Opportunities for Entrepreneurs: Comprehensive Report Outlines Strategic Demand, New Market Openings in Southern Indiana Region

A broad spectrum of diverse demand for a wide variety of professionals and professional services exists in southern Indiana, representing an array of actionable growth opportunities and potential market development. These opportunities were recently strategically documented in a comprehensive report funded by the Community Foundation Alliance and the Harrison County Community Foundation.

The planning report, conducted in partnership with the Indiana First READI region, profiles and pinpoints specific growth opportunities for entrepreneurs in several categories, according to Jill Carpenter, President and CEO of the Community Foundation Alliance here.

“Based on direct primary research conducted across multiple counties, the Indiana First Quality of Life Economic Impact Analysis report reveals market potential and entrepreneurial gaps on a county-by-county basis, demonstrating areas of real demand,” said Carpenter. “A careful review of key areas can yield some significant potential market growth for the right companies, professionals, and entrepreneurs.”

The economic development executives in the First Indiana region noted that they intend to mine the report to determine opportunities for scalable market growth and talent attraction. The report offers an analysis of the potential economic impact for addressing and improving defined issues throughout the region.

“This report can be a workbook for professionals looking to expand, relocate, or start up a business in multiple categories,” said Chris Pfaff, CEO of Knox County Indiana Economic Development. “It provides actionable data on what services and capacity presently exist within our counties and region, and what services residents travel outside of the county or region to buy or obtain.”

“Those gaps represent a definable opportunity to be evaluated and captured,” he added. “It can serve as a talent attractor and entrepreneurial opportunity of the first order for our region.”

The information is expected to help the region enhance its state and local investments from the READI program and other private investment opportunities.

“In order to get feedback from each county, key stakeholders were invited to participate in community conversations regarding essential services in their county in addition to a public survey facilitated by consultants,” said Julie Moorman, President and CEO of the Harrison County Community Foundation. “We are appreciative of the input from community stakeholders in helping identify gaps in essential services and sharing their input of quality-of-life amenities in their communities.”

The 191-page report, assembled by TPMA (Thomas P. Miller and Associates), includes significant data analysis and identified specific opportunities to enhance the quality of life in five southern Indiana counties, sketching out gaps that can be filled through initiative planning and growth, infrastructure investments, and elevation of talent opportunities.

Actionable potential engagement highlights for growth range from healthcare and essential services to entertainment and dining, as well as professional and technical services.

"The report confirms what we’ve heard anecdotally for years—many Perry County residents travel outside the county for veterinary services," said Erin Emerson, President and CEO of the Perry County Development Corporation. "Now, by pairing local insight with concrete data, we can make an even stronger case that additional veterinary services could thrive here - this is just one of many opportunities highlighted in the analysis that align with the needs of our community."

The full report, which analyzes needs, assets, and potential advantages of Harrison, Knox, Perry, Pike, and Spencer counties, is available on the Southwest Indiana Development Council website in the Indiana First section: https://swidc.org/indiana-first/

The full report profiles current inventory of essential services and quality of life amenities for each county and includes recommendations for addressing growth needs.

The research and planning report and related activities were funded by the Community Foundation Alliance and the Harrison County Community Foundation. Community Foundations in Pike, Perry, Knox, Spencer and Harrison counties served as partners for the planning and development of the comprehensive report.

About the Community Foundation Alliance

Community Foundation Alliance is comprised of affiliate Community Foundations serving nine counties throughout southwestern Indiana in Daviess, Gibson, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Warrick counties. Through the establishment of endowed funds created by caring donors to benefit community causes, the Alliance works to improve the quality of life in affiliate counties by providing annual grants to nonprofit organizations and scholarships to local students. For more information, please visit https://www.communityfoundationalliance.org/

About the Harrison County Community Foundation

Harrison County Community Foundation was founded in 1996 by the Harrison County Commissioners, with an initial donation from Caesars Southern Indiana. HCCF’s mission is to inspire and assist everyone in experiencing philanthropy, producing positive and sustainable growth in Harrison County. To date, HCCF has awarded over $133 million in grants, scholarships, and other support to Harrison County nonprofits, entities, and award recipients. The Foundation serves in a community leadership role to help grow Harrison County into the best place to live, work, and raise a family. For more information, please visit https://hccfindiana.org/

About Indiana First

Representing the Indiana counties of: Harrison, Knox, Pike, Perry, and Spencer, the region was awarded $15 million from the state’s READI program, intended to accelerate projects that will enhance the area’s quality of life, and increase competitiveness for economic growth. For more information, please visit https://swidc.org/indiana-first/

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Community Foundation Alliance Recognizes Staff Member Melissa Rudolph Through New Grant Program

September 12, 2023

The Community Foundation Alliance would like to congratulate staff member Melissa Rudolph on her recent anniversary of employment. Rudolph selected Friends of Woodmere Dog Park to receive a $500 grant through the Generosity at Work Grant Program to recognize her work anniversary with the Alliance. The recently introduced Generosity at Work Grant Program enables Alliance staff members to contribute to the communities they serve by recommending a $500 grant to the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of their preference through the Ronald L. Bauer Regional Fund on their work anniversary. Rudolph recently celebrated her fourth work anniversary as the Executive Assistant with the Community Foundation Alliance, supporting all nine county affiliates in southwest Indiana. She works closely with the President and CEO ensuring efficiency in all aspects of operations. Rudolph diligently focuses on our mission, which allows for a greater impact within our communities. She is vital to the effectiveness and sustainability of our organization. As both a dog owner and an advocate for creating pet-friendly spaces in Vanderburgh County, she acknowledges the potential this initiative holds. She believes that this upcoming dog park will serve as a venue for pet owners to foster social connections among their furry companions while ensuring they receive the necessary exercise. Rudolph's generous contribution to the dog park project will have a significant impact, as it will be matched dollar for dollar through a special matching grant provided by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority Campaign. This matching grant opportunity is available until October 27, 2023, online at https://www.patronicity.com/project/friends_of_woodmere_dog_park#!/ . Woodmere Dog Park is a privately funded and nonprofit organization. The dog park will be centrally located on Evansville’s beautiful State Hospital grounds. The dog park will provide and sustain a premier off-leash dog park in the Southwest Indiana region, to enhance the quality of life and the quality of place in this area. Learn more at woodmeredogpark.org . These grants are made possible by the Ronald L. Bauer Regional Fund, a community good fund established through his charitable remainder trust to benefit the Community Foundation Alliance’s regional grantmaking.

Community Foundation Alliance Now Accepting Applications for New Gray Farms Presidents Scholarship

December 1, 2022

The Community Foundation Alliance is excited to announce the opening of a new scholarship opportunity, the Gray Farms Presidents Scholarship. $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to two graduating high school seniors who attend a high school located in one of the following counties in Illinois, Indiana, or Kentucky, have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA (4.0 scale), and plan to attend an accredited college or university. Illinois: Crawford, Edwards, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Lawrence, Saline, Wabash, White Indiana: Daviess, Gibson, Knox, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, Warrick Kentucky: Butler, Ohio, McLean Applications for the Gray Farms Presidents Scholarship are now being accepted through the Foundation’s website at communityfoundationalliance.org/scholarships . Additional details regarding eligibility criteria and the scholarship application are also available. The application deadline is February 3, 2022, at 12:00 noon CST. The Gray Farms Presidents Scholarship is an annual scholarship established to honor the past presidents of the Gray Family business interests. This scholarship was created to encourage and provide financial assistance to high school graduates of schools located in counties where the Gray Family has historically had business.