IEDA In Your Ear

The Childcare Resource and Referral Network is a statewide resource designed to provide free support for families looking for childcare, childcare providers looking for assistance, and employers trying to connect employees to childcare. The Network aids communities to help them address their childcare needs, as well.  Kristi Burkhart is Director for one of the five regional Network operators, and she talks on this podcast about all of the services provided through the program and how to access them.

Entrepreneurship in rural communities takes a little extra effort.  In this second podcast dealing with the connection between economic development and regional planning councils, we explore how the Southern Indiana Development Council partnered with economic development organizations to stimulate the redevelopment of an endangered Vaudeville theatre and energize entrepreneurship at the same time.  Greg Jones, Southern Indiana Development Commission, Chris Pfaff, Knox County Economic Development, Nicole Like, Pantheon Theatre, and Jeff Quyle, Radius Indiana, join Lee Lewellen on this podcast to tell the story.

In 2022, Indiana's Small Business Development Centers helped secure over $110 million for Indiana small businesses and regularly meet individually with over 1,000 clients a month helping local businesses grow and thrive.  Andrew Carty is the IEDC Vice President for Small Business and he shares details about how the SBDC is evolving to meet local needs under IEDC's leadership.

Forbes Magazine named Indiana as the #1 state for starting a business in 2023 and Indiana ranked #4 in the US for the survivability of its start-ups.  David Watkins, Senior VP for Entrepreneurship and Small Business talks on this podcast about IEDC's efforts to support entrepreneurs including the new Connect IND website.   This podcast is sponsored by Duke Energy.

Hustle SBE is a unique cohort-based experience focused on female and minority entrepreneurs in the South Bend – Elkhart region.  Over the last four years, over 60 entrepreneurs have participated in this unique business bootcamp and have grown their businesses and their networks as a result of it.  Bethany Hartley, President and CEO of the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership share details about the program and insights about building the ‘entrepreneurial ecosystem.'   This podcast is sponsored by Duke Energy.

Workforce boards used to be focused on ‘displaced workers:' getting folks who were out of the workforce, back into it.  But as workforce and talent have become drivers for economic development, Indiana's workforce boards have become partners and innovators in addressing our talent needs.  Lisa Daugherty, Center of Workforce Innovations, Tony Waterson, Southern Indiana Works, and Edmond O'Neal with Northeast Indiana Works share details of the innovative ways they are working to address workforce challenges in their respective regions. Sponsored by Duke Energy

Everywhere, if Andrea Richter Garry has anything to do with it.  In our fourth podcast with IEDC staff, Lee talks with the Senior Vice President for Global Strategy & Engagement, Andrea Richter-Garry, about Indiana's unique strategy to engage foreign diplomats, business people, and entrepreneurs to bring Indiana to the world and the world to the Hoosier state.  Andrea talks about her background at the White House, the 2024 Indiana Global Economic Summit and why the 2022 Summit was a unique event in the world. She also shares how the IEDC is working to make sure that Indiana gets its fair share of federal dollars.

Across Indiana, there are 16 regional planning councils covering 83 of Indiana's 92 counties.  Regional planning councils can help secure funding for critical projects that can make or break some economic development activities.  In this podcast, the first of two parts, Christy Householder from the Cass County EDC and Steven Ray with the North Central Indiana Regional Planning Council talk about how the two organizations have worked together to secure funding for Cass County.  This podcast is sponsored by Hoosier Energy.

On the northside of Kokomo you can see the flurry of construction activity as the community prepares to welcome the Stellantis and Samsung joint venture.  But as the community prepares to welcome a new business venture, it is also preparing to welcome a new social venture as it anticipates new neighbors from South Korea.  Lori Dukes and Misty Knisely with the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance talk about the wide range of activities underway to make Kokomo a welcoming city for the incoming Korean nationals. This podcast is sponsored by Hoosier Energy.

In our third podcast with IEDC, Chris Lowery, Indiana's Commissioner for Higher Education, and Tony Denhart, IEDC's Executive VP for Workforce and Talent talk about the State's efforts to attract talent, build Indiana's talent pipeline and reveal members of the ‘Human Capital Club.' 

Launched in 2012, CivicLab is a unique nonprofit institute, founded to leverage the lessons of community collaboration learned and fine-tuned over many decades in Columbus, Indiana.  Led by J. Irwin Miller Cummins CEO, arts patron, industrialist and civil rights activist, the Columbus community became a leader in creating unique public-private partnerships and CivicLab seeks to spread the model to other communities, using what has become internationally known as ‘The Columbus Way.' In this podcast Jack Hess, Co-Founder and Executive Director of CivicLab, and Dakota Pawlicki, Director of Talent Hubs talk about their unique approach to addressing community challenges by creating tools for community teams.

What do public restrooms for festivals, a historic alley, murals and a bog have in common? They were all funded through the CreatINg Places program, a place-making grant program from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority and Patronicity. Meagan Heber from IHCDA, Bridget Anderson from Patronicity, and Marce King from the Owen County Chamber and Economic Development Corporation talk about the unique crowdfunding and grant program for Indiana communities on this podcast.

Gone are the days when a community could get an option on a cornfield and wait for a company to show up.  Now, the competitive edge goes to the communities that have sites that are ready for development with infrastructure and amenities in place. In this podcast, Brock Herr and Matt Wade from IEDC and Victor Leotta, Leotta Location and Design, talk about the State's strategy for moving Indiana to the front of the competitive pack with more available and ready sites.

This podcast launches a new series of podcasts in which staff from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation will talk about IEDC programs, policies and strategies.  In this podcast, Brock Herr, Jessica Tower and Matt Saltanovitz talk about the ‘5E' concept and how it is being deployed for the State's attraction and lead generation strategy.  

What do concrete lions and a painting of Wendell Willkie have to do with economic development?  A lot, if you are in Rushville, Indiana.  Brian Sheehan, Director of Special Projects and Community Development for the City of Rushville, and Miah Michaelsen, Executive Director for the Indiana Arts Commission talk on this podcast about how ‘the arts' have helped to leverage millions of dollars of new investment in Rushville and how the Indiana Arts Commission can help your community.

As members of the Baby-Boom cohort retire, local business owners are faced with choices about how to transition ownership of their companies.  Too often, the companies are sold to an out-of-state entity and local control and investment is lost, or just as often, the company is closed and jobs are lost to the community.  Jeff Banning just took his company, Banning Engineering, through the ‘employee stock ownership plan' or ESOP, process as a way of keeping it in Hendricks County.  Jeff joins Debbie Trocha from the Indiana Cooperative Development Center to talk about the process in this podcast.

LDRSHIP – How do these 7 letters apply to Army Values and economic development?  Chris Pfaff, CEO of Knox County Economic Development and former Army Colonel explains in this podcast with Lee Lewellen.

The Indiana Bond Bank (IBB) assists local communities and public entities with financing physical assets.  But what about those community needs that can't be solved with a road or a building.  IBB came up with a creative solution to creative challenges: the Flipping Finance Challenge a ‘hack-a-thon' that brings creative problem-solvers from various disciplines together with Indiana communities to create unique and sometimes ‘out-of-the-box' solutions to community challenges.  Mark Wuellner, executive director of the Indiana Bond Bank, and Travis Richards, executive director of the Jay County Development Corporation talk about the process.

Rollie Helmling has had a rich and diverse life and career, ranging from serving as owner and CEO of Harold's Supermarkets in Vincennes, Indiana to his service as president and CEO of USAC, the United States Auto Club.  Rollie is one of the winningest racing team owners with Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and John Andretti among his drivers.  In this podcast, Rollie talks about the newly released study documenting the broad and deep economic impact that the motorsports industry has on all of Indiana's 92 counties.  You'll be surprised at the international and extraterrestrial impact of Indiana's motorsports industry!

The Rural Economic Development Model is Indiana's unique effort to leverage Indiana's agriculture assets into new economic development opportunities for the state's rural areas.  In this podcast, Connie Neininger, CN Consulting, and Stephen Eastridge, Jasper County Economic Development, talk about the details and promise of the REDM program as it is being deployed in 38 Indiana counties.

Many IEDA members know Steve Eberly from his time as economic development director in Warren County and his frequent attendance at IEDA events.  Now, Steve is serving as executive director of Hoosier for Renewables and in this podcast he share his thoughts about what Indiana economic developers can do to make their communities more conducive for attracting renewable energy projects and the challenges and opportunities in doing so.

The Battery Innovation Center is a global ‘hub' for battery research, testing, and education located near Newberry, Indiana. The ‘BIC' leadership team discusses the impact the Center is making on international battery technology, why the Center is in Indiana, and what our ‘battery future' may look like.

The Strategic Sites Inventory (SSI) project was launched by IEDC and the Indiana Power Partners as a way to increase the number of available sites in Indiana.  The process uses as high-level review process to target potential sites that local economic developers then review and prioritize. All 92 Indiana counties have received the first review: now, local economic developers need to schedule a ‘site review workshop' with Sarah Salisbury at IEDC to review and rate the sites that have been selected in their counties.  In these two podcasts the SSI program is re-introduced and explained by Victor Leotta in Part 1 and, in Part 2 Andrea Lendy (Evansville) and Darrell Voelker (Harrison County) explain how the process worked for them.  Other participants in the podcasts include Sarah Salisbury (IEDC), Jeff Pipkin (Hoosier Energy) and Brian Anderson (Wabash Valley Power Alliance).

The Strategic Sites Inventory (SSI) project was launched by IEDC and the Indiana Power Partners as a way to increase the number of available sites in Indiana.  The process uses as high-level review process to target potential sites that local economic developers then review and prioritize. All 92 Indiana counties have received the first review: now, local economic developers need to schedule a ‘site review workshop' with Sarah Salisbury at IEDC to review and rate the sites that have been selected in their counties.  In these two podcasts the SSI program is re-introduced and explained by Victor Leotta in Part 1 and, in Part 2 Andrea Lendy (Evansville) and Darrell Voelker (Harrison County) explain how the process worked for them.  Other participants in the podcasts include Sarah Salisbury (IEDC), Jeff Pipkin (Hoosier Energy) and Brian Anderson (Wabash Valley Power Alliance).

Peter Schubert is a licensed professional engineer with 43 US patents and 13 in the EU.  Peter is an award-winning professor in the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology at IUPUI and talked with Lee Lewellen in this podcast about his role as director of the Richard G. Lugar Center for Renewable Energy and about some of the technologies being developed at the Center.

In 2018, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce formed the Institute for Workforce Excellence to create a clearinghouse for programs to support the needs of Indiana's employers.  Jason Bearce is the Chamber's VP of Education and Workforce Development and he shares with Lee Lewellen the current state of the Institute's programming and shares details of the ‘Talent Resource Navigator' which will be launched later this year.

The Batesville Community School Corporation has a unique partnership with local businesses and Ivy Tech Community College to provide classes and hands-on experiences for students to help them enter the workforce after graduation and stay in Batesville.  Superintendent Paul Ketcham talks about the program, the challenges with creating a work-based program in the school, and shares insights about how other communities can follow Batesville's lead.

Dave Tucker is Vincennes University's VP for Workforce Development and Community Service.  In this wide-ranging podcast, Dave talks about the many programs available to support Indiana businesses and communities and shares details about an innovative ‘early college' program pioneered by VU.

‘Manufacturing 4.0' is the emerging wave of technologies being adopted by manufacturers around the world: it is the leading edge of competitiveness for manufacturers.  Mitch Landess, Conexus Indiana's VP of Innovation and Digital Transformation talks about the Manufacturing Readiness Grants that are available exclusively for Indiana manufacturers to help them acquire and implement 4.0 technologies.

Most Hoosiers first ‘met' Dr. Sue Ellspermann when she became Indiana's 50th Lt. Governor.  In 2016 she was selected to serve as President of Ivy Tech Community College. An engineer, entrepreneur and educator, Sue brings varied experience and expertise to her role at Ivy Tech.  Sue spoke with Lee Lewellen about Ivy Tech's Strategic Plan, how they hope to partner with the economic development community, and how the institution is preparing to train for emerging jobs of the future. 

In his 2021 State of the State Address, Governor Eric Holcomb announced the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative, now known as READI.  The Indiana General Assembly enacted legislation to fund the initiative at $500 million and to authorize the Indiana Economic Development Corporation to implement the program.  IEDC Chief of Staff Luke Bosso shares details of the READI program with Lee Lewellen in this podcast.

‘To tell the authentic story of Indiana…’ is how Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch and Secretary Elaine Bedel describe the purpose and goal of the Indiana Destination Development Corporation (IDDC).  Crouch and Bedel talk in this podcast about the IDDC strategic plan and how they hope to work with IEDA members on attracting workers to Indiana.

The 2021 Indiana General Assembly appropriated an additional $60million for the Indiana Small Business Restart Grant Program.  Luke Bosso, Indiana Economic Development Corporation Chief of Staff, talks in this podcast about getting the word out quickly to Hoosier small businesses that were financially hurt during the pandemic so that they can take advantage of these funds.

In 2020, the federal government spent over $132 billion on small business contracts.  Indiana small businesses captured $867 million of that total.  Chris Jeffers, Indiana Director of the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) wants to increase Indiana’s share of all government purchasing and asks for your help in this week’s podcast.

Mayor, licensed minister, broadcaster, educator and now Executive Director of OCRA, Denny Spinner brings a wealth of experience to his new role.  Denny talks with Lee Lewellen about OCRA’s ‘four competencies,’ and how he hopes the agency will serve Indiana’s rural communities.

In 2020 the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and the Indiana Power Partnership launched the Strategic Sites Inventory project to expand the number of developable economic development sites in Indiana.In this podcast program creator Victor Leotta, Duke Energy’s Erin Schneider, and IEDC’s Matt Wade talk about the program and its potential to increase the competitive advantage of every Indiana county.

In spite of all the disruptions caused by the pandemic, Indiana had another record year in economic development.  Indiana Commerce Secretary Jim Schellinger joins host Lee Lewellen for a second podcast and talks about the successes in 2020 and the opportunities and challenges facing Indiana in 2021.

After over 40 years with NIPSCO, 20 of which were spent directing the utility’s economic development efforts, Don Babcock retired at the end of 2020.  In this, the second in a series of occasional podcasts to highlight the careers of retiring economic development professionals, Don shares his thoughts on leadership and how the economic development profession has changed during his career.

After nearly 22 years, Diane Thalmann is stepping away from her role as the Economic Development Manager at NIPSCO.  In the first of an occasional podcast series to highlight Indiana’s ‘seasoned’ economic development professionals, Diane talks about how she entered into and learned the economic development field, how the field has changed and shares advice about leadership and service.

The Indiana Main Street program has operated in Indiana communities since 1985, but COVID 19 has highlighted the critical role the program plays in fostering thriving downtowns.  Program Coordinator Jackie Swihart talks about past successes of the Indiana program, how communities used Main Street resources to respond to the pandemic, and changes coming to the program that will extend its success even further into Hoosier communities.

INVETS is Indiana’s unique and holistic effort to attract transitioning veterans to Hoosier communities and jobs.  Unlike any other effort in the US, INVETS provides wrap-around services for both employers and veterans and even during the pandemic, the initiative has been adding new residents and workers to Indiana.  Executive Director of INVETS, Wes Wood, talks about the unique aspects of the program and how Indiana communities and employers can get signed up.

Roberto Gallardo is the ‘new’ Director of the Purdue Center for Regional Development (PCRD), but he isn’t new to the Center and it’s mission of serving Indiana communities.  Roberto talks about the value of data to economic developers and how he hopes to evolve the Center’s ability to use data to tell stories that will help regions understand their growth opportunities.

Do you know what an aerostat is and how it may solve Indiana’s rural broad band challenges?  In this podcast Lee talks to Matt Crouch, OCRA, and Scott Rudd, Indiana’s Director of Broadband Opportunities as they detail the Lt. Governor’s Rural Road to Recovery Plan and Scott talks about how aerostats are being deployed in rural Indiana to expand broadband access.

Innovate WithIN is a dynamic program targeting Indiana high school students helping them to ‘view life through a lens of innovation and entrepreneurship while building a life of purpose.’  The program is unique in the US and is looking to expand further into Indiana communities.  Don Wettrick, founder of the program, speaks with Lee Lewellen in this episode of ‘IEDA In Your Ear,’ sponsored by Wabash Valley Power Alliance.

Jim Schellinger serves as the Secretary of Commerce for the State of Indiana and has been in a leadership role with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation since 2015.  In addition to his usual duties with IEDC, this year has seen Jim take on additional responsibilities assisting Governor Holcomb in the State’s COVID-19 response.  In this podcast, Secretary Schellinger talks about the impact of the pandemic on current economic development efforts and how the IEDC is preparing to rebound even stronger after the pandemic.

Ever been to a ‘backwards parade?’  In Owen County, that was how they helped school children celebrate the beginning of a new school year. In this podcast Marce King and Don Bingham with the Owen County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Corporation talk about that and how they were able to avoid cancelling any events during the pandemic.

Have you wondered what the ‘CEcD’ after an economic developer’s name means and whether your should have those letters after your name?  Jim Plump of the Jackson County Industrial Development Corporation is an advocate for the economic development certification, CEcD, and in this podcast he talks about why certification is an important step in an economic developer’s professional progression.  This podcast is sponsored by CRMorphew Consulting.

Invest Hamilton County had a robust talent attraction effort before the pandemic hit, but as early as April, the organization was able to pivot swiftly to identify open job opportunities and begin to aggressively connect displaced workers to willing employers.  Director of Workforce Strategy Carol Sergi talks about the formation of a task force composed of community stakeholders that has developed short and long-term workforce strategies.

In this podcast, Lee speaks for a second time with Leslie Wagner, Senior Principal with Ginovus.  Leslie this time shares her observations about how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting business trends and how those changes will impact the site selection process in the short and long-term.

Shance Sizemore, CEO, and Kayla Bryant, Marketing Manager with the Lawrence County Growth Council talk about the COVID-19 response: how they focused on communication, business education, and resource development and how their efforts with workforce development remain at the forefront of their priorities, even if the crisis has evolved the strategies.

When the coronavirus hit, One Southern Indiana launched ‘1SI Cares’ to organize communication, business outreach and resources with a three-pronged approach. Matt Hall, Executive Vice President with One Southern Indiana talks about 1SI Cares, their ongoing business and retention efforts, and the opportunities for cross-state collaboration as part of the Louisville region.