Southern Indiana Business Report
BEDFORD — A new pilot program is offering a $5,000 relocation incentive to qualified out-of-state individuals or families who relocate to Dubois County or Orange County. Announced July 19, Choose Southern Indiana is a talent attraction and workforce development initiative of Radius Indiana, in coordination with Dubois Strong and the Orange County Economic Development Partnership.
Such incentive programs are being used by numerous states and communities throughout the country to attract talent. Though not the first attraction program in Indiana, the Radius program is the first rural regional approach.
Dubois County is offering this program to recruit remote workers to relocate, while Orange County has set its focus on finding veterans to move into the county. Other counties are expected to join the regional program as well. Under the terms of the program, people who relocate to Southern Indiana must maintain residency for a minimum of two years.
“We believe the rich variety of recreational opportunities and the quality of life and safety in our small cities and towns are going to appeal to any number of people when they discover this chance for an introduction to Southern Indiana,” said Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius Indiana. “We’re excited to help people learn more about our communities with the Choose Southern Indiana program.”
Radius partnered with Indianapolis-based MakeMyMove, the first and only marketplace for move-ready talent. MakeMyMove’s platform and marketing services help communities pitch their wares and attract new residents.
“Southern Indiana is a hidden gem,” said Evan Hock, co-founder of MakeMyMove. “Movers looking for the great outdoors, affordable cost-of-living, and a tight-knit community should look no further. We’re proud to partner with Radius to help recruit some fresh faces to the region.”
Talent attraction and workforce development are now two of the most important aspects of economic development. Talent attraction focuses on recruitment from the talent pipeline outside of a given community, while workforce development aims to further an individual’s ability to grow their skills and develop the tools they need for business success in their community. The Radius program has specified that it is targeting attraction of talent from outside the state of Indiana, in order to avoid depleting talent in other Indiana communities.
The Radius region has a workforce of more than 108,000 people, and many communities are finding that their companies have additional vacant positions that need to be filled. Attracting talent to the region is seen as a critical part of growing the local workforce, which can stimulate economic growth and prosperity in communities.
To learn more and apply to the relocation incentive program, visit www.choosesouthernindiana.com.