Business Images Southwest Indiana: 2009 by Journal Communications

BUSINESS

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SOUTHWEST INDIANA

Amazing Amazonia Zooâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new exhibit leads to attendance records

Dream Job Center cultivates entrepreneurs

Air to There Evansville airport connects the region to the world SPONSORED BY THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF SOUTHWEST INDIANA | 2009

contents BUSINESS TM

OVERVIEW

BUSINESS ALMANAC

BUSINESS CLIMATE

Working As One

Collaboration isn’t lip service in Southwest Indiana.

Dream Job

TR ANSPORTATION

Paving the Way for Growth

I-69 construction bolsters the transportation grid.

Air to There

EDUCATION

A Classroom Conversation

District’s strategic plan invites wide-ranging input. HEALTH

That’s Good Medicine

A strong provider network delivers quality care. LIVABILITY

Reaching for the Stars

The Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science beneﬁts from a major expansion program. MANUFACTURING

Built for Success

The manufacturing sector is robust – and growing. RECREATION

Amazing Amazonia

Mesker Park Zoo sets attendance records. ARTS & CULTURE

Art in Harmony

A community’s utopian ideals live on.

ECONOMIC PROFILE

On the Cover PHOTO BY JEFF ADKINS The U.S. 41 Twin Bridges cross the Ohio River.

26 SOUTHWEST INDIANA

All or part of this magazine is printed with soy ink on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

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BUSINESS

contents

SOU THW EST I N DI A N A BUSINESS TM

ONLINE TM

S O U T H W E ST I N D I A N A

CONNECTIONS

An online resource at IMAGESSOUTHWESTINDIANA.com

2009 EDITION, VOLUME 3

CU S TO M M AG A Z INE M ED I A

MANAGING EDITOR BILL McMEEKIN COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS ASSOCIATE EDITORS LISA BATTLES, JESSY YANCEY ONLINE CONTENT MANAGER MATT BIGELOW STAFF WRITERS CAROL COWAN, KEVIN LITWIN

VIRTUAL MAGAZINE >>

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS PAIGE CLANCY, MICHAELA JACKSON, ROY MOORE, JESSICA MOZO, SAM SCOTT, CLAIRE RATLIFF-SEARS DATA MANAGER RANETTA SMITH

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Lifestyle A showcase for what drives Southwest Indianaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high quality of life

SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER BRIAN MCCORD STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS, TODD BENNETT, ANTONY BOSHIER, IAN CURCIO, J. KYLE KEENER PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT ANNE WHITLOW

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REGIONAL SALES MANAGER CHARLES FITZGIBBON

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WEB DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR BRIAN SMITH ASSOCIATE PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN PRODUCTION PROJECT MANAGERS MELISSA BRACEWELL, KATIE MIDDENDORF, JILL WYATT SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER, KRIS SEXTON, CANDICE SWEET, VIKKI WILLIAMS LEAD DESIGNER JANINE MARYLAND GRAPHIC DESIGN ERICA HINES, ALISON HUNTER, JESSICA MANNER, AMY NELSON, MARCUS SNYDER WEB PROJECT MANAGERS ANDY HARTLEY, YAMEL RUIZ

Read Business Images Southwest Indiana on your computer, zoom in on the articles and link to advertiser Web sites.

WEB DESIGN LEAD FRANCO SCARAMUZZA WEB DESIGN RYAN DUNLAP, CARL SCHULZ WEB PRODUCTION JENNIFER GRAVES COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN TWILA ALLEN AD TRAFFIC JESSICA CHILDS, MARCIA MILLAR, PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN

NEWS AND NOTES >>

Get the Inside Scoop on the latest

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER SR. V.P./SALES CARLA H. THURMAN

developments in Southwest

SR. V.P./OPERATIONS CASEY E. HESTER

Indiana from our editors and

V.P./SALES TODD POTTER

business insiders

V.P./TRAVEL PUBLISHING SYBIL STEWART

V.P./SALES HERB HARPER V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER V.P./EDITORIAL DIRECTOR TEREE CARUTHERS MANAGING EDITOR/COMMUNITY KIM MADLOM MANAGING EDITOR/CUSTOM KIM NEWSOM

Workstyle A spotlight on innovative companies that call Southwest Indiana home

SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS >>

MANAGING EDITOR/TRAVEL SUSAN CHAPPELL

Meet the people setting the pace

CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY

for Southwest Indiana business

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, DIANA GUZMAN, MARIA MCFARLAND, LISA OWENS RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY WALDRIP DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR YANCEY TURTURICE

DIG DEEPER >>

NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR JAMES SCOLLARD

Log into the community with links

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE

IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY CUSTOM/TRAVEL SALES SUPPORT RACHAEL GOLDSBERRY

to local Web sites and resources to give you the big picture of Southwest Indiana DATA CENTRAL >>

A by-the-numbers look at doing business and living in Southwest Indiana

See the Video Our award-winning photographers give you a virtual peek inside Southwest Indiana

SALES/MARKETING COORDINATOR RACHEL MATHEIS EXECUTIVE SECRETARY/SALES SUPPORT KRISTY DUNCAN OFFICE MANAGER SHELLY GRISSOM RECEPTIONIST LINDA BISHOP

Business Images Southwest Indiana is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at info@jnlcom.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana 318 Main St., Suite 401 Evansville, IN 47708-2101 Phone: (812) 425-8147 â&#x20AC;˘ Fax: (812) 421-5883 www.ccswin.com

GUIDE TO SERVICES >>

Links to a cross section of goods and services in Southwest Indiana

GO ONLINE

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overview

TOP 10 REASONS TO DO BUSINESS IN SOUTHWEST INDIANA 9. A CULTURE OF COOPERATION Four counties have formed the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana to attract new industry and jobs to the region, to help existing businesses, and to develop a better climate for entrepreneurs and business development.

1. STRATEGIC LOCATION Centrally located in the heart of the Midwest, Southwest Indiana is a prime spot for manufacturing and national distribution. 2. FAVORABLE TAX CLIMATE The overall cost of doing business is lower in Indiana than in surrounding Midwest states.

10. DIVERSE AND INNOVATIVE ECONOMY Southwest Indiana is known as a center of health care, manufacturing, warehousing and distribution and finance. Many of the region’s leading industries are part of multinational companies.

3. WELL CONNECTED Evansville is easy to access by road, rail, air or water, with a highway system, a regional airport, rail service and river ports. 4. PROVEN SUCCESS Southwest Indiana is a proven location for world-class business and industry, including Whirlpool, Toyota Motor Corp., SABIC Innovative Plastics, Alcoa, Mead Johnson, T.J. Maxx, Ameriqual and Koch Industries. It’s also a hot spot for corporate headquarters, including Shoe Carnival Inc., Old National Bancorp, Vectren Corp. and American General Finance.

Hazleton Patoka Princeton

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6. CULTURAL AMENITIES From symphonies and rock concerts to art and science museums, Evansville has a wealth of cultural offerings.

Griffin

Mackey

Haubstadt

64 Poseyville

Somerville

Fort Branch

Owensville

5. DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION A vital downtown is a good gauge of a city’s vitality, and the heart of Evansville is in the midst of a major renaissance.

Oakland City Francisco

Lynnville 64

Cynthiana

Elberfeld

VA ANDERB A NDERB R U RGH WARRICK CK K New Harmony

Darmstadt 41

164 Chandler

POSEY 62

Evansville

SPENCER

Newburgh 66

8. VARIETY OF HOUSING OPTIONS Housing options in this region range from chic, renovated downtown loft apartments to brand-new homes in modern subdivisions, with homes to fit every price range.

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Tennyson Chrisney

Mount Vernon

7. EDUCATION AND TRAINING Southwest Indiana boasts a wide range of educational and training options that build a quality workforce.

Santa Claus

Boonville

Rockport 231

Southwest Indiana

SEE VIDEO ONLINE | Take a virtual tour of Southwest Indiana at imagessouthwestindiana.com, courtesy of our award-winning photographers.

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PLENTY OF HORSE SENSE It has survived barn fires, floods, four changes of ownership and even a tornado.

TAKE NOTE, MUSICTELLERS Tales & Scales has been helping to produce sound minds for more than 20 years. The performing arts company bills itself as the nation’s only “musictelling” ensemble, and its main goal is to create innovative productions that ignite the imaginations of young people. Tales & Scales collaborates with composers, writers and theater directors to spin stories of music, dance and creative movement. The group has performed for 1 million children in schools, libraries and community centers and with symphony orchestras. Go to www.talesandscales.org to learn more.

Ellis Park Race Track in Henderson County, Ky., is just minutes from downtown Evansville. The facility was constructed in 1922, and today offers live thoroughbred racing five days a week from July 4 through Labor Day. Year-round simulcasting of races from tracks across the country is available Wednesday through Sunday from September through July. Ellis Park is a 1 1/8-mile dirt track, and there is also a one-mile inner turf course. The Kentucky landmark was originally known as Dade Park, and recent renovations include an upgrade of the track’s twin spires. For more on the track, go to www.ellisparkracing.com.

ALL ABOARD, TOURISTS DRUMMING UP SUPPORT A performing drum line group in Evansvi Evansville is a booming success. Boom Squad Inc. involves 110 students representin representing 35 schools, with participants ranging in age from 4 to 17. More than 55 parent and adult volunteers also participate. The squad has five instructors who write, arrange and teach percussion technique as well as parade cadences and showstyle routines. The drum line performs at various sporting event halftime shows, parades, community functions and social events. The program also helps kids learn about role modeling and social skills, and helps to combat juvenile delinquency. Visit www.boomsquadinc.com to learn more.

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You don’t have to arrive by train to get information on tourism in Gibson County. Just walk in the front door. The recently renovated Princeton Train Depot is home to the Gibson County Visitors & Tourism Bureau, as well as the Princeton Railway Museum. Built in 1875, the Princeton Depot is the only remaining depot structure in Gibson County following the demolition of the Southern Railway depot many years ago. Train travel was once the lifeline of commerce and transportation for Gibson County, but passenger service was discontinued in the late 1960s. Tours of the old depot are available on request.

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business almanac

KNOWLEDGE ON BEST COLLEGES U.S. News & World Report knows all about the University of Evansville. The magazine’s 2008 Best Colleges issue ranked Evansville No. 3 in best value among master’s degree-granting universities in the Midwest. The magazine cited UE’s academic quality, reputation and reasonable cost. In addition, UE was also ranked 11th on the magazine’s list of master’s-granting universities in the region in terms of overall education. Factors in the evaluation included student graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, financial resources and alumni giving.

CELEBRATING BAPTISTTOWN One of the nation’s first housing projects was built in Evansville, and it is now honored in a new museum. The Evansville African American Museum opened in 2008 to commemorate Lincoln Gardens, which was built in 1938 under President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal program. In those days, the community was known as Baptisttown, with black doctors, lawyers and educators living there. The museum is open to the public, and hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday. It’s closed Sunday and Monday. The museum includes a video presentation, scale model of the Lincoln Gardens community and a refurbished original one-room apartment, as well as trophies and memorabilia from sports teams in the days before integration. Call (812) 423-5188 for more information.

HOME OF ABE AND SANTA Spencer County lays claims to two famous people – Abe Lincoln and Santa Claus. Lincoln’s early home is celebrated at the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial on Indiana Highway 162. The life of the 16th U.S. president is also highlighted at Lincoln State Park and Lincoln Pioneer Village. And Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari, located in Santa Claus, Ind., in Spencer County, is one of the few remaining privately owned and operated theme parks in the world. In 2009, Holiday World will open Pilgrim’s Plunge, the world’s tallest water ride. The town of Santa Claus features a number of one-of-a-kind attractions, including the Santa Claus Post Office and Santa Claus Museum. For more information, go to www.legendaryplaces.org.

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Working

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business climate

One

Regional collaboration gets the job done in Southwest Indiana

P H OTO S B Y B R I A N M C C O R D

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regional approach to economic development isn’t just talk in Southwest Indiana. The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana is forging partnerships with counterparts in surrounding communities to maximize the region’s collective potential. “A few years ago it became a significant initiative, or a vision I guess you could call it, for our chamber to make an effort to operate on much more of a regional basis,” says Evan Beck, chairman of The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana. “With that initiative in place, we began taking one piece at a time.” The first step was a merger between the Metropolitan Evansville Chamber of Commerce and the Posey County Chamber of Commerce to form what is known now as The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana. Since then, agreements have been signed with Warrick County, Henderson County, Ky. and, most recently, Spencer County. In mid-2008, the Southwest Indiana chamber and Spencer County Chamber signed a one-year memorandum of understanding to cooperate on common initiatives and share non-voting seats on each other’s boards. Economic development leaders emphasize the shared benefits that materialize through regional cooperation. “Companies are looking to what the region offers,” Beck says. “Like workforce development: They’re not going to hire people just from one community. They’re going to hire from a variety of communities within so many miles of

a facility that they may build.” Sharing resources and ideas, speaking in a unified voice on common issues and collaborating to promote the entire region is critical in today’s economic environment. “We believe that by putting together the voices of the various chambers, we can better express ourselves on issues that have regional concern to the folks in Southwest Indiana,” says Mark Gayhart, who is vice chairman of the Spencer County Chamber of Commerce. The Interstate 69 project is the most prominent issue affecting all of the counties in the region. The first 70 miles of the new corridor between Evansville and Indianapolis are currently funded and on deck for construction. Beck has been meeting with community leaders in Kentucky to discuss the project’s impact in that state and in Indiana. Jennifer Keach, chairwoman of the Henderson-Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, met Beck more than two years ago on an exploratory trip into Northern Kentucky that was organized by The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana. The two chambers have forged a healthy relationship, working on projects such as updating the bridge between Evansville and Henderson. “We found out we had a lot of common vision,” Keach says. “A river separates us, and we just hoped that we could think of ways to build a relationship and work to take down that river barrier.” – Michaela Jackson

The U.S. 41 Twin Bridges cross the Ohio River into Henderson County, Ky., near Evansville, Ind., a symbol of the link between the regions. Inset: Evan Beck is chairman of The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana.

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business climate

Dream Job CENTER HELPS ENTREPRENEURS GET GOING AND GROWING Successful entrepreneurship depends on more than a gut feeling. A solid business plan, sound advice and access to capital are crucial. The Southwestern Indiana Small Business Development Center, hosted by The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana, provides current and aspiring entrepreneurs with the resources they need to turn their ambition into a thriving small business. “Growing a small business is not easy,” says Kim Howard, regional director for the Southwestern Indiana SBDC. “We have some unique tools here that can really help the small business owner.” Staff members provide oneon-one counseling and assist in writing business plans, performing marketing research and seeking grant and loan dollars. The center also holds workshops on topics such as human resources and entrepreneurship basics. During confidential one-on-one counseling sessions, which Howard says are the backbone of the program, specialists work both to set businesses on the right track and to make sure people don’t get in over their heads. In 2007, representatives from the center met with about 225 potential small business owners. Out of those efforts, 20 businesses began operating and the clients they worked with generated $6 million in investment in the Southwest Indiana economy. “Small businesses are the engine of growth for our economy. They are the ones that are creating jobs,” Howard says. “It’s critical that we provide resources for existing small businesses as well as for people who are starting a business.” – Michaela Jackson

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Save Money. Smell the Flowers.

Looking for ways to save money on gas and help the environment? The EPA wants to share some smart driving tips that could give you more miles per gallon of gas and reduce air pollution. Tips like making sure your tires are properly inflated and replacing your air filter regularly. And where possible, accelerate and brake slowly. Be aware of your speed ... did you know that for every 5 miles you go over 65 mph, you’re spending about 20 cents more per gallon of gas? If you’re shopping for a new car, choose the cleanest, most efficient vehicle that meets your needs. If we each adopt just one of these tips, we’d get more miles for our money and it would be a little easier to smell the flowers. For more tips and to compare cleaner, more efficient vehicles, visit

www.epa.gov/greenvehicles.

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Paving

the Way for

Growth I-69 construction bolsters the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s already strong transportation network

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P H OTO S B Y B R I A N M C C O R D

transportation

nterstate 69 may be Indiana’s newest transportation undertaking, but that doesn’t mean the project popped up on the state’s to-do list this year – or this decade. The Indiana Department of Transportation has been working for roughly 40 years to secure funding for the mammoth project, part of a national effort that is ultimately intended to connect Canada and Mexico. Money is in place to build roughly the first 70 miles of the EvansvilleIndianapolis corridor, and bulldozers began moving dirt in July 2008. The start of the I-69 project will boost growth and development in Southwest Indiana as companies looking to expand or relocate take advantage of a connected, accessible business location. The first section, a 2.5-mile stretch from I-64 and State Road 67 in Warrick County to State Road 68, will be complete by July 2010. Construction on the next two-mile section is slated to begin in July 2009. “You can actually envision what this is going to look like, including the overpasses and interchanges, so this is really coming together quite nicely,” says Cher Goodwin, public information officer for INDOT’s Vincennes Office. The impact of the I-69 project will be felt throughout the region, says Greg

“I-69 represents the promise of being connected to North America in a more direct manner than what we are now.” Wathen, president and CEO of the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana. The road being laid today is a step toward the larger goal of an integrated transportation network for Southwest Indiana. “It’s an important piece of infrastructure,” Wathen says. “If you look at a map of Indiana as sort of a wheel and the interstate system as the spokes of a wheel, there were some spokes missing. And this is a muchneeded spoke that will just strengthen the overall transportation network that we have in the state.” The whole idea behind growth and development, Wathen says, is connectivity, be that by road, rail or remote access. “I think what I-69 represents,” he says, “is the promise of being connected to North America in a more direct manner than what we are now.” Transportation access played a key role in a decision by Evansville-based retailer Shoe Carnival Inc.

When the company decided a couple of years ago that it needed a larger distribution facility, a study it conducted determined the ideal site would still be in Southwest Indiana. “We built a new distribution center along the current I-164 corridor in anticipation of I-69 coming through,” says Mark Lemond, Shoe Carnival president and CEO. “That will provide us with much better north-south access to our store locations. So that’s the primary reason why we located a new distribution center where we located it.” The company’s 400,000-square-foot nationwide distribution facility has now been open more than a year. Lemond says he believes other businesses will be drawn to the Southwest Indiana region for the same reasons Shoe Carnival was. “I think, without a question, it will improve the viability of this area tremendously,” he says. – Michaela Jackson

Above: After decades of planning, construction has started on the first segment of I-69, providing a direct Evansville to Indianapolis link. Left: I-69 is part of a transportation corridor that will ultimately stretch from Canada to Mexico.

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transportation

Air to There

Air travel can sometimes prove vexing, and even more so if a long drive to the airport is part of the equation. Luckily, travelers in Southwest Indiana are not in that situation. The Evansville Regional Airport offers roughly 40 flights a day via American Eagle, Delta Connection and Northwest Airlink airlines to hub cities including Atlanta, Detroit and Dallas. The airport has three runways and is equipped with an instrument landing system. Passengers arrive and depart via a 10-gate, 140,000-squarefoot terminal, which is adjacent to more than 1,000 parking spaces. The airport, which was built in the late 1920s and formally dedicated in June 1930, also includes a 76-acre Foreign Trade Zone, complete with warehouse space, which allows for duty-free treatment of products and materials while they are in the trade zone. “It’s basically a one-stop connection to the rest of the world,” says Dianna Kissel, who is marketing director at the airport. “We’re just a close drive, and you have all the convenience of a smaller airport added to all the things you get from a larger airport,” she says. – Michaela Jackson

S TA F F P H OTO

EVANSVILLE AIRPORT CONNECTS THE REGION TO THE WORLD

Evansville Regional Airport offers some 40 flights a day.

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education

Community, Conversation,

Classroom School district’s strategic plan invites input from all sectors

P H OTO S B Y B R I A N M C C O R D

Dr. Vince Bertram, Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. superintendent, oversees a district with more than 22,000 students, 3,000 employees and 40 schools.

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fter 55 forums and more than 250 meetings with groups and organizations, the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. adopted a new strategic plan in March 2008. But the conversations didn’t stop with the board’s unanimous vote. “Since the plan’s adoption, we have held over 100 meetings,” says Dr. Vince Bertram, superintendent of the 22,000student district. “Education is a complex enterprise, and schools cannot do the work alone,” he says. “It takes collaboration and the coalescing of resources to address the needs of the whole child.” The plan includes several objectives, such as increasing college placement and completion rates, eliminating the achievement gap between populations, and expanding support networks for students and parents. At center stage is the goal of improving the educational environment for all children. The plan calls for construction of two new schools, renovations and expansions for existing schools, and other improvement projects that total $171 million. “Some communities have cited school quality as the most significant barrier to economic development,” Bertram says. “We must have high-performing schools,

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Shaping Young Minds CAMPAIGN AIMS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO EARLY LEARNING

Students Caleb Simmons and Mark Murillo use computer technology in an English honors class at Plaza Park Middle School in Evansville.

well-maintained facilities and schools in proximity to high population-growth areas. Education is essential to producing a quality workforce and ensuring a community’s overall quality of life.” The district is helping to create a future “filled with abundant economic oppor-

Scorecard EVANSVILLE VANDERBURGH SCHOOL CORP. BY THE NUMBERS

22,350 Number of students in the district

3,000 Number of district employees

$157.5 million 2009 general fund budget

40 Total number of schools, including five high schools, 10 middle schools, 20 elementary schools, three alternative schools and two charter schools

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tunity” by establishing a more innovative, efficient and dynamic educational model, says Bob Jones, president and CEO of Evansville-based Old National Bancorp. For Jones, exciting highlights of the plan include the creation of early childhood learning centers and enhanced learning and communication tools such as interactive white boards and inclassroom IP phones. Old National is donating space to house the new Center for Family, School and Community Partnerships. The strategic plan is a research-based, systemic approach to improving student achievement, Bertram says. The plan’s five core focus areas are: 1. Early childhood education for the district’s most vulnerable children. 2. State-of-the-art technology available in all schools. 3. Continuous, job-embedded professional development for all faculty and staff in the district. 4. Innovative school models to give families real educational choices. 5. Creating additional family, school and community partnerships. “We cannot permit another generation of children to go through our system without addressing the barriers to their success,” he says. “We must operate with a sense of urgency. Our children are here now, and they must be prepared to succeed in a competitive global marketplace.” – Paige Clancy

A major initiative is under way in Southwest Indiana to improve education, nutrition and parenting for the region’s youngest children – from newborns to age five. Joan Scott, early childhood development coordinator at the United Way of Southwestern Indiana, says more than 175 participants from more than 70 business, government and community organizations have been involved in the Early Childhood Development Coalition. “If they start behind, they hardly ever catch up,” Scott says. The coalition has organized literacy parties, worked with teachers, distributed nutritious food and even commissioned books about young Napoleon Peacock’s adventures at places like Evansville’s Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden. In all, six Napoleon Peacock books are planned. Each will be available free to families in Vanderburgh, Warrick and Spencer counties who have children three and younger. The coalition is also working with other agencies around the state to lobby Indiana legislators to fund early-learning initiatives, says Matt Meadors, president and CEO of The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana. “It will pay dividends on the back end,” Meadors says of the effort. “They will be better employees, better workers and better community members.” – Sam Scott

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education

Centers of

Learning Evansville, Southern Indiana universities provide knowledge assets to community majors and has launched the region’s first executive MBA program, allowing professionals to advance their careers without having to pause them. “We are able to provide the region a more talented workforce,” Clark says. The university’s business school houses the Institute for Global Enterprise in Indiana, which opened in 2003 with a

mission to build global awareness among students, faculty and businesses. Evansville is home to the Southwest Indiana campus of Ivy Tech Community College. (www.ivytech.edu) The 6,000 student Evansville campus offers two-year associate degrees and training programs in dozens of fields of study. – Sam Scott

JEFF ADKINS

here are no ivory towers at the University of Southern Indiana and University of Evansville, where academics and students are a force in solving real-world problems. At USI’s Center for Applied Research, for example, the focus is on matching expertise with community needs. Since opening in 2006, the center has improved the effectiveness of the local Habitat for Humanity organization, studied coal scrubbers for Alcoa power plants and analyzed bus routes, ambulance service and downtown parking for the city of Evansville, among other projects. “It’s one more good thing that Evansville has going for it,” says Susan Ellspermann, center director. At the University of Evansville, a private school founded in 1854, the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration also connects campus and community, says Robert Clark, business school dean and vice president for strategic initiatives. In the past three years, the school has seen a 50 percent increase in business

Student Denise Bube studies inside the University of Southern Indiana’s new David L. Rice Library in Evansville.

More Insight UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN INDIANA www.usi.edu Founded: 1965 Campus: 330 acres in Evansville Enrollment: About 10,100 Courses: Associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees conferred in 21 areas of study Faculty: 605 full-time faculty and administrators and 244 part-time faculty

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UNIVERSITY OF EVANSVILLE www.evansville.edu Founded: 1854 Campus: 75 acres in Evansville Enrollment: About 2,700 Courses: More than 80 areas of study Faculty: Around 205 faculty members

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health

That’s Good

Medicine Strong provider network, quality focus drive region’s health-care delivery

In addition to its 365-bed main hospital, Deaconess bolstered its 14 ambulatory-care sites with a merger with Welborn Clinic, a multi-specialty physician group with more than 100 doctors. The merger brought Welborn’s 30 medical and surgical specialty physicians under a hospital, providing continuous care. Deaconess and Welborn had little overlap so the combined operator touches most of the region’s communities, including Newburgh and Reo. Keeping patients’ interests in mind, the merger allows for nearly 90 practices to come under an integrated health-care system, says Dr. David D. Christeson, the former Welborn Clinic CEO who is now chief physician administrative officer of Deaconess Clinic. Importantly, the merger allows the two to operate on a unified technology system. Patients from one provider will be able to have their medical records accessed by physicians at a separate location. Much of the technology upgrade is taking place this year and next. – Roy Moore

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n Southwest Indiana, two nonprofit hospital systems lead the provider market and are investing in the latest technologies to improve the quality of care. Deaconess Health System and St. Mary’s Health System and Medical Center trace their operations back decades and have expanded their reach in recent years to serve the various needs of patients. St. Mary’s operates a 490-bed, acute-care hospital, longterm-care center, women’s and children’s hospital and home-health agency. At its hospital in Evansville, St. Mary’s provides a full spectrum of inpatient services, including trauma care, cardiology, orthopedics and neonatology. St. Mary’s also has focused on outpatient care with facilities that serve ambulatory surgery, oncology and physician-office needs. More than 12,000 procedures are performed each year at the outpatient surgery sites. In 2001, St. Mary’s created a separate hospital for women and children connected to its main hospital. This unit focuses on labor, pediatrics neonatal intensive care and obstetrics, all housed in specialized departments. The provider plans to grow its services by adding physicians and investing in technology and facilities that will increase efficiency and effectiveness. “Our patients expect clinical quality, to be treated like a fellow human being and for us to respect their time, resources and intelligence,” says President and CEO Tim Flesch. Satisfaction scores are improving and clinical quality meets or exceeds regional and national benchmarks. Deaconess Health System has emerged as a full-service provider, with five hospitals, a hospital for women and infants, a behavioral health hospital and a freestanding cancer center. Quality is stressed at the teaching hospital, earning Deaconess a Solucient Top 100 Hospitals award for cardiac and orthopedic services. Deaconess Health System is a full-service care provider. Left: St. Mary’s Health System includes a 490-bed hospital.

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livability

Reaching for the

Stars

The sky is the limit after major upgrade at the Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science

he Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science, the oldest and most-established cultural institution in the state, has embarked upon the most ambitious facility expansion in its 104-year history. “Reaching for the Stars” is a $15 million capital expansion project that will enable the museum to educate and inspire like never before in the arts, history, science and anthropology. Dynamic changes in the museum’s architectural profile include a spectacular two-and-a-half story glass pavilion, expanded museum shop and immersive theater, the newest in planetarium technology. John Streetman, in his 34th year as executive director, credits

a deeply committed community and board of trustees for the success of the campaign. “There is a wonderful sense of community here,” he says. “We raised $10 million before the campaign was announced.” Groundbreaking is expected for summer 2009. “We appreciate the museum and the wonderful, cultural asset it is to our community and the region,” says campaign Chairwoman Rita Eykamp, whose family is a longtime supporter of the museum. When completed, the enhanced Koch Planetarium will provide a 360-degree experience. Indiana’s first planetarium will become the most advanced in the state, taking solar system

A first-century funerary mask is among the holdings at the Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science.

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quality livability of life

exploration to a new level. “We have one of the best types of star projectors available, creating a realistic-looking Indiana night sky,” says Mitch Luman, director of the Koch Science Center and Planetarium. Along with a traditional star show, the planetarium offers planet viewing events and special features on topics such as black holes, famous astronomers and myths about astronomy. The museum, an anchor of the downtown riverfront, is one of just 10 across the country that received a grant to study space literacy and education opportunities. An educator and 12 space exhibits are taken to fairs, festivals and events in rural areas, providing a museum experience. “We reach a lot of people,” Luman says. The multi-million dollar art gallery houses an impressive collection, and the museum is renowned for championing American realist painters. The museum offers an artist-inresidence program and fine-art consultancy for those wanting to develop collections or find commissioned works. “This is not a static museum,” Eykamp says. “In addition to the wonderful permanent collections, there are constantly changing galleries and exhibits.” Rivertown USA is a stroll through time with storefronts and houses depicting the 19th century. Plans are under way to extend the timeframe to pre-World War II and beyond. A World War II interpretive center will become a focal point of the gallery, drawing from the museum’s vast holdings for that period. In a separate building on the site, the Evansville Museum Transportation Center presents regional transportation through the years. A highlight for all ages is the full-scale, Art Deco train. “Every four to six weeks, there is a new exhibition ready to be viewed,” Luman says. “If you haven’t visited the Evansville Museum recently, you don’t know what you’re missing. For us, every day is opening day.” – Claire Ratliff-Sears

More Insight THE EVANSVILLE MUSEUM OF ARTS, HISTORY AND SCIENCE

411 S.E. Riverside Drive Evansville, IN 47713 (812) 425-2406 www.emuseum.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday

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Take a Walk on the Wild Side WESSELMAN WOODS IS A PRISTINE OASIS IN EVANSVILLE’S BACKYARD With approximately 200 acres of wilderness, Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve in Evansville is a nature-lover’s delight. A National Natural Landmark and a State Nature Preserve, the woods is the largest tract of virgin bottomland hardwood forest inside a city limits of 100,000 population anywhere in the United States. Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve offers trails, environmental education programs and family events throughout the year. Exhibits, observations areas and a gift shop are among the features at the interpretive center. The woods boast an array of native plants and trees, some which have stood undisturbed for more than 400 years. “Explorers like Lewis and Clark went through areas just like this, and it hasn’t changed,” says Kim Meadors, executive director and CEO of Wesselman Nature Society Inc. “It’s important to understand the value of these treasures.” The raptor recovery center cares for birds of prey unable to return to the wild. Visitors can participate in a host of annual activities, such as banding of migratory birds, and learn from several resident “teaching animals.” The not-for-profit Wesselman Nature Society oversees the nature preserve as well as Howell Wetlands, Indiana’s largest urban wetlands, and Canoe Evansville, offering wild rides on Pigeon Creek. Conservation, preservation, research and education are the four central themes for program and event planning. Whether it’s a butterfly hike, a moonlight paddle or an owl prowl, there’s always something new to do and learn. “We want people to see and understand what we are trying to preserve,” Meadors says. “If we take care of our resources, they will continue to be able to give back to us.” – Claire Ratliff-Sears

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manufacturing

Built for

Success The region’s manufacturing sector is robust – and growing

I MENTIONED IN STORY

f you’ve ever sat beneath a tent at a wedding, a concert or even a circus, there is a very good chance that you’ve been sheltered by Anchor Industries Inc., the nation’s leading manufacturer of outdoor tents. The Evansville company started as a small riverboat supplier on the Ohio River in 1892. Over time, it has morphed into a maker of pool covers, awnings, and even infrared resistant military tents. The family-owned company also does a growing trade making portable shelters for firefighters trapped by forest fires. The emergency device looks like a baked potato wrapped in aluminum foil, but its simplicity can save lives, says Brandy Spainhoward, Anchor marketing director. The success of Anchor, which employs more than 400 people and brings in annual revenues of about $50 million, is emblematic of Southwest

Anchor Industries makes fabric items such as tents and awnings. Right: Keller Crescent is a specialty packaging leader.

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Indiana’s robust manufacturing sector, which employs more than 15,000 people in the Evansville area alone. The biggest player in the sector is Toyota, which has invested more than $3 billion in its Princeton plant, which opened in 1998. More investment is on the way to fund a 2009 switch in production to the Highlander model from the Tundra, Toyota spokeswoman Kelly Dillon says. The plants, which also make Sequoias and Siennas, turn out about 300,000 vehicles a year and employ 4,500 people. “We found a very skilled workforce in the region, and one with a very strong work ethic,” Dillon says. AmeriQual Group LLC, based in Evansville, is the country’s leading supplier of Meals Readyto-Eat, the lightweight, durable and self-heating rations that feed U.S. soldiers. In its 2007 fiscal year, AmeriQual supplied Uncle Sam with more than $140 million of its preserved food products. Other manufacturers in Southwest Indiana include Mead Johnson, which employs some 2,000 in the region making Enfamil and other

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baby-nutrition products. Evansville-based Berry Plastics Corp., a leading manufacturer and marketer of plastic packaging products, is adding 85,000 square feet and 250 jobs at its downtown headquarters. Design company Keller Crescent makes cartons, inserts, booklets, labels and other packaging for the pharmaceutical and health-and-beauty sectors. For homegrown Anchor, Evansville’s location is within easy shipping distance of the company’s major markets along the East Coast and in close proximity to producers of aluminum used in its products. The area has also provided skilled and loyal workers. The average employee has been with Anchor for more than 20 years, Spainhoward says. “They like the family atmosphere,” she says. “It’s just a really good place to work.” Toyota’s Dillon seconds the advantages. The crisscross of interstate highways and railroads give the auto manufacturer ready access to suppliers and dealers. “That’s critical,” she says. – Sam Scott

More Insight MAJOR MANUFACTURERS AND EMPLOYMENT Toyota: 4,500 Alcoa Warrick: 2,150 Whirlpool Corp.: 2,083 Mead Johnson: 2,000 Black Beauty Coal Co.: 1,753 SABIC Innovative Plastics: 1,440 Berry Plastics: 1,400 Anchor Industries: 400 Ameriqual: 400 Keller Crescent: 386

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recreation

Amazing Amazonia

Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden’s new exhibit leads to attendance records

f you thought you had to fly to South America to visit the rainforest, think again. Evansville’s 50-acre Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden opened its newest exhibit, Amazonia, in August 2008, and it lets visitors get up close and personal with swinging monkeys, colorful toucans, slithering snakes and other South American animal species. Amazonia is the biggest project the zoo has completed in its 78-year history, says Stephanie Sanderson, visitor services curator for Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden. The exhibit includes an indoor rainforest with 10,000 square feet of public space. Jaguars, toucans, porcupines, tarantulas, tree boas, howler monkeys and turtles are among the residents in the lush, tropical setting. Amazonia has helped the zoo set new attendance records, attracting 38,000 visitors in its first 30 days after opening. “We’re getting people from all over Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky,” Sanderson says. “I don’t think there’s anything like Amazonia in the entire Midwest. You certainly don’t feel like you’re in Evansville.” Tropical trees give Amazonia an authentic feel, and a roaring waterfall and suspension bridge add to its ambiance. Throughout the rest of the zoo, more than 700 animals and thousands of exotic plant species also thrive. “We have a great giraffe exhibit that lets you get really close to the animals, and our Indian rhinoceros exhibit is really

nice,” Sanderson says. “Kids love our wonderful otter exhibit, because they can crawl into a glass tunnel and watch the otters swim over and around them.” The zoo’s horticulture staff works to make sure the environments surrounding the animals are similar to the habitats from which they came. “We use plants that resemble those in the areas the animals are from, like bamboo near the Asian exhibits,” says Misty Minar, Mesker Park zoo horticulturist. “We have some unusual plant species at the zoo, including hardy bananas, hardy elephant ears and hardy palms.” The first weekend in May, the zoo hosts its annual plant sale, where the public can purchase some of its rare and unusual plants. “We grow them all in our greenhouse, and people love it,” Minar says. The zoo hosts several highly anticipated annual events, including the Boo at the Zoo Halloween event in October. “There are crafts, face painting and magic shows, and you leave with a bag full of goodies,” Sanderson says. “It’s also neat because you get to explore the zoo in an evening setting, which you rarely get to do.” In 2009, the zoo will be raising money for a new Africanthemed project that will include lions, meerkats and other African species, and will open an Aldabra Tortoise exhibit that will feature the world’s second-largest tortoise species. – Jessica Mozo

A scarlet ibis is part of the Amazonia exhibit at Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden in Evansville.

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arts & culture

Art in

Harmony Born from utopian ideals, a community lives on as haven for culture, history

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were used to found the town – arts and education and science – they continue today,” says Amanda Bryden, who manages Historic New Harmony’s extensive artifact collections. Art has always been heavily emphasized in New Harmony, and today’s modern galleries and studios blend seamlessly with the town’s historic past. Many artists from urban areas have taken up residence in New Harmony, deepening the already-rich culture with their work and their influence. “There’s always been a good group of people in the arts community that have kept that legacy alive, and it continues today,” Bryden says. “It’s very active, very vibrant.” Roughly a half-dozen galleries blanket the town with art, featuring everything

from blown glass to oil on canvas, handmade jewelry to sculpture. Erica Myers-Bromwell directs the 30-plus-year-old New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art. Myers-Bromwell’s gallery hosted the community’s first annual Arts in Harmony festival in 2008, a two-day event that brought nearly 50 artists together to display their work. Every spring in New Harmony means the Plain Air Paint-Out, an event sponsored by Hoosier Salon that invites artists to set up their easels wherever they can find a spot outdoors and paint scenes of the town. “There’s plenty of room to be creative,” Myers-Bromwell says. “The town acts as a muse in a way. It’s very inspirational.” – Michaela Jackson

JEFF ADKINS

n a town of fewer than 1,000 people, a cluster of art galleries may not be the first thing you expect to find. But New Harmony, Ind., about 30 minutes outside Evansville, has never been a typical small town. The community was founded as a utopian site, Harmonie on the Wabash, in 1814 by the Harmony Society, a group of Separatists from the German Lutheran Church who migrated from Pennsylvania. In 1825, the group sold the entire town to another utopian idealist, Robert Owen, and moved back to Pennsylvania. Owen’s utopia lasted officially for only two years, but the community remained a center of science and education for the next several decades. Today, the community is essentially a living historic site, managed jointly by the University of Southern Indiana and the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites. Buildings from the original community are sprinkled throughout the town, and visitors take guided walking tours of the city to learn its unique history. “The residents of New Harmony are proud of the town’s rich history,” says Samantha Brown, manager of development and public affairs for New Harmony. “Several town organizations and community members support and believe in Historic New Harmony’s mission of preserving New Harmony’s utopian legacy.” Never absent from the air is New Harmony’s almost tangible sense of its history and its culture. “We call it a living community, which means, basically, that the ideals that

A pig statue welcomes visitors to the Yellow Tavern in New Harmony, founded in 1814 and now an arts-heavy community of galleries, shops and spiritual centers.

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ECONOMIC PROFILE BUSINESS CLIMATE Southwest Indiana is known for the production of appliances, nutritional products, pharmaceuticals, aluminum sheet metal, automobiles, auto glass, coal and oil, and plastics. While a vital manufacturing center, the region has worked to diversify its economic base by attracting advanced warehousing and distribution, retailing, health care, finance, utility and technology-based businesses.

GIBSON COUNTY

Employed, 28,766

LABOR FORCE 2005

Unemployed, 1,366

Total Labor Force, 17,273

Unemployment Rate, 4.5%

Employed, 16,422 Unemployed, 851 Unemployment Rate, 4.9%

DISTANCE TO MAJOR CITIES

POSEY COUNTY

Chicago, 300 miles

LABOR FORCE 2005

Cincinnati, 216 miles

Total Labor Force, 13,936

Unemployment Rate, 4.7%

VANDERBURGH COUNTY LABOR FORCE 2005

Indianapolis, 176 miles Louisville, 126 miles Nashville, 156 miles St. Louis, 174 miles

TRANSPORTATION

WARRICK COUNTY

Southwest Indiana is within a five-hour drive of major cities including Chicago and Cincinnati. Easy access to transportation makes this a burgeoning location for economic growth.

LABOR FORCE 2005

AIRPORT

Total Labor Force 30,132

Evansville Regional Airport (812) 421-4401

Total Labor Force, 91,606 Employed, 86,816 Unemployed, 4,790 Unemployment Rate, 5.2%

Our Signs are Everywhere!

Interstate 64 extends west of Evansville to St. Louis. For motorists heading east, I-64 offers a direct route to Louisville and Lexington, Ky., Charleston, W. Va., Richmond, Va., and cities along the southern tip of the Chesapeake Bay. Interstate 69, the new international trade corridor from Canada to the Rio Grande Valley, will pass through Evansville, providing rapid access to Memphis, and Indianapolis. Interstate 164 provides a direct link from I-64 to the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s thriving Eastside retail district and a convenient route to Henderson, Ky., for travelers coming from the northeast.

Employed, 13,287 Unemployed, 649

HIGHWAYS

U.S. 41 passes through Evansvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population center and comes within two miles of the downtown area. The fourlane highway provides access north to Chicago, and connects I-64 to the Pennyrile Parkway and the Western Kentucky Parkway to the south. State Road 62 and State Road 66 provide access to surrounding communities such as New Harmony and Mount Vernon in Posey County, and Newburgh and Boonville in Warrick County.

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RAILROADS CSX Corp., Wabash & Ohio Railroad and Norfolk Southern Corp. serve the tri-state’s rail transportation needs. The Southwind Maritime Center in Posey County and Valley Terminal in Evansville were attracted to the area by the Ohio River, which carries more freight tonnage than any inland body of water in the world.

MAJOR EMPLOYERS Company, No. of Employees Toyota Motor Mfg. Indiana, 4,500 Deaconess Health System, 4,200 St. Mary’s Medical Center, 3,317 Industrial Contractors Inc., 2,500 Alcoa Warrick Operations, 2,150 Whirlpool Corp., 2,083 Mead Johnson, 2,000 University of Southern Indiana, 1,929 Black Beauty Coal Co., 1,753 Vectren, 1,750 Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corp., 1,607 T.J. Maxx, 1,540 SABIC Innovative Plastics, 1,440

FOR MORE INFORMATION The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana 318 Main St., Suite 401 Evansville, IN 47708 Phone: (812) 425-8147 Fax: (812) 421-5883 www.ccswin.com

SOURCES: www.swidc.org, www.southwestindiana chamber.com, www.stats.indiana.edu, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Indiana Department of Workforce Development

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Ad Index 1 8 B I AG G I ’ S R I S TO R A NTE ITA LIA N O 1 4 C A S I N O A Z TA R 2 D E ACO N E S S H E A LT H SYS T E M 1 5 D U N N H OS P ITA LIT Y G RO U P C 4 FI F T H TH I R D BA N K C 3 H E R ITAG E FE D E R A L C R E D IT U N I O N 1 0 O L D N ATI O N A L BA N K C 2 S T. M A RY ’ S M E D I C A L C E N T E R C 3 TOYOTA 1 8 U N I V E R S IT Y O F SOUTHERN INDIANA 1 4 V EC T R E N CO R P O R ATI O N 2 8 WO O DWA R D CO M M E RC I A L R E A LT Y

Ad Index # S O M E CO M PA N Y

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