April 24, 2018
Fostering a Culture of Collaboration & Innovation to Fuel Growth
- Q1 ACTIVITY REPORT -
BUSINESS RETENTION & EXPANSION
The Growth Alliance's business retention and expansion (BR&E) efforts encourage the survival and growth of established businesses in Vanderburgh County.

Outreach visits to local businesses are
on the rise with several local operations expressing interest in adding square-footage, new equipment and/or new jobs.

GOAL: 50 visits in 2018
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Q1 BUSINESS EXPANSION
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (March 13, 2018) – Berry Global Group, Inc.(NYSE:BERY) announced plans to expand its manufacturing operations in downtown Evansville, Indiana, by investing $70 million in new equipment and creating up to 150 new jobs by 2020.
$70,000,000 INVESTMENT | 150 NEW JOBS
To encourage the investment and job creation, the Growth Alliance recommended to the Evansville City Council an incentive package including a Modified Schedule of Tax Phase-In on personal property investments the company intends to make and a grant, not to exceed $100,000 for training assistance; requiring 50/50 match and applicable only to Evansville residents hired over the first 3 years of project implementation.
BUSINESS & COMMUNITY OUTLOOK SURVEY RESULTS

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
In the Fall of 2017, the Growth Alliance Business Retention & Expansion (BRE) Committee distributed an email survey to mid-
to-senior level executives in Vanderburgh County to learn more about current and future needs.
RESULTS:
  • 60% of businesses plan to expand in the future, many within the next two years.
  • 83% plan to add new jobs in the next two years
TRUSTED ADVISOR EVENTS CONTINUE IN 2018

Coordinated by the Growth Alliance- Lawyers, Accountants and Bankers were invited to network with the Growth Alliance, Small Business Development Center and SW Indiana Chamber to develop stronger relationships and become more top-of-head for services and referrals.

Over 30 trusted advisors attended and expressed interest in continuing such events.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP & INNOVATION

Innovation Pointe is a high-tech business incubator managed by the Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville . Located in the heart of Downtown Evansville, Innovation Pointe assists in the creation and growth of new businesses in the Evansville area; offering affordable office space, coworking space and access to numerous resources – all under one roof!
Contact: Celia Shoulders about office space, coworking memberships, or to schedule a tour.
Q1 NEW MEMBER SIGNUPS: 15

RENEWED MEMBERSHIPS: 23

TOTAL MEMBERS: 38
COWORK EVANSVILLE
@ Innovation Pointe
An expansion of Evansville’s only coworking space (located inside Innovation Pointe) is underway! We’re confident the expanded space, slated for Fall 2018, will foster and retain a creative class, spur local economic and community development and contribute to a successful live-work-play downtown.

The expansion will allow us to accommodate 150 additional members.
WE'RE A REGIONAL CITIES FINALIST - WISH US LUCK!

Complimenting the coworking space at Innovation Pointe, our Regional Cities funding request is to transform the space directly below the Cowork Evansville expansion into an Internet of Things (IoT) Lab . The linked space will put Southwest Indiana in the forefront of communities recognized for having an advanced infrastructure for talent attraction and development.
We are 1 of 6 projects being considered for funding at this time . A decision will be made by the Southwest Indiana Regional Development Authority on May 18, 2018.
JOIN US @ INNOVATION POINTE!
Common Grounds is a weekly event focused on bringing innovative people together for a superb cup of local coffee and a 5-minute story about some of the great innovation, entrepreneurship or exciting activities happening in our community.
Common Grounds Evansville Coffee Event networking
COMMON GROUNDS Q1 Recap - THE STORIES
So far this year, we’ve heard from:
  • Bill Wooten with Youth First, who saw the ravages of substance abuse and wanted a way to stop it – thus Youth First was born.
  • We laughed with Dr. Al Huang, as he spoke about his journey as a trailing spouse from Seattle to Evansville, and how networking unlocked a most unlikely opportunity in his new hometown.
  • We learned about ACE3 from UE’s Dr. Yasser Alhenawi and Old National Bank’s Jeff Bone, who together, give UE students real-world application of concepts and skills taught in UE’s Schroeder School of Business.
  • We heard from Steven Stump with USI’s Applied Engineering Center (AEC) on how an idea and a USI student can build a fully functioning prototype together and take it to the market from there.
And for the cherry on top – we ended March with:
  • Bryan Bourdeau, who played a vital role in bringing a global initiative to Evansville that we know as Startup Weekend; we are proud to see this 54-hour, weekend-long event still going strong 7-years later (Proudly sponsored in part by the Growth Alliance).
QUALITY OF PLACE & TALENT DEVELOPMENT

Look who's here! TED: Trolley of Evansville Districts arrived in February, making the trek from Florida to his new Evansville home. Planning for the official launch party is underway!

  • Thanks to the Metropolitan Evansville Transit System (METS), TED will be added to the city's DoubleMap app! All TED riders will know where TED is in real time.
  • You can become a frequent rider with an exclusive TED pass for just $25 a year! Stay tuned on when and where to purchase your yearly pass for TED.
Photo: Before Exterior Makeover
Special thanks to all who donated to TED's crowdfunding campaign led by the Growth Alliance and the Franklin Street Events Assoc.

All ABOARD!!
THE ROUTE: TED maps are in the works! Stay tuned!
Polyram Evansville
July 5, 2017: Polyram Industries
November 14, 2017: TaylorMade Golf
NEW BUSINESS ATTRACTION

STRONG DEAL FLOW in 2017
In 2017 the Growth Alliance responded to 24 requests for information from companies/site selectors considering Greater Evansville as a location for their business.

Of the 24 requests, 2 located their business in Evansville/Vanderburgh County.
In Q1 of 2018, the Growth Alliance responded to 9 requests for new business attraction projects on behalf of the City of Evansville and Vanderburgh County.
Without the following community partners, our success would not be possible.
- INVESTING IN GREATER EVANSVILLE -
What's our 'Secret Sauce' for all of this Success? WORKING TOGETHER.
WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THE FOLLOWING COMMUNITY PARTNERS
University of Southern Indiana, University of Evansville, Economic Development Coalition of SW Indiana, Small Business Development Center, Downtown Alliance, Southwest Indiana Chamber, Evansville Tech on Tap, Startup Weekend Evansville, Department of Metropolitan Development, Area Plan Commission, Vanderburgh County Assessor's office, City & County Councils, Vectren Economic Development, Evansville Water & Sewer Utility, Vanderburgh County Community Foundation, the 'e is for everyone' THREAD team, EVSC, Commercial Real Estate agents, Developers & so many others!
Growth Alliance | (812) 401.4243 | Website