Apr 1, 2022 | Jackson County News & Info
PLAINFIELD, Ind. – Duke Energy is awarding nearly $120,000 in strategic grants to 26 economic development groups to spur new jobs and investment across the state of Indiana.
“Duke Energy is working hand in hand with our local and regional economic development partners to accelerate growth and job creation in the communities we serve,” said Erin Schneider, director of economic development for Duke Energy Indiana. “We’re proud to support these organizations, each of which plays a critical role in marketing Indiana’s communities to attract businesses and enhance the quality of life for our customers.”
The funding is through Duke Energy’s Partnership Program, which supports organizations that increase awareness of a community or region’s economic development strategies and product availability. This may include tours and special events to promote business sites and communities; marketing campaigns and promotional materials; and website development and updates.
“Shelby County’s highly skilled workforce, affordable utilities and central location make it a really attractive area for large manufacturing operations,” said Brian Asher, executive director of the Shelby County Development Corporation. “Duke Energy’s support will help fund an advertisement in The Japan Times that coincides with our travel to the country this fall to attract additional jobs and investment to our community as we visit the headquarters of several Japanese companies with facilities in Shelbyville.”
Since the program was established in 2017, Duke Energy has contributed nearly $600,000 in grant funding to organizations that are helping create vibrant economies in Indiana.
To qualify for program consideration, each applicant submitted a plan that would have a direct impact on their community’s economic growth. These awards help local and regional economic development organizations fund marketing and strategic efforts in the communities they serve. Amounts varied depending on the size and scope of the project.
This year, grants were awarded to the following organizations:
- Accelerate West Central Indiana Economic Development – $5,000
- Carroll County Economic Development Corporation – $5,000
- Cass County Economic Development – $4,200
- City of Batesville – $5,000
- City of Madison Economic Development – $5,000
- East Central Indiana Regional Partnership – $5,000
- Gibson County Economic Development Corporation – $5,000
- Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance – $5,000
- Greater Lafayette Economic Alliance – $5,000
- Greater Lafayette Commerce – $5,000
- Greencastle/Putnam County Development Center – $5,000
- Grow Wabash County – $5,000
- Hancock Economic Development Council – $2,500
- Indy Partnership – $5,000
- Jackson County Industrial Development Corporation – $5,000
- Knox County Indiana Economic Development – $5,000
- Lawrence County Economic Growth Council – $5,000
- Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership – $5,000
- One Dearborn – $5,000
- Owen County Chamber & Economic Development Corporation – $1,745
- Pike County Economic Development Corporation – $5,000
- Shelby County Development Corporation – $5,000
- Southwest Indiana Development Council – $5,000
- Terre Haute Regional Airport – $5,000
- Vermillion County Economic Development Council – $1,200
- Vermillion Rise Mega Park – $5,000
Duke Energy Indiana
Duke Energy Indiana, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides about 6,300 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 870,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it Indiana’s largest electric supplier.
Mar 1, 2022 | Jackson County News & Info
Alexus Morris, a senior at Seymour High School, won the Maverick Challenge Regional Competition, on Feb. 19, after presenting her business plan via Zoom to a panel of judges. Her business idea, titled “No Borders” is a translation company which focuses on bridging the language barrier between native and non-native speakers in the community. Alexus added $1,250 of regional winnings to the $2,000 she earned at the Jackson County competition. She plans to enter the Innovate WithIN state competition which could win her additional prize or tuition money. For more info on Alexus and her business plan, visit Tribtown.com.
Feb 15, 2022 | Jackson County News & Info
Alexus Morris, senior at SHS, was chosen as the winner of the 11th annual Jackson County Maverick Challenge and was presented with a $2,000 check by county program sponsors Jackson County Industrial Development Corp, Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, Brownstown Ewing Main Street and funding sponsors JCBank and JCIDC Workforce Partnership. Alexus’s business plan focused on the need for a translation service to assist communication between businesses and their customers. County high school students submitted written plans and local business professionals chose 10 plans to be presented in person. A total of $7,400 was split between the finalists after the presentations.
Pictured below are all of the Maverick Challenge winners at the awards presentation:
Source: The Tribune, February 15, 2022
Feb 9, 2022 | Jackson County News & Info
MICROPOLITANS…Every year, the POLICOM Corporation tracks growth in metropolitan and micropolitan areas…an area less than 50,000 but more than 10,000 is a micropolitan…there are 26 micros in Indiana and 543 across the U.S. In 2021 for the 6th straight year, Seymour ranked in the top 100 in the United States for economic strength at 83rd, and earlier this month the 2022 rankings were released…Seymour is now just outside the top 10% in the country with a ranking of 56th. Seymour also ranked No. 1 in population growth among Indiana’s micropolitans.
Twenty-three economic factors are taken into consideration over a 20-year period to gauge improvement and current ranking.
Jan 13, 2022 | Jackson County News & Info
The Seymour City Council approved a $654,000 tax abatement for the purchase of equipment by RR Donnelley, a commercial printing company that has been doing business at Seymour’s Freeman Field Industrial Park for three decades.
The 10-year tax abatement will allow the company to buy new manufacturing and information technology equipment.
The company, located at 709 A Avenue East, currently has a workforce of 111 with $4,115,369 in salaries.
In 2019, RR Donnelley received a $3.4 million tax abatement for new equipment. Around the same time, the company was given a $114 million contract from the U.S. Government Publishing Office to produce materials for the 2020 Census.
Founded in 1864, the company provides marketing and business communications, commercial printing and related services, and 200 locations in 28 countries and 33,000 employees.
Dec 15, 2021 | Jackson County News & Info
The South Central Indiana Talent Region, which includes Jackson County, has been awarded a $30 million READI grant by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC).
On Tuesday, Dec. 14, the IEDC board of directors and Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb announced the award during a meeting at Butler University in Indianapolis.
READI (Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative) was introduced earlier this year and funded with $500 million in state appropriations to promote strategic investments that will make Indiana a magnet for talent and economic growth.
On Dec. 3rd, the South Central Indiana Talent Region, which also includes Jennings and Bartholomew counties as well as the Town of Edinburgh, made its presentation in Speedway.
The South Central group had applied for $49.5 million from the READI program which would ultimately total $378.6 million when public and private dollars were added. Of that, Jackson County’s projects totaled $7.4 million and included workforce development/training, infrastructure, housing, medical and destination projects. In addition, there are five tri-county projects that are designed for possible use by developers and other entities in all counties.
With the announcement from the IEDC, the region steering committee will begin meeting in January to bring the projects within the $30 million limit.
READI hopes to attract at least $2 billion of local public, private and philanthropic match funding that will propel investment in Indiana’s quality of place, quality of life and quality of opportunity.
Source: Jackson County Industrial Dev. Corp.
