Leading Change in

BUSINESS | COMMUNITY | TALENT ATTRACTION | QUALITY OF PLACE

Has it really been 10 years?

Ten years ago, leaders from business, government and academia came together as a region to create a vision and form an organization that would reduce duplication and establish strong collaborative relationships with solid channels of communication; and simply, create a better deliv-ery system for economic development.

Everything worthwhile takes time. Over the past 10 years, the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana has become a catalyst for change in Southwest Indiana. From forging an effective network be-tween four distinct counties that has led to attracting over $4.7 billion in new investment and 7,920 new jobs coming to the region to changing the conversation that we are worth investing in as a region, the Coali-

tion has provided substantial value to the region’s economy.

To the Coalition board and those companies and individuals who have stayed the course, we want to say thank you as your support has brought about a new way of working together. Frankly, helping change community attitudes is not lost on us.

The Coalition promotes Indiana’s Great Southwest through various marketing channels. Key site selection professionals have become aware of Southwest Indiana through events like the Site Selectors Guild Conference and the United Leasing & Finance Web.Com Tour Championship. These strategic partnerships have helped bring about projects like: Haier America, Midwest Fertilizer, PGP International, Pepsi and Fed Ex.

Along with attracting new investment to the region, the Co-alition’s mission has always been to help our communities build the necessary framework so that they can flourish. Whether it’s writing the award-winning grant for Princeton’s Stellar Community designation or taking the leap of faith by initiating and driving the Indiana’s innovative Regional Cities Initiative, the Coalition goes all out for our communities.

The Coalition’s Community Development division has helped communities leverage over $116 million in grants to build infrastructure that lays the foundation for great economic development. Sewers aren’t sexy; but, if you don’t have them…you get the picture. The Coalition has helped communities expand water systems, build fire stations and libraries along with reconstructing critical levee systems and much more. All of these projects are vital to creating sustainable communities.

But, there’s a great deal more to accomplish. We need your help in making Southwest Indiana a quality place to live, work and thrive. Whether you are a long-time partner or new to hearing the Co-alition’s message, please join us. By investing in us you invest in the future of Indiana’s Great South-west.

Greg Wathen, APRPresident & CEO

Greg WathenPresident & CEO

From the President

The Mission Be a catalyst for change to foster

a thriving regional economy.

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In September of 2014, Haier America announced that the City of Evansville would be the site for its first U.S. Product Tech and Research Center with a $5 million investment, 50 high-paying jobs and a renovation to an iconic structure within the downtown design district. The announcement was a two year wooing process of connecting former Whirlpool talent determined to stay engaged in the Evans-ville community who eventually created their own company; and, making a play for Chinese global appliance giant, Haier. to the region as well as the business-friendly government. The Coalition’s role was providing the research needed for the Company to make an informed decision and having the right corporate and business players at the table.

7,920 jobs | $4.7B Investment

Why Invest?

Through Southwest Indiana’s unique regional strategy, the Coalition has played a role with its local economic development organization (LEDO) partners to add approximately into the Southwest Indiana economy along with capturing $116.4 million in grant funding including the recent $42 million Regional Cities invest-ment.

“The Coalition provided a seamless one-stop process of organizing the data, meetings and incentives that Haier needed to have in place to determine the City of Evansville as the perfect location for its first U.S. Research & Develop-ment Tech Center. The arduous process of site selection was streamlined by the Coalition’s experience of working with other global brands; and, was appreciated by our team as well as our parent company in China.” - Wayne Steele, General Manager Research & Development, Haier America

“I love the fact that I can continue doing the work I love in the city I love. Haier is a great company and I am glad to have the opportunity to design appliances for the 21st century.”

- Pat Braun, Chief Engineer Haier America

E c o n o m i c D e v e l o p m e n t C o a l i t i o n o f

2007Region comes together to form

Economic Development

Coalition of Southwest Indiana

Vuteq USA$24M Investment

52 Jobs

Toyota Boshoku$58M Investment

200 Jobs

Mead Johnson Nutrition Expansion

$32.8M Investment35 Jobs

2 0 0 7 - 2 0 1 1

SS&C Technologies$3.9M Investment

500 Jobs

Garner Reportreleased to public as

Blueprint of Success for Redevel-opment

North American Lighting

$18M Investment45 Jobs

Berry Plastics movesGlobal HQ to Evansville

$190M Investment610 Jobs

AT&T Call Center$22M Investment

750 Jobs

H I S T O R I C A L H I G H L I G H T S

2011 Cumulative Grants for SWIN

Communities $51M

2007 Grants for SWIN Communities

$4.8M

S o u t h w e s t I n d i a n a H i s t o r i c a l H i g h l i g h t s

PGP Int’l$21M Investment

41 Jobs

City of Princetonwins Stellar Community

Designation and $22M for improvement projects

Midwest Fertilizer Plant $2.7B Investment

150 Jobs

2 0 1 2 - 2 0 1 6

First Regional Cities Project

CompleteSignature School Koch

Science Center Expansion

2015Indiana’s Great Southwest wins

Regional Cities - $42Mfor talent-attraction projects

Rebrand 2014

H I S T O R I C A L H I G H L I G H T S

2016 Cumulative Grants for SWIN

Communities $115.9M

Southwest Indiana Regional Development

Authority Created

2013 Cumulative Grants for SWIN

Communities $61.5M

80%

By 2025:Grow the population of Indiana’s Great Southwest by

helping the State of Indiana fight population stagnation by growing the overall population by two million in ten years

Focus on urban renewal and mixed-use development.

20% Retention of the physician residents

graduating from the Downtown Medical Campus as each physician will fill the gap in healthcare delivery while raising the per capita income

to match the U.S. average.

Expansion of the region’s employment in the key sectors such

as advanced manufacturing and health-life science with an emphasis

on innovation, research and development.

+70,000

The Coalition is a leader in helping communities shape their economies strengthening the region of Southwest Indiana through economic and community develop-ment. That’s why it is the perfect organization to lead the charge for Regional Cities - a talent-attracting strategy through quality of place projects from the State of Indi-ana.

The Coalition assists with management and implemen-tation of the Regional Cities projects through the South-west Indiana Regional Development Authority.

Leading a Transformational Future with Regional Cities

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The Mechanics of Coalition FundingThe Coalition’s annual budget is approximately $1.3 million and primarily funded by three sectors: private, public as well as management fees, which are received from winning grant awards for com-munities by the Community Development Division. These funds help the Coalition market the region through strategic partnerships, events and conferences as well as facilitating economic development activity and cultivating community development for Southwest Indiana communities.

With transformational results in the region over the past 10 years and the need to accomplish even more, it is imperitive to expand the Coalition’s base of stakeholders.

E x p e n d i t u r e sMarketing/Advertising includes conferences where relationship building with project gate keepers can be strengthened. Business Development includes investing in initiatives that will help set up the region for future success (i.e. Regional Cities)

Capacity Building investing in the Coalition staff that build relationships inside and outside the region of Southwest Indiana.

12.5% 10.4% 77.1%

I n c o m e

Public Grants

PrivateKey Stakeholders from each county contribute

and participate

36% Private Sector

The Coalition’s grant services bene�t Com-munities and provide

fee income to the Coaltiion through State

and Federal funding

34% Grants Management

The four counties of Southwest Indiana as well as the City of Evansville contribute based on their respective populations

30% Public Sector

Community Development is FoundationalThe Garner Report, a comprehensive study of the region conducted in 2011 by The Coalition, provid-ed findings in three areas of improvement: organizational, product marketing and product improve-ment. Over the past five years, The Coalition has worked to implement key recommendations from the Garner Report including enhancing the region’s image through tearing down abandoned and blighted properties.

When the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) announced the Blight Elimination Program in February 2014, The Coalition knew this would be a transformational pro-gram and began to roll out the largest program in the State of Indiana.

To date, the region has received over $2.6 million and has a total of 180 homes that have entered the program; and, 103 have already been demolished and are on their way to being repurposed. The Blight Elimination Program addresses the issue of aging housing stock and is helping communities eliminate abandoned or severely blighted properties which helps surrounding properties. The pro-gram lifts financial and time-consuming burden off of local government as well as community atti-tudes.

Although the financial return on investment of The Coalition’s time on this project is minimal, in the long run it will help Southwest Indiana communities become more attractive for future residents.

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Princeton house - Before Blight Free Property - After

The Coalition makes strategic investments to promote the Southwest Indiana brand through interna-tional events such as the PGA Web.com Tour’s United Leasing & Finance Championship that is broadcast on the Golf Channel to over 2.9 million viewers in 193 countries including Asia, Europe, North and South America.

Additional conferences that build the Indiana’s Great Southwest brand are site selection events such as Site Selectors Guild Conference and Consultant Connect. Doing so allows for direct access with key gatekeepers of corporate relocation projects while increasing the number of direct leads and inquiries to The Coalition.

Building relationships with professional location consultants is very important as well as investing in digital platforms that help spread the news of the regions progress to online audiences of thousands of readers and potential future investors.

Promoting Indiana’s Great Southwest

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2.9 M ViewersTop Sponsor of Event with private luncheon with 12 top global site selectors

Top Sponsor

Extended meetings with top site consultants

RelationshipsPromoting the region through global events

Promoting Brands

PROMOTING INDIANA’S GREAT SOUTHWEST

United Leasing & Finance Championship

The Site Selectors

Guild

Consultant Connect

CARCenter for Automotive

Research

Personal invite to top site selectors to play Victoria in ProAm

Regionalism WorksThe Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana acts as the marketing arm for Indiana’s Great Southwest, the brand for the regional economic development and community development organization for Gibson, Posey, Vanderburgh, and Warrick Counties in Southwest Indiana. The Coali-tion works with its local county economic development organization partners to facilitate attraction and business retention activities along with supporting efforts to enhance the business climate through regional capacity building.

The Coalition’s primary functions are:

Creating a regional brand to reflect strategic vision for Southwest Indiana

Marketing the region’s vision and brand identity to align regional stakeholders

Marketing the region to external site consultants, companies and potential employers

Providing a one-stop for regional data, processes, regional site inventory, etc.

Securing aids from broader government through grant writing and federal procurement net-works

Serving as a primary contact for site consultants and relocating businesses

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Provide solutions through funding and state/local

incentives

Project manager for local business

retention & expansions

New Entrepreneurial

development

The Coalition works in partnership with the local county economic development organiza-tion’s (LEDOs) and provides assistance when and where needed. The LEDO’s primary functions are:

How we value a better future

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A Fast Company article* written by Seth Kahan years ago compiled Four Ways to Create a Better Future. The wisdom in it is worthy of consideration as we embark on what the future could hold for Southwest Indiana. Compiled from four very differ-ent thought leaders, Kahan culls out four change agent ideas opening the article with this thought:

“It’s easy to believe in the status quo. The ex-isting state of affairs can seem so intractable. Forces can feel beyond your control or ability to influence in any way. Yet, that is exactly what leaders seek to do: change the future. And to do that, they invent it.”

*Fast Company: Four Ways to Create A Better Future, Seth Kahan 11.20.09 Jeff Bezos, Founder of Amazon.com and tech entrepreneur and investor. Jim Wolfensohn, investment banker and economist, past president of the World Bank Group. Lynn Twist, Hunger Project Founding Executive and author of The Soul of Money: Reclaiming the Wealth of Our Inner Resources David Bohm, Physicist and Mental Proprioception Advocate.

1. Invent What You Know to be Possible. Knowing and believing (they are different exer-cises) that a better and more attractive region will bring the desired talent/workforce which in turn will bring investment and companies who will help build Indiana’s Great Southwest.

2. Where There is Pain, Go for Gain. Measuring economic development not only through investment gained, but giving equal weight to social indicators of how well communities are thriving. The Indiana Regional Cities Initiative will help Southwest Indiana become a desired destination for talent.

3. Put Your Resources Where it Makes a Difference. What are we working for? The face of economic and community development should be our own children, friends and neighbors.

4. Use Your Mind’s Innate Power. Developing and using mental disciplines whereby ‘great power of thought brings new forms (inventions/entrepreneurial efforts) into the world by thinking, dreaming, discussing and imagining. Southwest Indiana is cultivating entreprenuerial hubs that will aid in these efforts as well as leaders finding their voice to be a vital piece of the region’s future.

Your investment invents a new future

for Indiana’s Great Southwest.

Key Stakeholders

Public Support from: Gibson | Posey

Vanderburgh | Warrick Counties City of Evansville

One Region One Voice

“When it comes to investing, investors look to key indicators of success such as return on investment or will an investment make transfor-mational change. Without a doubt in my mind, your investment in the Coalition has resulted in a positive return for our community; and, more importantly, it is changing how and what we think about our community.” Carl ChapmanChairman, President & CEOVectren Corporation

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“The Coalition is leading the charge in cultivat-ing a positive and lasting change in Indiana’s Great Southwest, ensuring that communities in the region are nationally recognized destina-tions to live, work, play and stay.”The Honorable Eric HolcombGovernor-Elect, State of Indiana

“Old National Bank has been an investor in the Coalition and its regional collaboration model since its inception, and it has proven to be a worthwhile investment. In the next 10 years, Indiana’s Great Southwest will look completely different due to the transformative vision of the Coalition’s leadership as it helps create positive change in our communities.” Bob Jones Chairman & CEO Old National Bank

“Helping people go places is what Toyota is all about. The same holds true for the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana. We invest in this organization to help keep Indiana’s Great Southwest moving in the right direction for business and its residents. South-west Indiana is a great place to live and work.”Millie MarshallPresidentToyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana

Levels of Investment

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Helping craft the future story for Indiana’s Great Southwest

$75,000+

INNOVATORS

LEADERS

Helping build the new frontier for talent & business in Southwest Indiana

FOUNDERS

VISIONARIES

$15,000 - $24,999

$25,000 - $49,999

$7,500 - $14,999

$5,000 - $7,499

$2,500 - $4,999

Creating our best ideas for a better Southwest Indiana with quality amenities and living spaces.

Leading the change in Indiana’s Great Southwest

Finding our regional voice as a the national brand of Indiana’s Great Southwest

Building a strong foundation through infrastructure

Sharing the story of Southwest Indiana

PIONEERS

BUILDERS

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

$50,000 - $74,999

Board of Directors

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Heather Allyn Posey County Council

Dr. Ray BarberOakland City University

Evan Beck Woodward Commercial Realty, Inc.

Dr. Linda BennettUniversity of Southern Indiana

Steve BennettCommunity State Bank of SW IN

Bill BossGibson Co. Quality Assurance

Stephen Bottoms Gibson County Commissioners

Kathy BriscoeF.C. Tucker Emge Realtors

Rev. Adrian Brooks Memorial Baptist Church/Memorial CDC

Kelvin CanadyFifth Third Bank

Joseph CastraleSABIC

Mayor Bill Curtis City of Mt. Vernon

Tim DeisherBKD CPAs & Advisors

Marco DeLucioZiemer, Stayman, Weitzel and Shoulders

Clay Ewing German American Bancorp

Kari L. Fluegel Alcoa Corporation

Bill Gillenwater BMG, Inc.

Ronda Hale Berry Global

Ellen Horan (Ex-Officio)Growth Alliance For Greater Evansville

Jeff HowellRegency Properties

Michelle Hudson Shrode Agency, Inc.

Ann Hyneman Old National Bank

Brittaney Johnson (Ex-Officio)Posey County Economic Develop-ment Partnershop

Dr. Thomas KazeeUniversity of Evansville

Joe Kiefer Hahn Keifer Real Estate Services

J. Steven Martin The Martin Group of Companies

Tim Mason ReMax Midwest Real Estate Group

Misty McCammack Duke Energy

Shawn McCoy Deaconess Gateway Hospital

Beth McFadin Higgins McFadin Higgins & Folz, LLP

Paul McGowan Pollux Systems

Derek M. McGraw Gibson County Council

Sarah Beth Meighen Posey County Auditor

Norm MillerNorthwestern Mutual

Randy MillerSouthwest Communications

Jeff MulzerMulzer Crushed Stone

Cheryl Musgrave Vanderburgh Co. Commissioners

Howard Nevins InTerraChem, LLC

Bill NewmanPosey County Mayoral Appointee

David Oldham Hilliard Lyons, LLC

Pete Paradossi Evansville Regional Business Committee

Michelle Peterlin Vanderburgh County Commissioner Appointee

Dave Rector Evansville/Vanderburgh Co. Bldg. Authority

Sally Rideout Rideout Public Affairs

Paul Rudolph Mead Johnson Nutrition

Jim Ryan Old National Bank

Dan Saylor Warrick County Commissioners

Rick Schach Vectren Corporation

Mayor Brad SchmittCity of Princeton

Carl Schmitz Posey County Commissioners

Mike Schopmeyer Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn

Kim Seibert SW Indiana Assoc. of Realtors

Mike Stilwell Gibson Co. Council Appointment

Larry Taylor (Ex-Officio)Success Warrick County

Scott Thomas Skanska USA Civil

Rev. Rabon TurnerNew Hope Missionary Baptist Church

Matt WallaceClark Dietz, Inc.

Paul Waters (Ex-Officio)Gibson County Economic Development Corporation

Greg Wathen Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana

Chan. Jonathan Weinzapfel Ivy Tech Community College - SW

Jane Wilhelmus Warrick County School Corp.

Larry Williams Mt. Vernon City Council

Phil Wilzbacher Ports of Indiana - Mt. Vernon

Mayor Lloyd Winnecke City of Evansville

Mayor Charlie WyattCity of Boonville

Sandra YoungWarrick County

John ZabrowskiSt. Vincent

Greg WathenPresident & CEO

Carol HagedornVice President,

Community Development

Debbie Bennett-StearsmanVice President,

Training & Development

Nancy DeigSenior Manager,

Economic Development

Sabrina NewtonSenior Manager, Strategic

Communications & Marketing

Karen ConiaManager,

Community Development

Wylie ZeiglerCommunity Development

Project Specialist

Audrie Burkett Vice President & COO

Coalition Team

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318 Main Street, Suite 318 | Evansville, In 47708812.423.2020 | southwestindiana.org

@SouthwestIN google.com/+SouthwestindianaOrgEconomic Development Coalitionof Southwest Indiana