Arts & Culture Strategic Plan Released

The Southwest Indiana Regional Development Authority (SWIRDA) has unveiled its first Regional Arts & Culture Strategic Plan, establishing a unified roadmap to enhance quality of place, elevate cultural identity, and build a stronger regional arts economy across Gibson, Posey, Vanderburgh, and Warrick counties.

Join us in congratulating Lindsey Nix, Director of Talent, Development, and Community Impact at NIX® Industrial, on her appointment to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation Board.

Lindsey is a strong advocate for manufacturing in the Evansville Region and a dedicated partner to the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership. In addition to her leadership at Nix, she serves as Chair of our Family Business Alliance, along with roles supporting Junior Achievement, USI, Ivy Tech, and the Deaconess Foundation.

IEDC Entrepreneurship Yearbook

Three Southwest Indiana entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs) and 9 Southwest Indiana small businesses were featured in the Indiana Economic Development Corporation's (IEDC) 2025 Entrepreneurship Yearbook. This fourth edition of the annual publication features 100 entrepreneurs and ESOs from across Indiana who are taking risks, dreaming big, and creating a brighter future for Indiana.



Congratulations to:

Barker Brewhouse (pg 27)

Deep Blue Indoor Play (pg 33)

CDFI Friendly Evansville (pg 40)

Circular Venture Lab (pg 46)

United Powerline Solutions (pg 51)

Random Fill-Ups (pg 60)

Socket Shield (pg 66)

Port Side Coffee Company (pg 94)

Karen’s Upscale Resale (pg 98)

Hymn & Herd Family Winery (pg 103)

Be Happy Pie Company (pg 110)

The Pantheon (pg 124)

Holiday CNN

More than 130 members joined us on December 5 for our Holiday CNN, our final CNN of the year! We’ll see you again on January 9 at Eastland Mall to kick off the new year. 

YPA Merry Mixer

The Young Professionals Alliance raised $2,370 and filled two boxes of toys for 911 Gives Hope at the annual YPA Merry Mixer on December 2.

Talent & Education Opportunities

Do you know a 6th- to 8th-grader ready to change their community? The National Civics Bee is coming to Evansville and is now open for student applications!

The application portal closes February 3.

Looking for motivated interns or apprentices?

The Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation (EVSC) Early College program is connecting local employers with talented high school students ready to gain real-world experience.

EVSC Early College students in grades 10–12 participate in Indiana’s Career Scholarship Account (CSA) program, which provides $5,000 annually to support career-focused learning. CSA funds can be applied to work-based learning opportunities such as internships, apprenticeships, and similar hands-on experiences.

To qualify, students complete 75 hours of internship experience, which may be paid or unpaid. Students use their CSA funding to help offset the cost of earning an associate degree, making these opportunities a meaningful investment in the region’s future workforce.

We’re seeking employer partners willing to host interns in roles aligned with students’ associate degree pathways. If your organization is interested in supporting and shaping emerging talent, please reach out to Mark King to explore placement opportunities.

Our BR&E Team visited Escalade Sports to learn more about their operations, workforce needs, facility challenges, and long-term growth plans.

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TSMA’s Lean Peer Group gathered at Mizkan America in Owensboro to learn about the company’s SOP creation, employee training practices, and a recent Kaizen event aimed at resolving a case-flow challenge.

ISBDC Spotlight: Be Happy Pie Company

Jenny Lamble never imagined that baking a few Thanksgiving pies for friends would one day become Be Happy Pie Company, a thriving business with two Evansville storefronts, two franchise locations, and growing! Although best known for pie (of course), the business is a full-service bakery offering scones, cookies, cheesecakes, and more. Be Happy Pie Company makes small batch, made from scratch goodies just like your grandma used to.

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• Circular Venture Lab brings Accessible Cam Project to Evansville to bring awareness to sidewalk and path accessibility issues through VR

• Lieberman Technologies Adds Five New Team Members

• November 27 - January 1 | Easterseals Rehabilitation Center - Ritzy's Fantasy of Lights

• December 27 | Evansville Community Tennis Association - Cornhole Tournament Fundraiser

• January 17 | Evansville Philharmonic - Timeless: Haydn & Beethoven

• February 15 | Evansville Philharmonic - Bond! James Bond

• April 23 | Youth First, Inc - Benefit Auction

• HireLevel - Recruiter

• Easterseals Rehabilitation Center - Occupational Therapist (NDC)

• Ronald McDonald House Charities - Provide a Meal: Meals of Love Program (Volunteer)

• Ronald McDonald House Charities - Happy Wheels Cart Volunteer

• Ronald McDonald House Charities - Ronald McDonald House Volunteer (Gateway or Washington)

• Grand reopening of the newly remodeled Lincoln Avenue McDonald's

• Grand opening of PostNet Evansville on Menards Drive

• Grand opening of Benthall Brothers Inc.'s new addition

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E-REP Member-to-Member Deals

• Pappa Bear's Catering - 10% off holiday corporate caterings for EREP members
• Lamar Advertising - Open Digital Sale for the last 8 weeks of the year
• Velocity Fitness - EREP members save 10% on any cardio kickboxing plan

Want to offer exclusive deals to other E-REP members? >>

Other Savings

• Save 25% on online marketing tools with Constant Contact
• Save up to 80% on prescription medications
• Save on office supplies and printing with ODP Business Solutions
• Get special discounts on professional photography services with Peanut Galleries