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For government and business leaders alike, the numbers are challenging. In addition to sufficient capital, an available and qualified workforce represent key factors in growing a region. Indiana and many other states face the dual challenges of an aging workforce and – with few exceptions – declining workforce numbers in the largest sectors: Gen Z, Millennials and Gen X. The handful of Indiana counties experiencing modest population growth draw on immigrant populations, not internal growth and development.
So how can Indiana compete and grow, especially regarding talent acquisition and retention?
Research shows attraction factors include the availability of good-paying jobs with high levels of satisfaction, and a high quality of life. If a region can pair these up with a lower cost of living (compared to the high cost of living in places like New York City, Los Angeles, or Silicon Valley), they hold a decisive advantage.
For Indiana, that provides a ray of hope, particularly in our present tight labor market. Hoosier regions can join forces (and in several cases already are) to adopt more aggressive positioning, recruiting, and retaining talent. Indiana also holds an advantage in the top two triggers identified for relocation: No. 1 – to have a better quality of life, and No. 2 – the capacity to be closer to family.
(This column appeared on Inside Indiana Business and is used by permission.)
Knox County’s growing reputation as a strategic hub of ag tech innovation was raised another new notch with the formal announcement of the TerraForce this Spring. The Vincennes-based AI-focused startup scored $375,000 in funding from investors to build and refine its robotic harvester, which also attracted widespread media attention.
Focused initially on labor-intensive watermelons, pumpkins, and cantaloupe, the goal of TerraForce is to help farmers address a $42 billion labor challenge.
In its lead story of the day, Inside Indiana Business coverage of TerraForce noted that “the AI-enabled robotic harvester, packer and planter—set to launch later this year—will save farmers nearly $700 per acre by working 24 hours a day.”
EVANSVILLE – Looking for entrepreneurial opportunities? A broad spectrum of diverse demand for a wide variety of professionals and professional services exists in southern Indiana, representing an array of actionable growth opportunities and potential market development. These opportunities were recently strategically documented in a comprehensive report funded by the Community Foundation Alliance and the Harrison County Community Foundation.
The planning report, conducted in partnership with the Indiana First READI region, profiles and pinpoints specific growth opportunities for entrepreneurs in several categories, according to Jill Carpenter, President and CEO of the Community Foundation Alliance here.
“Based on direct primary research conducted across multiple counties, the Indiana First Quality of Life Economic Impact Analysis report reveals market potential and entrepreneurial gaps on a county-by-county basis, demonstrating areas of real demand,” said Carpenter. “A careful review of key areas can yield some significant potential market growth for the right companies, professionals, and entrepreneurs.”
February is officially heart health month. But in reality, why should anyone pay attention?
The reasons are many, especially to raise awareness about what you can personally do to promote the health of your heart today. The health of your heart figures high in the quality of your life, both now and in the future.
Higher quality of life
Healthy hearts and circulatory systems can directly contribute to higher levels of energy and general enjoyment of life, especially as one grows older.
But in my many years as a family physician in southern Indiana, I find that people can too often take the health of their heart for granted, regardless of their age. What’s not good about that? Not taking care of business in eating balanced meals, getting reasonable and regular exercise, and adopting other health steps can take an alarming toll over time.
(This column by Dr. Curtis Thill of Southern Indiana Community Health Care appeared in a number of newspapers in southern Indiana during February 2025. The month also included National Wear Red Day, which helped raise awareness of the No. 1 killer of women, cardiovascular disease. Dr. Thill’s column is also accessible on the SICHC website)
What’s on deck for 2025? While short-term recession fears for the United States have abated, local, and regional economic development continue to face alternating challenges and opportunities. Adopting a thoughtful, well-rounded economic development strategy can build resilience and growth in our economies.
What does that look like? To build and sustain a competitive, attractive and dynamic regional economy, consider three strategic areas of focus : business retention and expansion, business attraction, and a strong focus on enabling and fostering entrepreneurship. While they all fit together, they each require their own set of development tactics.
Business retention and expansion – This may seem obvious, but it’s sometimes neglected in certain regions, much to the peril of sustained economic prosperity and stability. Business retention and expansion – often called BR&E – represents a critically important, relationship-building, after-the-sale strategic effort.
As we reach the midpoint of the second decade of the 21st century, general talk and discussion of emerging quantum computing seems to be the stuff of science fiction, perhaps crowded out by AI expectations. But no more, even as the United Nations has declared 2025 to be the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology.
Perhaps mirroring its quantum state, quantum computing is simultaneously closer to reality than many think, but several years from mainstream commercial use. Today, many marketers sometimes use the phrase or words “quantum computing” in conjunction with high-speed computing or transactions. But apart from techspeak and brand association, there indeed exists a new era of revolutionizing technology in development.
What can we expect? While the current focus of industry-changing technology rightly concerns AI advancements, quantum computing will likely make its initial commercial foray in perhaps five or so years, becoming operational reality in the next 12 to 15 years. With that kind of timeframe, why should we pay any attention to quantum computing now?
(This content, authored by Cullen McCarty, CEO of Smithville Telecom, also appeared on Inside Indiana Business)
PAOLI, Indiana – Nancy Radcliff, CEO of Southern Indiana Community Health Care, was nationally recognized together with Ann Lundy, CEO of Indiana Health Centers and Larry Bailey, COO of IU Health Bedford Hospital, as a Community Star of rural health care for Indiana. The honor was conferred by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) and will be formally made on National Rural Health Day Nov. 21.
When Ascension Health closed its hospital in Bedford in 2022, Ms. Radcliff worked directly with Larry Bailey, COO of IU Health Bedford and Ann Lundy, CEO of Indiana Health Centers (IHC) to fill the healthcare gap left by the closure. Several other area healthcare and elected officials supported the effort. In later media coverage, SICHC was recognized for its work in providing critical obstetrics and well-baby healthcare services for the greater Lawrence County region.
WASHINGTON (Indiana) – City, county and regional officials set the stage for continued revitalization and renewal of the Daviess County region with the official ribbon-cutting of the $3.1 million Commons facility in downtown Washington November 8. “The city of Washington has already taken several steps toward an energized downtown and this formal ribbon-cutting will accelerate that movement right in the heart of the city,” said Washington Mayor David Rhoads.
The multi-purpose venue, located south of Main Street in downtown Washington, includes the German-American Stage for concerts and special events, the TrueScripts Market Pavilion along Main Street, and the Knights of Columbus Event Pavilion east of the lawn seating space in front of the German-American stage.
“The community now has a multi-use venue that can function as a convenient location for convening local gatherings and hosting events that could attract visitors from throughout the Midwest,” said Bob Grewe, Executive Director of the Daviess County Economic Development Corporation. “This signals that Washington and Daviess County are serious about developing quality of life amenities that are essential to retaining and attracting families to our community.”
(Related coverage from this release appeared in Inside Indiana Business, WTHI-TV, Washington Times-Herald, Southern Indiana Business Report, Regional Opportunities Initiative news, WAMW, and more)