1
visit us online at www.ccswin.com
CommunityLink.com
1 800-455-5600
production
production manager
director of publication design
managing editor
copywriting
MATT PRICE Amanda White Laura Wilcoxen mark Allen
Carol Cummings
Amanda Knoles
Jay Nehrkorn
proofreader
director of photography
photography
Christina Reese Kacey Wolters Hayden Burns Photography The Chamber of
Commerce of
Southwest Indiana
cover rendering
Populous
VPS Architecture
Hafer Associates
lead design
Kelly Friederich
web site creation & support JOSH CHANDLER director of media purchasing DIANA VAUGHN
business development director of business development
director of outside sales
regional director of publications
marketing specialist
George Prudhomme debbie moss Heidi Robson Shawna Williams
business development manager
Bonnie Ebers
kathy Risley
customer service director
customer service representative
Jamie Trail
advertising
ad research
ad traffic
ad design
Mary kopshever Amy SchwartzkoPf Carol Smith JOSh Mueller
administrative support
administrative support
account support
human resources assistant
mailroom technician
Kathy Hagene carol Smith Terri Ahner Tricia Cannedy Teresa craig melinda bowlin
information technology
publishing systems specialist
christopher miller
The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana
executive leadership
2
Table of Contents
chairman and founder
Craig Williams
chief financial officer
Rhonda Harsy
ABOUT This book is published by CommunityLink and distributed through the The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana. For advertising information or questions or comments about this book, contact CommunityLink at 800-455-5600 or by e-mail at info@CommunityLink.com. FOR INFORMATION The Chamber of Commerce of
Southwest Indiana, 318 Main Street, Suite 401, Evansville, IN 47708, Telephone 812-425-8147, Fax 812-421-5883, www.ccswin.com © 2010 Craig Williams Creative, Inc., 4742 Holts Prairie Road, Post Office Box 306, Pinckneyville, IL 62274-0306, 618-357-8653. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
Forging Links
New Interstate Project Bridges Evansville to the Capital and Beyond............................................................................3
Downtown Dazzles
Arena Complex to Crown a Full Slate of Transformative Downtown Projects..............................................................4
Community Close-Ups
A Moveable Riverfront Feast..............................................................................................................................................5 “Half as Far – Twice as Good!”............................................................................................................................................5 Fall, Food, Philanthropy.......................................................................................................................................................5 Jazzin’ It Up...........................................................................................................................................................................6 Ohio River Heritage.............................................................................................................................................................6
By the Numbers
Southwest Indiana Facts and Stats......................................................................................................................................7
Biz Briefs
Regional Business Sampler..................................................................................................................................................8 Sustainable Region...............................................................................................................................................................9 Top 10 Indiana: Rating the States.......................................................................................................................................9 GREEN Growth.................................................................................................................................................................9
Chamber Report
Close Quarters for Collaboration......................................................................................................................................10
Report Card
Higher Education Highlights...........................................................................................................................................11 Investing in Education.......................................................................................................................................................13 Library System Earns Top National Ranking..................................................................................................................14
Health Care
Deaconess Health System: Significant Growth, Specialized Service ............................................................................15 St. Mary’s: Committed to Excellence, Hope, and a Spiritual Center.............................................................................16 Tri-State Business Group on Health: Fostering Quality Community Care.................................................................17
We the People
Jack Pate, President and Publisher, Evansville Courier & Press......................................................................................18 Amos Morris, Director of Mesker Park Zoo and Botanical Garden.............................................................................18 Dr. Linda Bennett, President of the University of Southern Indiana.............................................................................18 Paul Green, Business Manager and Financial Secretary – IBEW Local 16..................................................................19
Youth Power
Boys & Girls Club of Evansville Celebrates New Facility..............................................................................................20 Give Back Tristate Fosters Community Pride and Engagement....................................................................................20
Come Out & Play
Recreation Destinations.....................................................................................................................................................21
On With the Show
Sights, Sounds, and Sensations..........................................................................................................................................23
Visitors Sampler
Southwest Indiana Selections............................................................................................................................................24
Get Connected
Directory of County Services............................................................................................................................................25
2010 Chamber Calendar of Events. .........................................................................................................27 Uncommon Knowledge
Wooden, Wild, and World Famous..................................................................................................................................28 The Heart of the Heartland..............................................................................................................................................28 Supplying the Troops — Then and Now.........................................................................................................................28 A Field of Our Own..........................................................................................................................................................28
Around the Neighborhood
Affordable and Appealing Selections................................................................................................................................29
Forging Links New Interstate Project Bridges Evansville to the Capital and Beyond
project to build an interstate highway linking Evansville with Indianapolis is under way and will likely lead to a new Ohio River bridge that will link several states via Interstate 69. The project — some 40 years in the making — broke ground in 2008. “It has been a long-standing effort on the part of leaders in Southwest Indiana,” said Matthew T. Meadors, president and CEO of The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana. “We have started to make very strong headway in recent years.” Meadors noted that Evansville, despite being Indiana’s third-largest city, has lacked interstate access to the capital. The I-69 project will change that — and a lot more. The state’s Major Moves program started in 2006, earmarking $4 billion for transportation infrastructure projects, including $700 million for the construction of Interstate 69 from Evansville to Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division, about 70 miles southwest of Indianapolis. This project will complete three of the highway’s six sections of independent utility between Evansville and Indianapolis. Construction has been progressing northeast, starting at the intersection of Interstate 64 and State Road 57. The project’s supporters and economic development leaders expect it to attract advanced distribution and logistics companies to the region. Meadors said that eventually Evansville will have interstate access, within a day’s drive, to 70 percent of both the U.S. and Canadian populations. Meadors explained, “The extension of Interstate 69 will mean Southwest Indiana enjoys full and unfettered interstate access north, south, east, and west. That’s huge.” “I-69 is a very important economic development initiative for Evansville,” agreed Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel. The highway construction will necessitate other infrastructure improvements as well. Interstate 69 is a U.S. Department of Transportation-designated Corridor of the Future, which will connect Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, and Michigan. As a result, a new bridge over the Ohio River is necessary to ensure that traffic does not become bottlenecked between Southwest Indiana and Northwest Kentucky. Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear recently announced their intention to have both states work collaboratively to ensure that construction of the highway and the new Ohio River bridge continues to progress. In August 2009, the governors conducted a ceremonial signing of a Kentucky law to finance the bridge, which is estimated to cost $1.4 billion, with $943 million paid by Kentucky.
visit us online at www.ccswin.com
A
By Mark Allen
3
Downtown Dazzles Arena Complex to Crown a Full Slate of Transformative Downtown Projects
The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana
A
4
dazzling future is in store for downtown Evansville, with a new arena and hotel as the latest projects in the core’s momentum. “These are very exciting times for Evansville and Southwest Indiana as a whole,” said Matthew T. Meadors, president and CEO of The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana. Progress started with the location of new headquarters for Old National Bank and Vectren on the riverfront. The city of Evansville began offering matching grants to convert older downtown buildings into condominiums. Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel calls the grant initiative “a phenomenal success,” noting that more than 200 new residential units have been added downtown and that developers are now rehabilitating entire buildings. And that’s not all. Development has been booming, with an impressive list of accomplishments to date: • The city built a new dock for the LST-325. • A new children’s museum has opened. • Casino Aztar opened a new entertainment district, hotel, and restaurant. • Evansville Museum is preparing to launch a major expansion. But the crown jewel of downtown revitalization is being realized with a new arena and hotel, a project that will replace Evansville’s aging Roberts Municipal Stadium with a state-of-the-art complex that will attract major players to the city.
By Mark Allen
The debate on what to do with Roberts Municipal Stadium, which is more than 50 years old, began five years ago. According to Weinzapfel, updating the stadium would require millions of dollars just to meet codes and fix structural issues, leaving it still seriously lacking in many ways. “The undersized floor doesn’t allow for hockey or arena football, and performers can’t hang lights or speakers from the ceiling,” Weinzapfel noted. “In addition, there is only one loading dock at Roberts, while major shows might require dozens of semis, forcing them to spend two days in the city just to unload and reload. As a result, [major acts] don’t come to Evansville.” With a Roberts revamp a non-starter, the city focused on downtown for the new arena, because locating there allowed the city to finance construction without raising taxes, through tax increment financing and receipts from food, beverages, and gaming. The project includes demolishing part of the Executive Inn and building a new hotel that links with the current convention center and the new arena. “It’s really going to enhance the downtown, which is the heart of our community. If downtown is thriving, people’s perception is that the whole community is thriving,” Weinzapfel said. The benefits will go beyond raising Evansville’s reputation, though. “This is a project that transforms our community and creates jobs,” Weinzapfel said. “I think it will dramatically improve people’s perception of what Evansville’s about. This is a great place to live, work, and raise a family.”
Photo by Evansville Courier & Press
Community Close-Ups A Moveable Riverfront Feast www.evansvilleparksfoundation.org
By Mark Allen
Evening on the River is a late spring, movable feast on the Evansville riverfront set for June 4, 2010. With food and beverages from some of the region’s finest dining establishments and an assortment of entertainment, the event offers a leisurely stroll with friends under the stars. Start at Casino Aztar and end at the Evansville Pagoda. The event is a benefit for the Evansville Parks Foundation and Keep Evansville Beautiful.
“Half as Far – Twice as Good!” www.evansvillehalfmarathon.org
By Mark Allen
The YMCA Half Marathon (Half as Far – Twice as Good!) starts on Reitz Hill and winds through the city. Highlights include the Greenway, Garvin Park, Bosse Field, Main Street and the Walkway, Bayard and Akin parks, and a finish on the riverfront. The 13.1-mile course is mostly flat. Beginners need not fret as the YMCA offers Team 13, a 13-week training program designed for individuals of all fitness levels interested in training for the marathon. In the last few years, more than 1,000 participants have worked with volunteer trainers to prepare for and complete the Evansville Half Marathon in October.
Fall, Food, Philanthropy By Mark Allen
The West Side Nut Club hosts the six-day Fall Festival on Franklin Street each year in the first full week of October, a tradition that marked its 88th anniversary in 2009. Events start each day at 11 a.m. with the opening of food booths — which have offered everything from traditional fair food favorites to brain sandwiches, chocolate-covered crickets, and Scorpion Pops — and end late each evening. Activities include the introduction of the University of Southern Indiana basketball team; three parades (including a pet parade and an old-fashioned lighthouse parade); a big carnival in the library park, with games and rides; an amateur talent contest; a king and queen
visit us online at www.ccswin.com
www.nutclub.org
5
contest; and daily headline performers. Nightly entertainment is featured on two stages. There are 125 food booths lining the way between Wabash and St. Joe avenues! The West Side Nut Club also offers events throughout the year, including an Easter egg hunt, a cruise-in event in June, and Santaland in December. The Fall Festival raises thousands of dollars each year, and the West Side Nut Club donates all proceeds to scholarships and community projects.
Jazzin’ It Up www.historicnewburgh.org
By Mark Allen
The weekend Historic Newburgh Wine & Art Festival, which began in 2006 and added jazz in 2009, is held each May. The 2010 festival will be held May 14–16. It begins with Grapes on the Grass, a winetasting soiree featuring offerings from many Indiana wineries, held at Old Lock and Dam Park in Newburgh. Entry is $40 (includes a commemorative glass and tray) with a $10 ticket available to designated drivers. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Attire is “sparkling casual,” and live performers are featured. Saturday and Sunday of the festival feature regional specialty foods and wines, seminars on wine production and selection, wares by local artisans and craftsmen, and music. The festival includes free educational events. Sunday also features jazz musicians from the region. Proceeds help Historic Newburgh, Inc., support such projects as the planned Rivertown Greenway (a walking and bicycling path along the riverfront) and park improvements in Newburgh.
Ohio River Heritage http://mtvernonriverdays.wikispaces.com
The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana
By Mark Allen
6
Mt. Vernon River Days, held in mid-September, aims to bring the community together to showcase the area’s rich Ohio River heritage and to honor regional veterans. A barbecue cook-off, “Smoke on the Ohio,” brings teams from the Tri-State area to Mt. Vernon’s riverfront. Cooking continues overnight until Saturday, when judging is done and prizes are awarded. The festival also includes a children’s parade, flea market, antique tractor show, historic demonstrations, a USO show, and “Touring of the Tugs,” compliments of Mt. Vernon Barge Services.
Evansville ........................................................116,309 Vanderburgh County................................. 174,729 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2008 estimates
DistanCes to maJor Cities (DriVing miLes)
by The numbers Southwest Indiana Facts and Stats
maJor empLoyers in southwest inDiana
Louisville, Ky. .......................................... 118 Nashville, Tenn. ...................................... 150 St. Louis, Mo........................................... 172 Indianapolis, Ind. .................................... 183 Lexington, Ky. ......................................... 196 Cincinnati, Ohio ..................................... 218 Memphis, Tenn. ...................................... 288 Columbus, Ohio ..................................... 324 Birmingham, Ala. .................................... 341 Chicago, Ill.............................................. 372 Atlanta, Ga. ............................................. 396 Kansas City, Mo....................................... 420 Little Rock, Ark. ...................................... 441 Milwaukee, Wis. ..................................... 462 Cleveland, Ohio ...................................... 466 Detroit, Mich........................................... 477 Jackson, Miss. ......................................... 494
Company...........................................................................Product/Service.........................Employees Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana ............................. SUVs and vans ................................. 4,500 Deaconess Hospital ................................................................. Medical ....................................... 4,400 St. Mary’s Medical Center ....................................................... Medical ....................................... 3,800 Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. .................................. Education ..................................... 3,200 Koch Enterprises, Inc....................................................Industrial/auto parts ............................. 2,200 University of Southern Indiana............................................. Education ..................................... 2,150 Alcoa Warrick Operations .......................................Aluminum sheet and ingot ........................ 2,100 T.J. Maxx ........................................................................ Distribution center .............................. 1,700 American General Finance..................................................... Financial ...................................... 1,300 Vectren..................................................................................... Utilities ....................................... 1,300 Berry Plastics ............................................................................Plastics........................................ 1,200 Casino Aztar .......................................................................Entertainment .................................. 1,200 SABIC Innovative Plastics ........................................................Plastics........................................ 1,200
Source: Rand McNally
Source: Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana
CLimate
Cost oF LiVing*
Temperature January Average low........................................21.2°F Average high ......................................38.9°F July Average low........................................67.5°F Average high ......................................89.1°F Precipitation Annual average precipitation....... 43.1 inches Annual average snowfall ............. 14.0 inches Other Annual Averages Relative humidity ...................................... 75 Wind speed ......................................8.0 mph Clear days ...............................................102 Partly cloudy days ...................................100 Cloudy days ............................................163
taXes Southwest Indiana Property Tax Rates, 2008
Evansville IN-KY Metro Composite........................ 95.4 Groceries .......................... 94.4 Housing .............................. 87 Utilities .......................... 114.8 Transportation .................. 96.4 Health Care ...................... 97.9 Miscellaneous ................... 96.8
Net Personal ..................................... Tax Rate ...Net Real Estate.. Property Gibson County average rates ............2.7736% ....... 2.1586% .......2.4125% Posey County average rates.............2.5072% ....... 1.7601% .......2.0070% Vanderburgh County average rates.............2.3929% ....... 1.8286% .......2.0900% Warrick County average rates ...........2.2460% ....... 1.7144% .......1.9107%
*U.S. average for all indices is 100.
Source: Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana
Source: ACCRA Cost of Living Index, 3Q2009
State of Indiana Business Taxes Corporate income tax .................................................8.5% Individual income .......................................................3.4% Gasoline ........................................................ $0.501/gallon Diesel ............................................................ $0.692/gallon Gross receipts............................................................. None Inventory ................................................................... None Sales and use..................................................................7% Source: Indiana Economic Development Corporation
visit us online at www.ccswin.com
popuLation
7
Biz Briefs
Regional Business Sampler Sitco Data Center
By Carol Cummings
www.sitcosolutions.com
The Sitco Data Center in Evansville helps protect businesses against potential data loss. In today’s data growth environment, it’s critical for businesses to know their data is securely backed up. Whether it’s a hard drive failure, a tape backup failure, or a catastrophic event, Sitco is the place to store and retrieve critical business data. Sitco’s state-of-the-art Data Center offers colocation solutions that allow businesses to locate hardware on a network that is architecturally designed to provide the highest standards of performance, availability, security, and immunity from external influences. The Data Center ensures that business servers are fully supported and protected against factors that would otherwise cause damaging downtime and unavailability of critical data and applications.
Berry Plastics www.berryplastics.com
Headquartered in Evansville, Berry Plastics is one of North America’s largest plastic packaging companies. Founded in 1967 as Imperial Plastics, the Evansville facility employs more than 1,500 and occupies 1.6 million square feet, including a recent $150 million expansion to thermoform operations. Product lines include Berry Plastics has injection-molded and thermoformed plastic packag66 manufacturing ing for products ranging from fountain drinks, to facilities and nearly 13,500 employees dairy products, to chemicals. Berry also offers extenworldwide. sive printing capabilities that include up to 10 color separations per design. “We’re excited to continue our long history of growth in Evansville, where we have enjoyed a terrific relationship with our community, government, and employees since 1967,” said Bill Norman, executive vice president of strategic planning, when announcing Berry Plastics’ 2009 expansion. It is projected that the expansion will create more than 360 new production jobs. Berry Plastics has 66 manufacturing facilities and nearly 13,500 employees worldwide.
AT&T Call Center
The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana
www.att.com
8
AT&T opened its Evansville wireless customer care center in 2007. The center employs 750 people and has an annual payroll of approximately $13 million. To open the center, AT&T invested $22 million to convert a 75,000-square-foot retail space on Vogel Road into a state-of-the-art facility focused on providing customer care to wireless business customers. AT&T offers the best wireless coverage worldwide and again ranked No. 1 in the telecom industry on Fortune magazine’s 2009 list of the “World’s Most Admired Companies.” AT&T employs more than 6,500 Hoosiers and has invested more than $1 billion in Indiana since Gov. Daniels and the General Assembly passed reform legislation in 2006.
Graham Packaging www.grahampackaging.com
Graham Packaging is a global leader in the design, sale, and manufacture of value-added, custom blow-molded plastic containers for branded
foods and beverages, personal care and specialty products, household products, chemical-based products, and automotive lubricants. A part of Vanderburgh County since 2002, the local operation’s core customers are Coke, Mead Johnson, Unilever, and General Mills. The Evansville plant produces multi-layer custom blow-molded plastic bottles and employs 66 individuals. “Our company has been very pleased with being part of the Evansville community,” Director of Operations Jeff Lombard said. “Plant retention rates have been very high, and our geographic location has provided several growth and expansion opportunities. Salaried relocation personnel are generally very pleased with the school systems in the area, which has been a positive selling point when adding depth and technical expertise to our operation. I’m convinced that a couple of the reasons our Evansville operation has been identified as a top performer in our company is because of the strong commitment to safety and to the continued development of our workforce.”
Just Rennie’s www.justrennies.com
Using only the finest ingredients, Just Rennie’s provides upscale cuisine with a twist. The business got its start in 2003 when Marla Rennie opened Just Rennie’s Catering. A year later, her husband, Doug Rennie, a graduate of In February 2007, the the prestigious New England Culinary Rennies opened Just Institute, joined her as chef. Rennie’s Cookie Co., from which they ship The business expanded in out their Gourmet Just September 2005 when the Rennies Rennie’s Signature opened a Tuscan Wine Room, which Cookies in gift boxes. was used to host private events, such as rehearsal dinners, wedding receptions, business breakfasts, lunches, and dinner parties. In addition, Just Rennie’s caters bridal and baby showers, as well as outside corporate and residential events both within and outside the Evansville area. In February 2007, the Rennies opened Just Rennie’s Cookie Co., from which they ship out their Gourmet Just Rennie’s Signature Cookies in gift boxes. They also operate a bakery and a gourmet deli.
By Carol Cummings
he Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana and Wesselman Nature Society are spearheading a Regional Sustainability Alliance for the area, an initiative that was launched with a regional conference in October 2009. According to The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana President & CEO Matthew T. Meadors, the sustainability movement is receiving a tremendous amount of media coverage in the United States and throughout the world. “Without question, change is in the air,” he said. “More and more businesses and individuals are electing to be more thoughtful in their practices in order to reduce their impact on the environment. While this is great news, there is more at work here than simply doing the right thing. Progressive business people understand that the sustainability movement is real, and it is here to stay. It is being driven by public policy and changing consumer tastes and expectations. Furthermore, they understand that executing a business model that embraces sustainable business practices can add dollars to a company’s bottom line.” Meadors said the Regional Sustainability Alliance will provide a mechanism for change within the region by educating the community about the sustainability movement. The alliance will also provide an opportunity to bring individuals together on a regular basis for workshops, seminars, peerto-peer networking, and the exploration of best practices.
Top 10 Indiana: Rating the States
• Indiana is ranked the No. 1 best Midwestern state for friendliness to business. (CNBC, 2009) • Indiana ranks fourth nationwide for transportation access. (CNBC, 2009) • Indiana is ranked among the top four states nationwide for friendliness to business. (CNBC, 2009) • Indiana has the seventh-lowest cost of doing business nationwide. (Forbes, 2009) • Indiana tied for the seventh-best state for having the greatest amount of Top Micropolitans. (Site Selection, 2009) • Indiana ranks as the eighth-best state for business, based on such factors as tax climate, cost of li ving , cost of labor, and qualit y of life. (Directorship magazine, 2009) • Indiana ranked ninth nationally among the Top 10 Compe titi ve States. (Site Selection, 2008) • Indiana is the 10th-highest exporting state. (U.S. Census Bure au, 2009)
green growth w w w.indianaprojectgreen.org
By Carol Cum m ings Project GREEN (Growing a Regional Energy Employment Net work) is an initiative designed to create economic growth in Southwest Indiana by identif ying and promoting opportunities to make the region more energy-efficient through alternative energy solutions. In addition to the cost benefits realized, it is hoped that the program will attract energy-related jobs to the region. In October 2009, the Project GREEN Advisory Committee and consultant group Greyhill Advisors announced their “Energy Cluster Roadmap,” a four-part plan to make Southwest Indiana an energy-strong region: • Developing a program to convince manufacturers to explore expanding in the region • Marketing the area for its energy efficiencies • Making existing buildings more energy-efficient • Developing Southwest Indiana as a leader in advanced coal technology The team will soon announce strategies to mobilize the local business, education, and workforce communities to take advantage of opportunities for Southwest Indiana manufacturers to transition into these rapidly growing markets. Over 15 years, Greyhill believes the project will bring close to 15,000 full-time jobs, 11,000 spin-off jobs, and 97,000 construction jobs to Southwest Indiana. Sponsored by the Grow Southwest Indiana Regional Workforce Board through a WIRED grant, Project GREEN ser ves Dubois, Gibson, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Warrick counties.
visit us online at www.ccswin.com
T
Sustainable Region
9
Chamber Report
T
Close Quarters for Collaboration
By Mark Allen
The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana
he bright future of Southwest Indiana is reflected at Innovation Pointe, a high-tech business incubator located in downtown Evansville. As great things develop there, The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana moved its headquarters to Innovation Pointe to join forces with the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana to build an alliance dedicated to maximizing progress and the creation of wealth in the region. “The vision was to bring mission-similar organizations together into one location in order to encourage collaboration, create synergies, and enhance economic efficiencies, while becoming more customercentric and maximizing our region’s economic development potential,” said Chamber President & CEO Matthew T. Meadors. Convenience for entrepreneurs and corporate site locators was a key factor in the move to 318 Main Street. “Innovation Pointe is presently home to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and Grow Southwest Indiana Workforce, the regional workforce operator, as well as the Growth Alliance of Greater Evansville. The University of Southern Indiana also has a presence in the building,” said Meadors. “Two floors of the building are dedicated to incubating high-tech startup businesses, and these businesses will now only have to travel to the fourth floor of the building to seek the free business counseling services offered through the Chamber’s regional Small Business Development Center. Corporate site locators looking at Southwest Indiana as a possible site for a new facility, as well as leaders of existing business and industry, are now able to walk into one building and receive a myriad of services.” The Chamber and Coalition share the facilities on the fourth floor, as well as a staff member. The hallmark of the new facility is a gallery that separates the office suites and features a large open space and beautiful wooden floors. “The gallery is anchored on each end by a conference room, and it provides space to exhibit photos, graphics, and more designed to showcase the region’s amenities, regional employers, and, in general, tell a compelling story about Southwest Indiana as a great place to live, work, and run a business. The gallery will also be perfect for receptions, press conferences, and more,” Meadors said.
10
Report Card Higher Education Highlights
By Carol Cummings
Photo by Elizabeth Courtney Randolph
• UE’s 2,717 students, from 44 states and 50 countries, experience a distinctive curriculum built on great ideas, timeless themes, significant questions, and multiple perspectives, preparing them not only for their first jobs, but for their very best jobs. Faculty members, passionate about teaching, prepare students for success in whatever directions their careers take them. • The University of Evansville has received national recognition for its dedication to international education and is ranked within the top five comprehensive universities in the United States for study abroad programs. • In addition to studying at Harlaxton College, the University of Evansville’s campus in Grantham, England, students are currently studying in Italy, England, New Zealand, France, Mexico, Spain, Russia, Israel, the Netherlands, and Australia. UE students explore the interconnectedness of our global society and become empowered by realizing the world is as close as their backyard.
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana
University of Southern Indiana
www.ivytech.edu
www.usi.edu
University of Evansville • Established in 1854, the University of Evansville has a rich history that spans more than 150 years. Since its inception, the university has enjoyed a strong relationship with the United Methodist Church, sharing its commitment to inclusiveness. Students savor a sense of belonging on campus and appreciate the significance of their personal and professional behavior.
Photo by Elizabeth Courtney Randolph
www.evansville.edu
visit us online at www.ccswin.com
• Ivy Tech Community College is the nation’s largest statewide community college with single accreditation. Serving more than 130,000 students each year, it is the state’s largest public postsecondary institution. • While students enjoy the benefits of a large institution, with 23 campuses throughout the state and an average class size of 22, they also find personal attention close to home at Ivy Tech Community College. • Ivy Tech is the state’s most affordable college. Yearly tuition is less than $3,000. With credits that transfer, students can save money by completing the first two years of a four-year degree at Ivy Tech. • Degrees in some of the state’s hottest career fields are offered at Ivy Tech. These include nursing, medical assisting, business administration, computer information technology, criminal justice, education, and biotechnology. • Ninety-three percent of graduates continue to live and work in Indiana, directly contributing to the state’s workforce. • Ivy Tech Community College’s Department of Workforce and Economic Development offers local, affordable solutions for Indiana business and industry training needs. • Ivy Tech is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association.
• Established in 1965, USI was recognized in 2008 as one of 119 public and private colleges and universities throughout the country to receive classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as an institution of community engagement. • USI helps mold the region for the future, using university resources to enhance the quality of life and to find new and better ways of ensuring an educated workforce, a thriving economy, and vibrant cultural institutions. • With a $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation, USI is strengthening interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to prepare students for productive careers. • Over 27,500 alumni are accepting professional, social, and civic responsibilities throughout Indiana and around the globe. • Enrollment for 2009 was 10,516, with just under 3,000 students living on campus in suite-style residence halls and student apartments. • A 44,000-square-foot addition opened in the fall of 2009 in the university’s Recreation, Fitness, and Wellness Center, doubling the facility’s space. • The $31.9 million Business and Engineering Center, which is under construction and scheduled to open in the fall of 2010, will provide dedicated and shared space for the Department of Engineering and the College of Business. • An $18.4 million expansion to the University Center is now under construction and is expected to open in the spring of 2011. It incorporates a range of local products and artifacts to mark the building as one that is uniquely at home in Evansville and Southwestern Indiana.
11
Investing in Education www.warrick.k12.in.us
New Middle Schools The 2009–2010 school year brought many changes to the Warrick County School Corporation, the biggest being a move to the middle school concept. Castle Junior High became Castle North Middle School, and Boonville Junior High became Boonville Middle School. A new school, Castle South Middle School, opened on time in August 2009 and welcomed students from Sharon and Newburgh elementary schools. Castle South boasts a separate wing for each grade (six through eight), with classrooms designed to inspire a team approach to instruction. The grades share a centralized library and computer center, and functional zoning provides clear division of community spaces (cafeteria, large group instruction, and gymnasium) from classroom wings for security and acoustical purposes. The building also incorporates high-efficiency lighting and other energy-efficient features. Boonville Middle and Castle North Middle also saw renovations to facilitate the move to a middle school concept. These included additional classrooms, science labs, and office renovations. Tecumsah Junior-Senior High School will make the move to a middle school in the fall of 2011. Renovations will include additional classrooms, a new office, a new middle school gymnasium, and a new entrance. The new school and the move from the junior high concept (seventh and eighth grades) to a middle school concept (grades six through eight) helped the district free up classrooms in existing elementary buildings for growing enrollment. Renovated Castle High School More changes were evident as Phase I of the Castle High School renovations and additions were completed during the fall of 2009. This phase included the addition of eight classrooms, a new library, a greenhouse, and a natatorium and 50-meter pool. Phase II work began at Castle High School in late 2009 and includes the renovation of the auditorium, the conversion of the old
By Carol Cummings
pool to a wrestling room, new hallway ceilings, a new freshman locker bay, and new paint and carpeting. Renovations scheduled to begin in 2011 include the renovation of administrative offices, guidance offices, and the art suite, as well as a new, secured, two-door entry system. These changes are part of Warrick County School Corporation’s long-term plan to improve academic performance and meet the needs of a growing student population. The Warrick County Schools have added approximately 700 students over the past seven years.
Evansville Vanderburgh Schools www.evscschools.com
In the year since the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation (EVSC) saw its school bond referendum for a $149 million building project pass with a 70 percent approval vote, all projects except for two are well under way, and many will be complete before the 2010–2011 school year begins. The EVSC’s Strategic Plan includes 10 building projects, ranging from renovations for K–8 school models to new construction of four buildings: Cedar Hall K–8 school, the new North High School and Middle School complex, and the Technology and Innovation Center. It has an overall goal of student success, which focuses on five core focus areas: • High-Quality Early Childhood Education • Family Choices Through Innovative School Models • Ongoing Professional Development for All Staff • State-of-the-Art Technology in All Schools • Family, School, and Community Partnerships These five areas drive decision-making in the EVSC and have already seen the creation of a new Center for Family, School and Community Partnerships, as well as a STEM Academy and approval for three Equity Schools. In addition, EVSC has initiated a partnership with Brown University to train school leaders.
visit us online at www.ccswin.com
Warrick County Schools
13
EVPL Shines as a Five Star Library
F
Librar y System Earns Top National Ranking
The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana
or those who use our public libraries, it came as no surprise. Known amongst the customers and staff for exceptional service, inviting facilities, and an excellent collection of materials, it was fitting that the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library was named one of America’s Five Star Libraries in the 2009 Library Journal Index – Round Two. The index measures four per capita public service areas: circulation, visits, program attendance, and public Internet use. The Five Star rating is the highest possible, with only 1 percent of the nation’s public libraries receiving top rankings. “We realize that excellent service begins and ends with staff, so all of us work on going from ‘good to great’ with one another and our community,” said Director Marcia Au. And the community agrees. Following the announcement one customer commented, “We in Evansville and Vanderburgh County are very fortunate to have such a wonderful library system. I’m not surprised at all that they’ve received this honor.” The EVPL consists of Central Library and seven branch libraries throughout Evansville. No longer just a place to get books, the EVPL offers electronic media, audio books, educational and cultural programs, free computer classes, meeting space, and free Internet access. With a focus on the customer experience, you’ll leave ready to return again.
14
For More Information:
www.deaconess.com
healTh Care
Deaconess Health System: Significant Growth, Specialized Service
eaconess Health System is a premier provider of health care services in Southwestern Indiana, Western Kentucky, and Southeastern Illinois. The system includes six hospitals in southern Indiana: • Deaconess Hospital, an acute-care facility • The Women’s Hospital, serving the needs of women and infants • Deaconess Gateway Hospital, an acute-care facility • Deaconess Cross Pointe, a behavioral-health hospital • The Heart Hospital at Deaconess Gateway, focusing solely on providing leading-edge inpatient and outpatient heart care services • HealthSouth Deaconess Rehabilitation Hospital, specializing in comprehensive medical rehabilitation
Also included in the system are a freestanding cancer center, a health system and physician-owned managed-care network of preferred hospitals and doctors, two ambulatory surgery centers, 19 ambulatory-care sites (including the largest physician group in the area), two urgent-care facilities, and multiple partnerships with other health care providers.
By Deaconess Staff & Mark Allen
Deaconess is building a second tower at Deaconess Gateway Hospital that will mirror the existing patient tower. The second tower will open in December 2010 and add 60 beds initially and an eventual 110 beds. Since opening in January 2006, demand has been strong at Deaconess Gateway. The number of inpatient days has increased tremendously, and many times the hospital has been at capacity. This trend will continue as the Baby Boomer generation ages and more hospital beds will be needed to provide quality health care. Another factor fueling growth at Gateway is that Deaconess Hospital is planning to move to all-private rooms. Building another tower at Deaconess Gateway Hospital will allow the main campus to move more quickly to all-private rooms.
Deaconess Level II Trauma Center A mainstay of Deaconess Hospital’s main campus is the Level II Trauma Center. More than 65,000 patients visit Deaconess Hospital’s Emergency Department each year, and having the department certified as a Level II trauma center ensures patients receive quality emergency services at a moment’s notice.
visit us online at www.ccswin.com
D
Gateway Growth
15
For More Information:
www.stmarys.com
St. Mary’s: Committed to Excellence, Hope, and a Spiritual Center
S
t. Mary’s has a proud history of service to Evansville and the surrounding communities, and has grown into a health system encompassing numerous health facilities throughout the TriState. A member of Ascension Health, the nation’s largest Catholicsponsored, not-for-profit health system, St. Mary’s is one of the largest employers in Southern Indiana.
The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana
Commitment to Excellence
16
• St. Mary’s Physician Driven Quality Initiatives include performanceimprovement projects and teams that are led by physicians. As an example, a Pediatric Team works to initiate improvements across all clinical areas to provide care to children, including physical improvements to the environments in ways that are children-centered. • The hospital’s Journey to Nursing Excellence has been under way for the last few years, with a goal of earning “Magnet” certification from the American Nurses Association, the highest level of nursing quality. Fewer than 300 hospitals (of 5,500 nationwide) have achieved this recognition. • The Relationship-Based Model of Care, related to the Journey to Nursing Excellence, is excellent health care achieved through collaborative relationships. Relationship-Based Care takes place in a caring, competent, and healing environment organized around the needs and priorities of the patients and their families, who are at the center of the care team.
Hope Resource Center
By St. Mary’s Staff & Mark Allen
Located in Evansville, St. Mary’s Hope Resource Center provides educational and support materials to individuals diagnosed with cancer. Services, which are available for their caregivers as well, include educational and support groups, activities such as yoga and massage therapies, and an assortment of additional integrative therapies. It is a beautiful, serene environment; patients can even be fitted for wigs. There is no charge for most of the services.
Spirituality in the Workplace Spirituality in the Workplace is an ongoing variety of education, activities, and renewal of St. Mary’s spiritually-based mission, vision, and values. It includes Daily Reflections, a Mission Representative Program, Celebrations of our Heritage, prayers or reflections to open all meetings, and more. Dorothea’s and Meditation Garden includes two separate gardens. Dorothea’s, named for the donor, is located at the employee daycare department, just outside the entrance to the children’s playground. It’s geared for children with low-level terracing that children can reach for planting. The Meditation Garden is a spiritual place with a statue of Mary, a fountain, bench seating, and flowering landscaping. It is a peaceful place open for use for anyone on the campus, including patients, visitors, employees, volunteers, and physicians.
Tri-State Business Group on Health: Fostering Quality Community Care
T
By Tri-State Staff & Mark Allen
For More Information:
www.tsbgh.com
visit us online at www.ccswin.com
ri-State Business Group on Health is a nonprofit, memberdriven association created to influence costeffectiveness and quality through member education and to leverage the strength of employer members to bring quality health care at an affordable price in the community. Tri-State is one of two such organizations in Indiana and was founded by a group of seven employers concerned about the future of employee health care. It is a member of the National Business Coalition on Health. The organization’s efforts include the Health Leadership Council of Tri-State Business Group on Health, created to develop a closer working relationship between employer members and the health care providers, consultants, and entities in the community. Tri-State offers networking, health care cost benchmarking, educational opportunities, group purchasing, wellness initiatives, and other services. TSBGH is a supporter of health care safety and quality initiatives and is a regional roll-out site for the annual hospital survey sponsored by Leapfrog Group. The survey is one way to ensure that quality and patient safety are always top priorities in regional health care delivery.
17
We the People Jack Pate, President and Publisher, Evansville Courier & Press
The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana
By Jay Nehrkorn
18
Choosing a career path is difficult for many of us, but in the case of Jack Pate, joining the newspaper industry was more a reflection of his family’s heritage than a choice of occupation. “You might say that ink is in my blood,” Pate said. “I am a fourthgeneration newspaperman. My great-grandfather transported a printing press from Tennessee to Oklahoma by covered wagon in the 1800s.” Following his graduation from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Pate began his career as a newspaperman with the E.W. Scripps Company. Now in his 29th year with the company, he has worked for Scripps newspapers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas, and here in Evansville. Along the way he’s seen many memorable moments and covered his share of catastrophic events through obstacles such as foul weather and a pressroom fire. Through it all, the company has served its communities without fail, and Pate is proud of the “mailman” mentality they’ve maintained. “We have not missed a printing day in the history of our company,” he said. “But we came awfully close with the 20-plus inches of snow in December of 2004.” Pate first came to Evansville in 1988 while he was involved in sales and marketing, and he returned again in 2004 as the president and publisher of the Evansville Courier & Press. When asked about his vision for the paper, his answer is as much a vision for the community as it is for the company. “We have an easily stated goal. That is to serve the community with content that is credible, informative, and helps to make our community a better place to live and work. We are part of this community, and if our community becomes a better place to live, it helps us thrive.”
Amos Morris, Director of Mesker Park Zoo and Botanical Garden By Jay Nehrkorn
Amos Morris officially began his zoology career in 1987 as a keeper at the St. Louis Zoological Park, but his passion for wildlife and conservation
extends back to his early childhood. Born to a biology teacher and raised as an outdoorsman, his formative years in Missouri were full of exciting encounters with nature. Young Amos was captivated by those experiences, which ultimately inspired his choice of profession. “My favorite TV show as a kid was Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom,” Morris recalls. “Originally, I wanted to be an oceanographer or marine biologist, but later I recognized I just wanted to work around animals.” After receiving his degree in animal science from the University of Missouri-Columbia, Morris took the job in St. Louis and started working his way up in the zoo “food chain” through positions in Dallas, Detroit, Providence, and Pittsburgh. He also continued his education as he went, attending numerous AZA schools. He accepted the director position at Mesker Park Zoo and Botanical Garden in 2008 and says his goal for the facility is to make it a destination for conservation education and a showcase for the diversity of life on our planet. “My job is a balance of my connection with the earth and the feeling that I’m making a difference in the lives of others.”
Dr. Linda Bennett, President of the University of Southern Indiana By Jay Nehrkorn
When Linda Bennett stepped onto the campus of the University of Cincinnati in the early 1970s, she became the first in her family to attend college. She admits that those early days attending a large university were intimidating at times, but she obviously adjusted well to college life. In fact, higher education has been a part of her life ever since. Known today as Dr. Bennett, Linda earned her Ph.D. in political science in 1981 and began her career as an assistant professor at Wittenberg University two years later. The following two decades saw her rise to the positions of department chair and dean as she went from Wittenberg to Northern Kentucky University and on to Appalachian State University. She accepted the position of provost and vice president of academic affairs at the University of Southern Indiana in 2003 and was named president of USI in 2009. Unlike many administrators, Dr. Bennett continued to teach classes throughout her career. While her new position at USI has made
Paul Green, Business Manager and Financial Secretary – IBEW Local 16 By Jay Nehrkorn
As a leader of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 16, Paul Green has a great deal of responsibility. Local 16 encompasses 13 counties in Indiana plus one county in Illinois and has just over 950 members. Green’s position as business manager and financial secretary includes promotion of the union, handling referrals to contractors, negotiating agreements, handling finances, and pushing for
the best possible training and safety for members. It’s a busy job, but he says it isn’t without its rewards. “When I can effect change at the local or national level that benefits working families, that’s the most gratifying thing,” he explained. “When workers can gain respect, have a good life, and retire with dignity, that’s what makes it worthwhile.” Like other members of the IBEW, Green began his association with the union as an apprentice. He worked as a journeyman wireman for many years and was elected to the executive board in 1996. He was appointed president of Local 16 in 1997, following the death of the previous president, and held that position until 2005, when he was elected to the union’s top position of business manager. Green is very proud of both the membership’s strong support of charitable causes and the fact that during his long association with Local 16, they have never gone on strike over contract negotiations. He feels it’s important to maintain an atmosphere in which the IBEW is known as a friend of the community at large and an asset within the business community. Joining the Chamber of Commerce and working with them on mutually agreeable causes is one of the ways Local 16 continues to break down long-standing stigmas and barriers. “We have pulled away from the old tactics of intimidation and pickets, and we work hard to be seen as partners with the business community rather than adversaries,” he explained. Outside work, Green finds his position as a grandfather is very rewarding as well. He enjoys spending time with his grandchildren, and spoiling them is not only fun for him and the kids, but it gives him a chance for a little “sweet revenge” on his grown sons. “I like to fill the kids up with Hershey’s and Mountain Dew before I send them home,” he admitted with a chuckle.
visit us online at www.ccswin.com
teaching an entire class impractical, she still maintains the heart of a teacher and looks for chances to get back in front of students. “I love teaching, and I will continue to seek opportunities to be a guest lecturer in various classes,” Dr. Bennett said. “I want to stay connected with the learning process because that’s why USI exists — to foster a learning environment that leads to greater opportunities for our students.” Aside from her academic and administrative success, Dr. Bennett is also a proud wife and stepmother, a published writer, and has served on the boards of many community and professional organizations. It would seem that she’s accomplished everything a person could hope to, but a question about how she unwinds during her leisure time revealed at least one unfulfilled ambition. “Free time? That’s been a challenge lately,” she admitted. “But I love to read and travel, and someday I’ll get back to my goal of making a needlepoint rug.”
19
youTh power Boys & Girls Club of Evansville Celebrates New Facility
Give Back Tristate Fosters Community Pride and Engagement
G
The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana
T
20
By Carol Cummings
he Boys & Girls Club of Evansville began operations in December 1957. Originally an all-boys youth-serving agency, today the club provides programming and services for the most at-risk boys and girls of the community. Annual membership is just $10 per child. The Boys and Girls Club celebrated the opening of a new facility at Bellemeade Park on June 1, 2009. The location was carefully selected, as more than 4,300 children ages 17 and under live within a one-mile radius of the new facility. The new club features separate rooms for music, technology, and arts and crafts, and has a library, a classroom, and a fitness center. During the first two and a half months the facility was open, the Boys & Girls Club registered more than 1,300 new members and experienced an average daily attendance of 350. The Boys & Girls Club of Evansville offers comprehensive educational and recreational programs that include: • Homework assistance • Mentoring programs • Alcohol/tobacco and teen pregnancy prevention programming • Sports leagues • Financial literacy Other programs provide members with the tools to succeed in school and prepare them to be productive, caring, responsible citizens. For More Information:
www.bgclubev v.org
For More Information:
www.givebacktristate.com
By Carol Cummings
ive Back Tristate, a volunteer-driven organization, is focused on enhancing communities in Southwest Indiana, Southeast Illinois, and Northwest Kentucky through volunteerism, while fostering the development of young leadership through participation. Each month, Give Back Tristate strives to improve and beautify communities through large-scale, one-day volunteer and civic engagement activities, as well as several social events. Give Back Tristate allows area young professionals and college students to give back to the communities that have enriched and enhanced their lives. Give Back Tristate offers an appealing way for busy professionals and students to serve, with “guilt free” volunteer opportunities with a social twist. There is no obligation to join — no dues, no weekly meetings to attend, and no harassing phone calls or junk mail asking for donations. To celebrate the good work accomplished and the new friendships formed, Give Back Tristate offers a social event following each service day, providing an opportunity to explore what the Tristate has to offer while celebrating the day’s achievements.
Come Out & Play Recreation Destinations
By Mark Allen
Evansville IceMen Professional Hockey League 812-435-8971 • www.evansvilleicemen.com
Evansville’s first professional hockey team plays home games at Swonder Ice Arena November through March. Members of the AllAmerican Hockey Association, the IceMen average more than 1,000 fans at their home games.
Evansville Otters Professional Baseball 812-435-8686 • www.evansvilleotters.com
Boonville Spray Park www.cityofboonvilleindiana.com
Located in Boonville City Lake Park, the spray park opened in 2006. It is open June–August for children 11 and under. Admission is free.
Burdette Park 812-435-5602 • www.vanderburghgov.org
This 150-acre park offers swimming, BMX racing, hiking trails, miniature golf, batting cages, fishing, tennis courts, and athletic fields. Shelters, cabins, chalets, and camping sites for primitive or RV hook-up are available to rent. Also home to Burdette Park Aquatic Center, one of the Midwest’s largest aquatic centers.
Demolition City Roller Derby www.demolitioncityrollerderby.com
Demolition City’s Dynamite Dolls and Destruction Dames offer hard-hitting competition on a flat track.
The District at Casino Aztar www.casinoaztar.com
The Downtown Waterfront Entertainment District, located across from Casino Aztar, continues to be a hot spot for fun and entertainment. Ri Ra’s Irish Pub & Restaurant and the
The locally owned Evansville Otters professional baseball team offers exciting play combined with fun promotions throughout the game. Games are played at historic Bosse Field, the third-oldest ballpark in the country, built in 1915 as the first municipally owned sports facility in the country. The season runs May through August.
amusement park, preceding Disneyland by nine years.
Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden 812-435-6143 • www.meskerparkzoo.com
Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden was graced in 2008 with a new entrance and plaza — featuring a kid-friendly fountain, gift shop, and restaurant — as part of the $15 million Amazonia exhibit, an immersive walk through the South American rainforest. Enclosed and climate-controlled, Amazonia houses the plants and animals of the forest from the canopy to the river basin. Look for howler monkeys, toucans, capybaras, and the elusive jaguars. Guests may tour Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden by foot or tram. Strollers and paddleboat rentals, the latter for fun on Lake Victoria, are available. The zoo covers more than 50 acres and has more than 700 animals. The zoo is open 365 days a year.
Goebel Soccer Complex 812-435-6141 • www.vanderburghgov.org
Goebel Soccer Complex features nine fullsize grass fields and one AstroPlay turf field. The main field and five of the grass fields have lights. The complex also hosts football and lacrosse events.
Holiday Drive-In 812-649-2857 • www.holidaydrivein.com
This drive-in located three miles west of Rockport features five screens of double features — 10 movies a night. Offers great concessions and a taste of Americana. Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in season.
Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari 877-463-2645 • www.holidayworld.com
Voted Indiana’s “Best Place to Take the Kids,” the “Nation’s Friendliest Park,” and the “Nation’s Cleanest Park,” Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari is home to four roller coasters, rides, water slides, and live entertainment. Opened in 1946, it was America’s first themed
Pigeon Creek Greenway Passage www.pcgreenway.org
Pigeon Creek Greenway Passage is a noncontiguous four-mile walking, jogging, and biking trail that is part of a planned 42-mile trail around the city. The Middle Levee and Riverfront corridors were completed in 1997 and 2004. Completion of the Industrial Corridor in the next few years will create a 6.5-mile continuous trail from Sunrise Park to Heidelbach Canoe Launch. Construction on further segments is underway.
visit us online at www.ccswin.com
Designed by Frank J. Schlotter, the Moorishthemed Alhambra Theater, located at 50 Adams Avenue in Evansville, opened September 27, 1913. As a movie theater, it closed around 1956. By the late 1980s, it was hosting punkrock shows. Alhambra and Haynie’s Corner anchor the city’s Art District effort, and the theater is currently being restored.
trendy Blush Ultralounge are happening places. Le Merigot Hotel opened in 2006. Newly opened in November 2009, Stoney’s Rockin’ Country Night Club, is a country-themed club with dance floor, full-service bars, pool tables, beer pong, cowboy arcade, a full-service restaurant, and even a mechanical bull.
Photo by Brad Fichter
Alhambra Theater
21
Swonder Ice Arena & SK8 Park 812-479-0989 • www.swonder.evansville.net
Swonder Ice Arena & SK8 Park features two regulation-size rinks for hockey and figure skating. In-line skaters and skateboarders can enjoy indoor and outdoor skate parks.
Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve & Park 812-479-0771 • www.wesselmannaturesociety.org
Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve has more than 190 acres of bottomland hardwood forest, 50 acres of younger forest, fields, ponds, and nature trails, just minutes from downtown Evansville. Adjacent is Wesselman Park, with tennis courts, softball fields, horseshoe pits, batting cages, picnic areas, a golf course, and a handicappedaccessible playground.
goLF Courses
CamBriDge goLF CLuB
1034 Beacon Hill, Evansville 812-868-4653 • www.villageofcambridge.com
18-hole, par-72 public course
CLearCrest pines 10521 Darmstadt Road, Evansville 812-867-3311 • www.clearcrestpines.com
18-hole, par-70 public course
eagLe VaLLey goLF Course 10350 Petersburg Road, Evansville 812-867-7888 • eaglevalleygolfcourse.net
18-hole, par-70 public course
eVansViLLe Country CLuB 3810 String Town Road, Evansville 812-423-3771 • www.evansvillecountryclub.org
18-hole, par-71 private course
FenDriCh goLF Course 1900 Diamond Avenue, Evansville 812-435-6070 • www.fendrichgolfcourse.org
18-hole, par-70 public course
heLFriCh hiLLs goLF Course 1550 Mesker Park Drive, Evansville 812-435-6075 • www.helfrichmensgolfclub.com
18-hole, par-71 public course
howeLL par 3 goLF Course 1101 S. Barker Avenue, Evansville 812-422-8495
9-hole, par-27 public course
mCDonaLD goLF Course 2905 E. Morgan Avenue, Evansville 812-475-2578 • www.mcdonaldgolfcourse.com
9-hole, par-36 public course
oak meaDow goLF CLuB 11505 Browning Road, Evansville 812-867-6489 • www.oakmeadowgolfclub.com
18-hole, par-72 private course
pLayers CLuB oF henDerson 800 Wolf Hills Boulevard, Henderson, KY 270-827-9999 • www.playersclubofhenderson.com
18-hole, par-72 public course
QuaiL Crossing goLF CLuB 5 Quail Crossing Drive, Boonville 812-897-1247 • www.quailcrossing.com
18-hole, par-71 public course
roLLing hiLLs Country CLuB 1666 Old Plank Road, Newburgh 812-925-3336 • www.rollinghillsindiana.com
18-hole, par-72 private course
tee time goLF CompLeX The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana
7800 E. Morgan Avenue, Evansville 812-473-2010 • www.teetimegolfcomplex.com
22
9-hole, par-27, with driving range
thunDerBoLt pass goLF Course 6901 Petersburg Road, Evansville 812-426-2166 • www.thunderboltpass.com
27-hole public course; Blue Course is 18-hole, par-70; White Course is 9-hole, par-36
ViCtoria nationaL goLF CLuB 2000 Victoria National Boulevard, Newburgh 812-858-8230 • www.victorianational.com
18-hole private course
wesseLman par 3 goLF Course 551 N. Boeke Road, Evansville 812-475-2579 • www.mcdonaldgolfcourse.com
18-hole, par-54 public course
on wiTh The show
Sights, Sounds, and Sensations
Arts Council of Southwest Indiana 812-422-2111 • www.artswin.evansville.net
The Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana serves the communities of Gibson, Knox, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Warrick counties through artistic and cultural endeavors, serving as an umbrella organization for 50 cultural groups. The council strives to increase the awareness and accessibility of the arts through arts grants, workshops and seminars, an information and referral service, publications, art exhibits, online information, public programs and events, and an annual awards program.
Evansville African American Museum 812-423-5188 • www.evansvilleaamuseum.org
Located in the last remaining building of Lincoln Gardens, the second federal housing project constructed under the New Deal, the museum features historical documents and a wide variety of exhibits from area painters, sculptors, and other artisans.
Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science 812-425-2406 • www.emuseum.org
One of Southwest Indiana’s most established and significant cultural institutions, the Evansville Museum is a general museum with comprehensive collections in art, history, anthropology, and science. The Science Center offers exhibitions and programs to inspire and instruct students of all ages. Koch Planetarium provides explorations of the solar system, while the Anthropology Gallery offers a fascinating look at cultures from 13,000 B.C. to the present. Artworks from the 16th century to the present are in the permanent galleries. Stroll down the street of a 19th-century American rivertown to see ornately decorated homes and shops, or tour the Evansville Museum Transportation Center. A $15 million expansion and renovation will open in the near future.
Evansville Philharmonic 812-425-5050 • www.evansvillephilharmonic.org
Founded in 1934, Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra features about 80 professional musicians led by Music Director Alfred Savia. Each
year, it presents a seven-concert Classics Series, four double-pops performances, special event concerts, and educational and outreach performances. The Evansville Philharmonic Chorus was founded in 1977.
Haynie’s Corner Art Festival (formerly Funk in the City) 812-575-9138 • http://funkinthecity.com
Held annually the last Saturday of September at historic Haynie’s Corner, the festival features music and an array of art activities and artists. Haynie’s Corner includes the Goosetown, Wheeler, and Culver neighborhoods in downtown Evansville.
Koch Family Children’s Museum of Evansville (cMoe) 812-464-2663 • www.cmoekids.org
Geared to kids from 4 to 10 years old, cMoe welcomes more than 100,000 visitors a year to 18,000 square feet of educational exhibits. Opened in 2006 in the art deco-style old Central Library, cMoe offers interactive adventures that include Live Big, with giant-size displays showing the workings of the human body; Work Smart, where kids can take things apart and put them together to see how they work; a Mark Twain talking head; a playable laser harp; and the two-story duck, Moe, who “supervises” Quack Factory, a water play area.
New Harmony www.newharmony.biz
New Harmony is a historic town on the Wabash River with many old Harmonist buildings. The colony, founded almost 200 years ago as a spiritual sanctuary by the Harmony Society, now features a variety of galleries, specialty shops, restaurants, inns, historic attractions, and parks.
Historic Newburgh 812-853-2815 • www.historicnewburgh.org
Charming, historic Newburgh hosts a variety of events, including downtown farmers markets, Fiddler Fest, Halloween ghost walks, Christmas in Olde Newburgh, the Newburgh Country Store Annual Herb Fest, and the annual Wine, Art & Jazz Festival. Both guided and independent historic walking tours are available through Historic Newburgh Incorporated.
visit us online at www.ccswin.com
By Mark Allen
Photo by Gray Photography
23
Visitors Sampler Southwest Indiana Selections Shop Head over Heelz 812-962-0171 • headoverheelzsalonandspa.com
Head Over Heelz provides a world-class salon and spa experience. Spa packages are available for couples, bridal parties, and groups of guys or gals. A spa day can feature anything and everything including relaxing in the sauna, massages, manicures, facials, body wraps, shampoos and styles, champagne and chocolates, gourmet lunches, and more. House of Bluez 812-401-2583 • houseofbluez.com
The specialty denim boutique offers quality products and designer labels for both women and men in an atmosphere that is fun and inviting. Penny John’s 812-425-0109 • www.pennyjohns.com
Penny John’s offers gifts for all occasions, including gift baskets, gourmet foods, and tea and coffee.
The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana
Dine
24
By Amanda Knoles
sandwiches, and salads, while dinner menus, including the Tuscan Wine Room menu, include gourmet European-style dishes. Just Rennie’s may be best known for its line of signature desserts, including canapés, cookies, cakes, and cheesecakes. Catering and takeout are available. Taste … A Wine & Dessert House 812-424-8278
Elegant Taste features a selection of wines by the glass and bottle, as well as desserts, chocolates, cheese, and small plates. Knowledgeable staff are ready to assist with selections for novice wine drinkers.
Stay Hilton Garden Inn 812-476-4000 • www.evansville.hgi.com
Located on Evansville’s east side, the Hilton Garden Inn offers 112 guest rooms, including 25 guest suites. Additional amenities include a 24-hour business center, a convenience mart, an indoor pool and whirlpool, a fitness room, and the Great American Grill® restaurant.
Acropolis
Le Merigot
812-475-9320 • www.acropolisevv.com
888-633-1770 • www.lemerigotevansville.com
Experience rich tradition and character at the Acropolis restaurant. Decorated in classic Mediterranean style and colors, the Acropolis offers authentic Greek and Mediterranean dishes as well as catering and a Deli to Go menu offering a la carte menu items to take home.
Evansville’s first boutique hotel offers a sophisticated stay on the waterfront in The District at Casino Aztar. Luxury guest amenities include Italian bed linens, goose-down duvets, LCD flat-screen televisions, and rain maker showers in all rooms.
Firefly Southern Grill
800-782-8605 • www.newharmonyinn.com
812-402-2354 • www.fireflysoutherngrill.com
This resort-like destination provides the perfect setting for weddings and receptions, business meetings, and group events for up to 300 guests. Inside, luxury rooms and the award-winning Red Geranium restaurant await guests, while outside, beautiful grounds feature gardens, fountains, waterfalls, and sculptures.
Step up on the porch of Firefly Southern Grill, which features a unique array of Southern specialties and regional delights that have been perfected through the generations. Think gourmet, not deep-fried — featured menu items include salmon en papillote, dried fruit stuffed pork loin, and the chocolate bourbon truffle martini. Just Rennie’s 812-401-8098 • www.justrennies.com
Using only the finest ingredients, Just Rennie’s provides upscale cuisine with a twist. The lunch menu offers wraps,
New Harmony Inn
This is just a small sample of all the selections available in Evansville and Southwest Indiana! For more information on all the region has to offer, visit www.ccswin.org.
geT ConneCTeD posey County
posey County Courthouse p.o. BoX 745 mount Vernon, in 47620-0745 www.southwestindian�.�rg/rr_posey_county goVernment oFFiCes
area plan Co�mis�ion .............................................838-1323 Building Co�mis�ioner............................................838-1324 County audit�r ......................................................838-1300 County Clerk ............................................................838-1306 County sherif� .........................................................838-1321 County survey�r .................................................... 838-1340 health Department ................................................838-1328 Black township as�es��r ............................................................838-1342 Cynthian� Fire Department.........................................845-2584 police ................................................................ 845-3385 town hal�.......................................................845-2924 grif�in City Clerk .......................................................851-5228 mt. Vernon City Clerk ....................................................... 838-5576 City hal� an�ex ............................................. 838-5576 Fire Department.........................................838-3447 may�r ............................................................... 838-5576 police ................................................................ 838-8705 stre�t Department ...................................838-2352 water Department ........................................838-2136 new harmony City Clerk .....................................................682-4846 police ...............................................................682-4846 poseyvil�e Clerk ................................................................874-1401 Fire.................................................................. 874-2212 police .................................................................874-3518 town hal�..........................................................874-2211 utiLities
at&t ...........................................................800-288-2020 Duke energy ................................................800-521-2232 evansvil�e water & sew�r ....................................436-7846 german township water ....................................... 963-6403 henderson water ........................................270-826-2421 insight ...................................................................... 422-1167 mt. Vernon wastewater Department................838-3396 mt. Vernon water w�rks......................................838-2136 poseyvil�e gas ......................................................... 874-2212 poseyvil�e water Department..............................874-2211 sprint/nextel.........................................................467-0335 tDs tel�com .........................................................874-2255
Vectren energy Delivery ...................................491-4000 Vectren utility holdings.............................866-832-8736 win energy remC...............................................882-5140 wow ....................................................................... 437-0345 sChooL DistriCts
msD mt. Vernon ..................................................838-4471 msD n�rth posey County ...............................874-2243 new harmony town and township scho�ls ................................................682-4401
spenCer County
200 main stre�t rockp�rt, in 47635 ht�p://spencercounty.in.gov goVernment oFFiCes
as�es��r .....................................................................649-6012 audit�r of spencer County ...............................649-4376 Circuit Court .........................................................649-6025 Fire Department (rockp�rt) ...........................649-4654 health Department ............................................ 649-4441 highway Department ..............................................362-8331 plan�ing Co�mis�ion .............................................. 649-6010 sherif� .....................................................................649-2286 solid waste man�gem�nt.....................................362-7401 survey�r .................................................................... 649-6016 truste�/as�es��r (Luce township) ....................359-4910 Vet�rans ....................................................................649-6031 wildernes� search and rescue ..........................649-6020
goVernment oFFiCes
administrative services .......................................436-4934 animal Control ........................................................435-6015 Building Co�mis�ion................................................436-7881 City Clerk ..............................................................436-4992 City engine�r ........................................................436-4990 Control�er .................................................................436-4919 epa ............................................................................436-4919 gis ............................................................................435-5072 human relations Co�mis�ion ..............................436-4927 Fire Department...................................................435-6235 metrop�litan transit .............................................435-6166 parks and recreation ............................................ 435-6141 plan�ing Co�mis�ion ..............................................435-5226 police Department .................................................436-7956 purchasing .................................................................436-4961 transp�rtation service ....................................... 436-4988
utiLities
Cinergy Co�munications......................................456-4708 Co�munity natural gas........................................937-2376 gentryvil�e water utility ..................................937-2407 Lin gas, inc...............................................................937-2137 ohio Val�ey gas.......................................................547-2397 perry spencer Co�munications ............................511-4899 perry-spencer rural tel�phone .........................511-4899 reo water, inc........................................................649-4901 saint meinrad utilities .......................................357-5080 santa Claus sew�r plant ...................................544-2106 sChooLs
n�rth spencer scho�l C�rp�ration .......................................... 937-2400 south spencer scho�l C�rp�ration..............................................649-2591
VanDerBurgh County
203 Civic Center Complex one nw martin Luther king Jr. Boulevard evansvil�e, in 47708-1833 www.vanderburghgov.�rg
visit us online at www.ccswin.com
al� area codes are 812 unles� otherwise noted.
Directory of County Services
25
utiLities
Darmstadt sew�r utility.................................... 963-6760 DirecttV.....................................................888-777-2454 evansvil�e water & sew�r ....................................436-7846 insight ........................................................................422-1167 sit-Co ........................................................877-805-7409 sprint/nextel.........................................................467-0335 tDs tel�com .........................................................874-2255 tel�co�munications ...................................800-288-2020 trash ........................................................................436-7800 Vectren energy Delivery .......................... 800-227-1376 Verizon....................................................... 800-483-4000 wow .........................................................................437-0345 sChooLs
evansvil�e Vanderburgh scho�l C�rp�ration ........................................... 435-8453
warriCk County
warrick County administrative of�ices one County square Bo�nevil�e, in 47601 www.warrickcounty.gov goVernment oFFiCes
animal Control ........................................................ 897-6107 area plan Co�mis�ion .............................................897-6190 as�es��r ......................................................................897-6125 audit�r....................................................................... 897-6110 Building Co�mis�ion.................................................897-6188 Circuit Court ...........................................................897-6130 Clerk ...........................................................................897-6160 Co�mis�ioners...........................................................897-6120 County Council .......................................................897-6202 Disposal Center ........................................................ 897-6155 Drug Court ..............................................................897-3001 econ�mic Dev�lopment.......................................... 858-3555 emergency man�gem�nt ........................................897-6178 health Department ................................................897-6105 parks and recreation .......................................... 897-6200 rec�rder .....................................................................897-6165 sherif� .......................................................................897-6180 superi�r Court ........................................................897-6140 treasurer.....................................................................897-6166 Vet�rans af�airs .....................................................897-6177
The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana
utiLities
26
at&t ...........................................................800-288-2020 indian� american water......................... 800-492-8373 insight ........................................................................422-1167 solid waste man�gem�nt....................................... 897-6155 sprint/nextel.........................................................467-0335 tDs tel�com .........................................................874-2255 Vectren energy Delivery .......................... 800-227-1376 wow .........................................................................437-0345 sChooLs
warrick County scho�l C�rp�ration..............897-0400
2010 Chamber CalenDar of eVenTs January 6: ChamBer night with the uniVersity oF eVansViLLe purpLe aCes
Enjoy a VIP reception and men’s basketball game! The VIP Reception begins at 5:30 p.m., and the game begins at 7:05 at Roberts Stadium. The reception includes appetizers and refreshments, special seating, and a pre-game “pep talk” from the UE men’s basketball head coach.
January 12: BreakFast oF Community Champions
The Chamber will host as The Vanderburgh Community Foundation and the Women’s Fund of Vanderburgh County present grant awards to deserving community organizations. Breakfast and presentations will begin at 7:30 a.m.
FeBruary FeBruary 4: ChamBer night with the usi sCreaming eagLes
Enjoy a VIP reception and men’s basketball game! The VIP Reception begins at 6 p.m., and the game begins at 7:30 at PAC Arena. The VIP Reception includes appetizers and refreshments, special seating, and a pre-game “pep talk” from the USI men’s basketball head coach.
Centre. Last year’s EXPO featured 1,000 attendees and 115 exhibitors! The exhibit hall will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., with an EXPO party from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
apriL apriL 1: Business eXChange at aCropoLis authentiC greek Cuisine & spirits
may may 3: ChamBer goLF outing
The 8th Annual Chamber Golf Outing will include two golf flights, with the morning flight teeing off at 7:30 a.m. and the afternoon flight teeing off at 1 p.m. Golfers will enjoy a continental breakfast, a luncheon, and an afternoon cocktail reception. Prizes will be awarded. This is one of Southwest Indiana’s largest golf outings!
Highlighting the economic power of the Tri-State’s business community, the Chamber will host its fifth annual Tri-State Business EXPO at The
oCtoBer noVemBer
June 3: Business eXChange at BeeF o’BraDy’s
noVemBer 4: Business eXChange at ma. t. 888 China Bistro
JuLy
DeCemBer
JuLy 2: FreeDom FestiVaL kiCkoFF BreakFast
marCh 11: tri-state Business eXpo
The Chamber hosts its Annual Meeting & Dinner to review the issues and initiatives The Chamber has undertaken or supported over the past year and to preview the program of work for the next year. The dinner also provides an opportunity to elect new officers and directors and to recognize members for their valuable service and leadership. The evening begins at 5:30 with a cocktail reception; dinner is served at 6:30. A keynote speaker presentation and The Chamber’s annual report and awards ceremony follow.
June
marCh 4: Business eXChange at Bauer’s groVe Bauerhaus, inC.
marCh 11: ChamBer smaLL Business awarDs
septemBer 23: the ChamBer oF CommerCe oF southwest inDiana’s annuaL meeting & Dinner
oCtoBer 7: Business eXChange at FoX & hounD puB, engLish puB & griLLe
JuLy 1: Business eXChange at taste
The second annual Chamber Small Business Awards will take place at The Centre at 10 a.m. The awards celebrate small businesses and the contributions they make to our communities and economy. Award-winning companies will be honored at a brunch that is also the kickoff for the Tri-State Business EXPO.
septemBer 2: Business eXChange at eDgewater griLL
may 6: Business eXChange at new harmony inn
marCh Network with hundreds of the area’s top business professionals at a different Chamber business each month. Business Exchanges take place on the first Thursday evening of each month from 4:30 to 6:30 and are free of charge to Chamber members! There are complimentary appetizers and a cash bar.
septemBer
The Annual Freedom Festival Kickoff Breakfast will take place on the Riverfront from 7:30 to 9 a.m. The breakfast will be emceed by a local television anchor and will include information about the many scheduled activities that will take place during Evansville’s famous festival. There will be over 300 people in attendance!
JuLy 8: ChamBer night with the otters
The Chamber’s 6th Annual Night with the Otters will take place at Bosse Field. Attendees will enjoy premium seats in the outfield pavilion as well as hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, popcorn, and sodas!
august august 5: Business eXChange at western hiLLs Country CLuB
DeCemBer 2: Business eXChange at Banterra Bank DeCemBer 3: ChamBer hoLiDay Champagne BrunCh
The 2010 Chamber Holiday Champagne Brunch will be held at 11:30 a.m. at Victoria National Golf Club in Newburgh. The Brunch allows The Chamber to thank its members for a great year and gives members an opportunity to network with over 300 fellow Chamber members while enjoying delicious food and champagne in a beautiful atmosphere! The event is free of charge to all Chamber members.
DeCemBer 10: hoLiDay Cnn
The 2010 Holiday CNN (Chamber Networking News) will be held at Aztar Executive Conference Center from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. This is the largest SPEED networking event of the year. This event allows you to sit and network, one-on-one, with over 100 area business professionals. There will also be some very nice door prizes! Bring plenty of business cards and be ready to meet new business contacts!
visit us online at www.ccswin.com
January
27
unCommon knowleDge Wooden, Wild, and World Famous By Jay Nehrkorn
Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari theme park in Santa Claus, Ind., played an important part in the revival of the wooden roller coaster with its 1995 opening of The Raven. Since then, the coaster has drawn the attention of the media and won the adoration of nostalgic thrill-seekers across the country. The Raven was voted the No. 1 Wooden Roller Coaster by readers of Amusement Today magazine for four straight years (2000–2003), and it still remains in the top 10 despite the resurgence of wooden coasters at major parks. Since 2007, The Raven’s former No. 1 spot has been awarded to The Voyage – which also happens to be at Holiday World.
The Heart of the Heartland By Jay Nehrkorn
While it’s a little right of center geographically, if you threw a dart at a map of the U.S. population and hit the bull’s-eye, it would be right in Southwest Indiana’s neighborhood. The region is located just 60 miles south of the median center of the nation’s population, and its proximity to the Ohio River, railways, highways, and air transportation make it the perfect location for distribution to major markets throughout the country.
A Field of Our Own
The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana
By Jay Nehrkorn
28
Naming the professional ballparks that are older than Evansville’s Bosse Field takes only five words: Fenway Park and Wrigley Field. That’s all of them. Built in 1915 as a school board project, Bosse was the first municipally owned athletic facility in the United States. It’s been the home of many minor league baseball teams in its 95-year history, including its current resident of 15 years, the Evansville Otters. Bosse also housed an NFL team in the early 1920s, hosted the Detroit Tigers’ spring training during the WWII years, and was used as the filming location for the 1992 film A League of Their Own.
Supplying the Troops – Then and Now By Jay Nehrkorn
Among the Allied ships that landed on the beaches of Normandy in 1944 was LST-157, a 328-foot craft classified as a “Landing Ship, Tank” and fitted with a ramp in the bow for direct off-loading of troops, vehicles, and supplies. Less than two years prior to D-Day, this veteran of landings at Salerno and Sicily had still been under construction at a 45-acre riverfront shipyard in Evansville. It was the first of what was originally a 28-vessel contract given to Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron, but the Evansville Shipyard ultimately became the largest producer of LSTs during the war, building 167 of them before ceasing operations in the months following the end of World War II. Today, another Evansville business supplies our armed forces in a very different way. The old saying goes that an army marches on its stomach, and AmeriQual keeps them marching with around 16.8 million Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) each year. AmeriQual, the Department of Defense’s largest supplier of military MREs, produces civilian versions for sale and disaster relief efforts as well. A vast improvement over the “C-rats” of the past, these shelf-stable, self-heating meal packages come in 24 menu choices. Sources: www.emuseum.org/virtual_museum/ evansville.shipyard/shipyard.html www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/160157.htm www.evpl.org/downloads/video/feelthehistory/ watch.aspx?id=12
Affordable and Appealing Selections
vansville offers a variety of excellent housing choices, including historic homes, new developments, established neighborhoods, condominiums, town homes, and homes with acreage. On average, there are 1,400 homes on the market in Evansville at any given time. The median sale price is $98,500, which will offer a nice ranch home, built between 1950 and 1970, with 1,100 to 1,600 square feet, three bedrooms, and 1.5 baths. The average sale price of $113,649 will buy a ranch home, built between 1960 and 1980, with 1,200 to 1,800 square feet, three or four bedrooms, and two baths.
By Carol Cummings
According to REALTOR® Chris Dickson, Evansville is a wonderful place to call home. “The cost of living, especially in the housing market, is very affordable,” he said. “We also offer a broad base of industry, economic stability, and available jobs — Evansville is home to more than 20 national corporate headquarters. In addition, we offer multiple opportunities for education through public, private, and parochial schools. The University of Evansville, the University of Southern Indiana, and Ivy Tech Community College offer post-secondary educational opportunities, and many parks and recreational opportunities are available.”
visit us online at www.ccswin.com
E
Around the Neighborhood
29