-dollar impact in Indiana? When one thinks of high-impact economic development, we may naturally think of tech companies or large-scale manufacturing. It may be surprising to know that job-for-job, the meetings and event industry has a history of creating more direct jobs than major companies in manufacturing (automotive, chemicals and food).
Consider this fact: in 2019 (before a certain global event all but temporarily shut down the industry), the Indianapolis region raked in an estimated three-quarters of a billion dollars from 660 events. The projected revenue from 2022 event visitors is now expected to be higher. From national sports events to trade shows to specialty events like Gen Con, Indianapolis (and central Indiana) attracts more than 1.3 million visitors annually. Nationally, Trade Show Executive reported “real triple-digit growth” in the event industry in September 2022.
That all adds up.
Since every dollar invested in events historically generates upwards of a 160 percent return on investment, the event and conventions industry represent a key factor in Indiana economic development and sustainability. A positive personal experience ranks high in creating lasting engagement, which is one of the reasons the Indiana Destination Development Corporation works to bring people physically to Indiana to sample and experience the great attributes of the state. Experiences are directly linked to economic development opportunities.
Greene County development to feature new concept of “Housing that Works,” Smithville to provide high-speed gigabit fiber connectivity and Smart Home” technology for the rural development.
WESTGATE@CRANE Technology Park – Wininger Construction, a third-generation builder from the greater Bloomington area, will preview Westcott, Greene County’s newest paired lifestyle homes neighborhood on Friday, October 21 here. The new development will offer buyers three types of townhome and paired-style home plans. All homes in the Westcott development will have state-of-the-art options for inclusion of Smithville Smart Home technology.
The Westcott development is being built in a shovel-ready certified area in the Greene County section of the WestGate@Crane Technology Park, located near the $2 billion Naval Surface Warfare Center at Crane (NSWC) and the high-tech Battery Innovation Center (BIC).
“We have designed and built many large housing developments in the greater Bloomington area, but the Westcott stands out as a singular venture,” said Tom Wininger, CEO of Wininger Construction. “This development was created and designed to serve the unique professional workforce associated with the technology companies
who service NSWC Crane and the region, and to also be affordable to young people who desire to own a home.”
The new neighborhood development is located with convenient access to highways I-69, 231, and 45 which connects future residents to Bloomington, Bedford, and other population centers in the region.
How would you access the quality of healthcare available in your region? What is your assessment of healthcare providers, ranging from IU Health to U of L Health (Louisville) to local providers? What is the biggest gap in healthcare in your region? Who makes the decisions for your family’s healthcare needs? 
Qualitative and quantitative research
MEK explored these and other questions in a series of focus groups in Orange and Crawford counties in August. MEK client Southern Indiana Community Health Care (SICHC) commissioned the focus groups and additional survey research and interviews. The qualitative and quantitative research measured quality of available healthcare, degree of satisfaction from area healthcare providers and brand equity issues.
Daviess County one of nine counties selected for state OCRA Legacy economic program, can receive up to $ 1 million in funding.
WASHINGTON (Indiana) – The Daviess County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC) is putting plans in motion to both help strengthen local workforce development and secure state funding of up to $1 million and support from the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program. Two new positions at DCEDC will help achieve this.
“It is no secret that workforce development is one of the top challenges for businesses not only in Daviess County, but across the state and nation,” said Bryant Niehoff, DCEDC executive director. “Addressing these workforce challenges has required greater organization and tapping into Daviess County business, regional, educational and civic leadership, and it became apparent that we needed a single point of contact to fully maximize our efforts.”
[Note: this story was covered on Inside Indiana Business, Southern Indiana Business Report, and the Washington Times Herald.]
INDIANAPOLIS – Record double-digit growth in national market share and staff has marked 2022 operations at OPYS, according to Andre Creese, MD, FACEP, President and CEO. Beginning its second decade as a physician-owned and operated company, Indianapolis-based OPYS has today risen to acquire a national reputation for effectively addressing critical physician shortages and medical professional challenges.
“Many hospitals and clinics today face major and costly challenges in identifying and attracting highly qualified physicians, especially in small-to-medium-sized cities and rural areas,” said Dr. Creese. “OPYS strategically helps hospitals and trauma centers address these critical issues and sustain a high quality of care.”
OPYS has grown its hospital network to include physician services in Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Illinois, Washington, California, North Dakota, and expects to expand soon in New York, Oregon and Wisconsin.
In achieving national 21% growth over 2021 in its specific national markets, OPYS provides hospital-based physician management group outsourcing to emergency, inpatient, urgent care, and telemedicine centers, delivering a customized array of physician services.
A major key to the current success and national growth of OPYS is its physician network experienced in serving rural healthcare needs. “Having served as an emergency department and trauma center physician, I know firsthand about the unique needs in fulfilling these critical roles, especially in providing high-quality patient care and outcomes,” said Dr. Creese. “That same quality of experience is reflected in the OPYS staff, which allows us to quickly and effectively serve our partner hospitals.” Read more
The public announcement that Ascension St. Vincent’s Dunn Hospital and related offices will close in December 2022 may have created concern about current and long-term available health care services in the region, particularly for obstetrics services that include prenatal care, delivery, and postnatal/well-baby services.
Southern Indiana Community Health Care (SICHC) has effectively served patients, families, and communities for nearly 50 years, which has included families in the Bedford and greater Lawrence County region. SICHC holds a positive history of meeting the needs of patients in the region, and that commitment will continue. With its status as a certified Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), SICHC physicians, providers, and staff deliver high-quality, affordable and accessible primary care, obstetrics, integrated mental health, and other comprehensive services to people through its current offices in Orange, Crawford, Martin and Washington counties.
SICHC’s professional provider staff includes board-certified family physicians. In addition to providing comprehensive care through its own facilities, SICHC maintains positive relationships with regional hospitals and clinics to provide specialty care and referrals.
Using a team model for health care delivery, SICHC reflects a faith-based mission of delivering services based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Its FQHC status ensures SICHC’s commitment and capacity to serving as a “safety net” for healthcare services, helping to safeguard the inclusion of low-income populations to receive high-quality service on an equitable basis. This long-time commitment will continue.
For more information about SICHC, please visit https://sichc.org/
Media contact: Michael Snyder, MEK