FRENCH LICK — Radius Indiana hosted its annual stakeholder’s luncheon for the first time since 2020 May 11 at French Lick Resort. The meeting featured a panel of local leaders who explored the topic “Building Capacity in Our Region.”
Radius Indiana Board of Directors’ Chair Becky Skillman opened the meeting, thanking stakeholders for their continued support throughout the pandemic, as well as recognizing Susie Vaughn as a retiring member of the Radius board. “The Radius team has been blessed for many years to have Susie as our partner working on our behalf in the Indiana Economic Development Corporation for more than eight years,” said Skillman. “She has driven countless miles across a wide swath of rural southern Indiana, visiting all of our communities at one time or another as she has supported business growth. We will miss her as part of our team and wish her the best on her next endeavor.”
Skillman then introduced Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius Indiana, who provided an update on the programs and initiatives that make up the “Radius family tree” and ways in which the organization has evolved to best serve the region’s needs.
The pandemic inspired programs that didn’t exist before 2020, such as Radius’ workforce and talent attraction program, Choose Southern Indiana. The program aims to tell the region’s story and demonstrate to interested individuals what life is like in Southern Indiana.
In addition, Quyle updated attendees on the region’s growing tourism initiative, Discover Southern Indiana. This year, Radius is dedicating more resources to the program to create the biggest regional initiative in the Midwest with the help of both internal staff and local leaders in the participating counties.
“For the cities, towns, and counties in our region to achieve lasting growth, the local leaders need to have the skills and assets to set priorities and to then take the steps needed to carry out those plans,” said Quyle. “Radius is here to help its communities develop capacity and self-reliance to make success possible.”
The second half of the meeting consisted of a panel of local leaders in the Radius community who have and are actively participating in programs offered by the organization. The panel included individuals involved with ongoing initiatives:
- Kent Parisien, First Savings Bank | Crane Regional Defense Group
- Cindy Barber, Purdue Extension Daviess County | Recast Cities
- Jill Campbell, Daviess County Economic Development Corporation | Choose Southern Indiana
- Nancy Eckerle, Jasper Chamber of Commerce | Radius Indiana’s Women in Economic Development Program
The panel, moderated by Radius Indiana’s Director of Communications Amanda Craft, discussed the ways Radius has helped build capacity in its eight counties. From creating relationships with community and regional partners to fostering the mentality of what is wanted for the region, the panel discussed the impact that Radius has had on their community and the lessons they have learned and taken to other opportunities.
“Recast Cities has been a very overwhelming but eye-opening experience, leading to many rich conversations with key players in Daviess County,” said Barber. “I have a lot of positive thoughts as we continue to move forward and the experience has been very telling about the capacity of local entrepreneurs and leaders who are all aspiring to revitalize their downtowns.”
People interested in attending Radius Indiana’s 2023 stakeholder meeting should contact the Radius office at 812-277-9778.