Southern Indiana Business Report
PLAINFIELD – Radius Indiana and the Orange County Economic Development Partnership are among economic development organizations selected for Duke Energy’s 2024 Partnership Program.
Duke’s Partnership Program funds marketing and strategic efforts to attract new jobs and investment in communities served by Duke.
Radius will use its grant to market its new Magnificent Monon South, a regional Main Street program for towns along the Monon South Trail. OCEDP will use its award for a workplace housing program.
“Economic development plays a vital role in the long-term growth and prosperity of the state,” said Erin Schneider, managing director of business development at Duke Energy. “Through these grant funds, we’re proud to support our local economic development partners as they work in new and creative ways to market their communities to site selectors and businesses across the world.”
Partnership Program grant funds can be used to support a wide array of marketing initiatives, including trade show attendance, website redesign, promotional materials, and presentations or tours to introduce prospective companies and site selectors to a community.
To qualify for program consideration, each applicant submitted a plan that would have a direct impact on their community’s economic growth. Grant amounts varied depending on the size and scope of the project.
Grant awards, details
The following southern Indiana organizations received grants:
▪ City of Batesville – $5,000
The City of Batesville recently approved an ordinance creating a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) district within city limits. DORA districts can provide an economic boost and serve as a tourism draw for communities. Grant funds will be used to support the creation of a website, signage and advertising to increase foot traffic to retail and restaurants in the vicinity of the new DORA district.
▪ I-74 Business Corridor – $5,000
Grant funds will support the presence of several I-74 Business Corridor member organizations at various trade shows and conferences throughout the year to market and promote the region and network with site consultants and business prospects.
▪ Jackson County Industrial Development Corporation – $5,000
Grant funds will support the Jackson County Industrial Development Corporation in updating marketing materials to promote the region during their travels to Japan and Germany to meet with site consultants and business prospects.
▪ One Dearborn – $5,000
Grant funds will support the complete redesign of One Dearborn’s website to improve user engagement, functionality and search engine optimization.
▪ Orange County Economic Development Partnership – $1,500
OCEDP will use the funds to support their workforce housing program as part of their talent attraction and retention initiative to improve the quality of life and increase the number of skilled workers living and working in the community.
▪ Radius Indiana – $4,000
Grant funds will support the hiring of a professional photographer/videographer to capture imagery and footage that can be used in marketing collateral for Radius Indiana’s new regional Main Street program.
▪ River Ridge Development Authority – $3,000
Grant funds will support the redesign of River Ridge Commerce Center’s website, with a focus on developing a site map; updating the overall design and interface with a more contemporary, user-friendly look and feel; incorporating a greater degree of visual content through maps, photos, video and drone footage; providing easier navigation; and maximizing search engine optimization.