Southern Indiana Business Report
PLAINFIELD – Duke Energy is awarding more than $125,000 in grants to 26 local and regional economic development organizations to spur new jobs and investment in Indiana communities. The grants are through Duke Energy’s Partnership Program, which funds marketing and strategic efforts to grow cities and towns.
“We believe that when our communities thrive, we thrive,” said Erin Schneider, managing director of Midwest economic development for Duke Energy. “That’s why we work hand in hand with local and regional economic development organizations to bring new jobs and capital investment to the communities we serve, and our Partnership Program is one example of that.”
Grant dollars are used to support marketing campaigns and promotional materials, website development and updates, conference and tradeshow registrations and continuing education.
Four economic development organizations in the Radius Indiana region received grants:
- Daviess County Economic Development Corporation – $5,000
- Lawrence County Economic Growth Council – $5,000
- Martin County Alliance for Economic Growth – $5,000
- Radius Indiana – $5,000
The Economic Growth Council in Lawrence County will use a portion of the grant to send its marketing manager to the Ball State University Economic Development Course.
Shance Sizemore, CEO of the Growth Council and Bedford Chamber, said the remaining grant funds will be used for digital advertising to market office space in the Bedford area to companies that work with Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division that don’t have a location in the area and are looking for office space.
Jessica Potts, executive director of the Martin County Alliance, said the grant will be used to update the website, strengthen the Alliance’s identity in the community and new printed marketing materials.
“A goal of mine is to get handouts printed that I can take to businesses that share the Alliance’s added value in the County. I would also like to have some printed material that shows our yearly accomplishments,” Potts said.
Radius Indiana will use the grant to market the Crane Regional Defense Group, a subcommittee of the White River Military Coordination Alliance. The mission of CRDG is to expand community support and advocate for Crane at the local and federal level.
Since the Partnership Program was established in 2017, Duke Energy has contributed more than $700,000 in grant funding to organizations that are helping create vibrant economies in Indiana.
To qualify for program consideration, each applicant submitted a plan that would have a direct impact on their community’s economic growth. These awards help local and regional economic development organizations fund marketing and strategic efforts in the communities they serve. Amounts varied depending on the size and scope of the project.