Southern Indiana Business Report
VINCENNES – Economic development professionals and civic leaders will receive hands-on training in June to explore and accelerate AI use in better marketing Knox County and attracting business and investment to the region, according to Chris Pfaff, CEO of Knox County Indiana Economic Development.
“AI can serve as a force multiplier for our staff and area professionals to further elevate our current Opportunity Knox marketing campaign and help capture new opportunities,” said Pfaff.
Two sessions on generative AI applications will be conducted by the Blaizing Academy located in Indianapolis to inform Knox County area officials of strategic AI capacity for economic development and related outreach. Funding for the sessions will come from a $5,000 grant recently awarded by Duke Energy through its 2025 Partnership Program, which funds marketing and strategic efforts to attract new jobs and investment to the state. The Knox County grant was one of five partnership awards.
“This program gives our local economic development partners the tools they need to showcase the strengths of their communities – both at home and on the national stage,” said Erin Schneider, managing director of economic development at Duke Energy. “It’s just one of the many ways we’re helping influence growth in the state to build competitive, thriving communities.”
“As has been stated, AI will not replace professionals, but AI does have the potential to possibly replace efforts that don’t use AI effectively,” Pfaff commented. “Through this training we plan to find ways to appropriately integrate generative AI in both our strategic and day-to-day operations, including elevating the brand and outreach of Knox County Indiana.”