Southern Indiana Business Report
TELL CITY – The Perry County Development Corporation has released its 2024-2025 impact data in a new strategic infographic, confirming that the quiet work of economic development is generating loud results for the region’s workforce, housing market and community fabric.
This new visual snapshot aggregates data over the last 12 months, providing the statistical backbone to a year that saw Perry County named one of “America’s Most Welcoming Places” for 2024 by MakeMyMove, an honor shared with only five other communities nationwide.
“Economic development is often measured in ribbons cut and ground broken, but the most durable impact happens in the daily lives of our residents,” said Erin Emerson, president and CEO of PCDC. “This data doesn’t just represent dollars and cents; it represents families planting roots, students finding career paths at home and businesses getting the support they need to stay and grow.”
Talent attraction: A national model
The infographic spotlights the runaway success of Perry County’s remote worker attraction program, MakeMyMove. The initiative has now successfully relocated over 18 households comprising 40+ new residents, generating an estimated $3.4+ million in economic impact over the next five years.
Crucially, 57% of these new movers had zero prior connection to Perry County, proving that quality of place is becoming a primary economic driver.
“We aren’t just attracting residents; we are welcoming neighbors,” said Shiraz Mukarram, PCDC Marketing & Special Initiatives manager. “When a new resident is sworn in as a reserve sheriff’s deputy or a new student is voted homecoming queen within a year of arriving, that tells you the data is real. It validates every metric we track.”
Workforce & small business
Beyond attraction, the data visualizes the scale of PCDC’s investment in the existing community infrastructure:
• 700+ Students Engaged: Through ASPIRE, the Tour of Opportunities, Skilled Trades Fair and other workforce initiatives, local youth are being directly connected to career pathways within the county.
• 120+ Employers Supported: PCDC provided direct assistance for expansion planning, workforce challenges, and retention strategies.
• $140K+ New Annual Tax Revenue: Generated directly from the relocation of high-earning remote workers (average household income: $99,000).
Tell City Mayor Chris Cail underscores this impact.
“I can say without hesitation that our community would not be where it is today without the steady leadership, vision, and hard work of the PCDC,” Cail said. “They remain one of the most critical pillars supporting Tell City’s growth, helping us attract new opportunities, strengthen our workforce, and build a community we are all proud to call home.”
Building community infrastructure
The momentum from this reporting period has accelerated throughout 2025, visible in the success of recent events including the Ice Skating, for second year in a row, at Christmas in the Park, Farm to Table Dinner, Jobapalooza, and the student-focused ASPIRE event. These initiatives are not merely social gatherings but strategic “quality of place” investments that retain talent.
In total, PCDC hosted or supported 10 major community events in 2024 and generated 13.5 million digital impressions through the Discover Southern Indiana brand, putting Perry County on the map for millions of potential visitors and investors.
“This snapshot is a picture of a community in motion,” Emerson added. “As we close 2025, the foundation we built over the last year is stronger than ever. We are proving that rural communities don’t have to choose between preserving their character and pursuing growth. In Perry County, we are doing both.”
About Perry County Development Corporation
Since 1990, the PCDC has led the effort to attract, retain, and expand business in Perry County, Indiana. By focusing on workforce development, marketing, quality of place, and strategic economic growth, PCDC ensures that Perry County remains a vibrant place to live and work.
To learn more about the Perry County Development Corporation and its initiatives, visit pickperry.com.