Southern Indiana Business Report
BEDFORD — A substantial budget increase to support a number of strategic initiatives in 2022, including a large commitment to its region-wide tourism campaign, was among the highlights of the final meeting of the year for the Radius Indiana Board of Directors Dec. 8, and Becky Skillman was re-elected to her post as the group’s chair.
The board ratified its 2022 budget, which outlines opportunities for the organization and the region to maximize new initiatives that have been identified in the Indiana Uplands READI grant plan.
These activities include increased tourism funding to market Discover Southern Indiana, support for WestGate@Crane’s microelectronics-related growth, a second cohort of Recast Cities, the Monon South rails-to-trails development, and expansion of the Choose Southern Indiana population attraction incentive program.
“We seek to support our region’s communities in as many READI project opportunities as possible,” said Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius Indiana. “We are excited about the programs and projects that the Indiana Uplands READI plan has proposed and are ready to help bring those ideas to fruition in our region.”
The adopted budget would establish a multi-year initiative to support the implementation of the READI plan in the region. It would allow Radius to become a leader or partner in a handful of initiatives which align with the board’s strategic plan for Radius.
The budget also dramatically bolsters the Discover Southern Indiana regional tourism marketing budget, establishing the strongest regional tourism marketing initiative in the state. Misty Weisensteiner, former executive director of the Indiana Office of Tourism Development, is the chief operating officer of Discover Southern Indiana.
In addition to choosing Skillman as its leader again, the board also elected new board member Adam Gross, executive director for Career Coaching and Employer Connections for Ivy Tech – Bloomington.
Additional 2022 Radius Board officers include:
- Vice Chair Misty McCammack, Duke Energy
- Secretary Bryant Niehoff, Daviess County Economic Development Corporation
- Treasurer Jamie Shinabarger, Springs Valley Bank & Trust Co.
- Executive committee members Bryan Brackemyre, Indiana Municipal Power Agency, and and John Wilkes, mayor of Linton.
“The year-end meeting is a great way to bring together community stakeholders and reflect on the economic successes of the eight-county region,” said McCammack. “Radius is in a good position to leverage additional resources in the year ahead. I’m excited to see how these programs will continue to drive business growth and investment in the communities and improve the overall quality of life within the region.”
Jennie Vaughan, chancellor of Ivy Tech’s Bloomington campus, was recognized as a retiring board member and was honored with a proclamation for her service on the board.
Vaughan contributed years of leadership to the Radius Indiana region, offering advice to bolster economic development efforts that was specifically related to education and workforce development topics.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve on the Radius Board of Directors,” said Vaughan. “As my service comes to an end, Ivy Tech-Bloomington will continue to be represented on the board. The Radius leadership and board members are working every day for the betterment of the region and I wish them nothing but success for their communities.”
Radius will hold its annual stakeholder luncheon in May 2022. More details will be available in the coming months.