Client News
The South West Indiana Development Council (SWIDC) tapped MEK to develop all-new marketing collateral for the 10-county economic development region. MEK researched and included short descriptions of strategic assets and services available in Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Harrison, Knox, Martin, Orange, Perry, Pike and Spencer counties.
The content points out: “From a $2 billion military technology facility to excellent logistics (interstates, rail, air, and water) to a robust regional talent pool, first class recreation, and much more, the southwest Indiana region offers a full spectrum of opportunity.”
Site selectors and other economic development professionals are invited to consider key assets and services.
VINCENNES (Indiana) – A “major key for growth” broke ground June 16, with area civic leaders and construction professionals formally launching a $35 million housing project that will support local talent attraction and retention, according to Chris Pfaff, CEO of Knox County Indiana Economic Development. Construction is now underway for 240 new apartment units in Vincennes, which will now be built in one continuous phase instead of the original three-phase plan.
Pre-leasing for the new apartments is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2025, with first move-ins available during the first quarter of 2026, according to Phil Reinbrecht, president of Simplified Developments.
The new market rate apartments, located on Bierhaus Boulevard in Vincennes, will offer one-, two-, and three-bedroom options and were designed by Simplified Developments, LLC. Elite Construction Services, a Simplified Developments sister company, will provide construction services. The firms have designed and built multiple new housing units in Gibson, Vanderburgh, and Daviess counties.
“This new development will help satisfy local demand for market rate housing required for talent attraction and workforce expansion,” said Pfaff. “This is a strong strategic match that is expected to support economic growth in the Knox County region.”
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)