Q&A With SW Indiana Chamber President
Published Apr 16, 2008
As the Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana continues to build on its strong business base, it’s partnering with other business organizations while moving forward with its own development plans. Chamber President Matt Meadors says these multifaceted efforts will be key to the area’s success in the future.
What types of businesses are best suited for this region?
We celebrate the start-up or expansion of all businesses, large or small, regardless of business sector. However, Southwest Indiana is particularly well suited for advanced manufacturing and distribution. Our region is a manufacturing powerhouse, our workers are highly productive, and we have a great educational infrastructure that ensures our workers of today and tomorrow will have, or be able to attain, the skills demanded by businesses competing in a global marketplace.
Our physical location, geographically, is outstanding. We have an excellent transportation infrastructure that is only going to get better with the imminent construction of Interstate 69. We are also very interested in attracting high-tech businesses. Our community has a business incubator, Innovation Pointe, dedicated solely to the attraction, cultivation and growth of technology-oriented businesses.
Further, we are keenly interested in identifying innovative, entrepreneurial-oriented individuals within our region and helping them to start business operations. We want to be viewed as an entrepreneur- and innovation-friendly region.
What are some of the talking points used when speaking to businesses about relocation and expansion?
In addition to what I outlined before, we like to point out that Southwest Indiana is safe, civil and affordable. The cost of doing business in Indiana, and our region, is quite reasonable. Housing is of high quality and is extremely affordable. Our schools are very good. Our downtown is in the middle of a renaissance. It is a great time to be in Southwest Indiana.
Training is always an issue, especially for manufacturers. What’s available in the area, and how can what’s already here be expanded and adapted to meet changing business needs?
We have outstanding education and training facilities. The Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corp.’s new Career and Technical Center is a gem. We have two universities, the University of Evansville and the University of Southern Indiana. The University of Evansville just completed a new school of business administration building, and the University of Southern Indiana will begin construction of its new school of business building in 2008. Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana recently completed a major facility improvement and expansion and plays a critical role in ensuring that our workers are able to meet the needs of the region’s employers.
Going forward, how will the chamber and its various partners be working on business recruiting and retention?
The chamber will work closely with our region’s new regional economic development organization – The Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana – and all other partners to grow and diversify the regional economy. Like the Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana, the coalition is regional is scope. The coalition will focus its energies on the attraction of new business and industry to the region. The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana will play a lead role in working with existing business and industry.
The key here is that services are being delivered by way of a regional partnership that understands that what is good for the region is good for each individual community within the region. Collaboration and cooperation carry the day in Southwest Indiana.
Story by Joe Morris
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