Annual Report - Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville

GROWTH ALLIANCE
Greater Evansville Economic Development
2013 Annual Report
A true public private partnership, the Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville was created in
early 2007 because government and business representatives were searching for a
comprehensive, focused approach to economic development. The Growth Alliance provides
support for strategic programs that enhance the overall economic vitality of this area. It is our
goal to bring a significant number of jobs and new revenue dollars to Evansville and
Vanderburgh County.
OUR MISSION
To drive and support economic development activities for Evansville and
Vanderburgh County aimed at: attracting and creating new jobs and new revenue
dollars, retaining existing jobs and revenue dollars, effectively allocating available
resources and recognizing the priorities of basic/Tier 1 industries in driving
sustainable growth.
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MESSAGE FROM THE GROWTH ALLIANCE
The year 2013 presented new challenges and opportunities in the areas of
business (and job) attraction, expansion, retention and incubation. The
Growth Alliance continued activities and initiatives that have provided
positive results in prior years, while developing some new strategies to
address the new challenges. We must continue to be innovative
with
, retention,
regards to economic development, to perform in an ever-increasing
competitive environment with changing demands of businesses and
entrepreneurs.
The number of attraction leads from traditional sources was down compared
to 2012, but the Growth Alliance actively worked and landed two significant
companies that are expected to provide additional opportunities for
expansion in the future. We also initiated activities aimed at generating
attraction leads from nontraditional sources.
Deborah D. Dewey
Growth Alliance, President
We increased our connections with existing local businesses. Two existing
businesses faced retention challenges and growth opportunities in 2013 for
which the Growth Alliance was able to provide assistance; and 10 more
companies went through the facilitated program offered by the Growth
Alliance for development of strategic growth plans.
Incubation activity continued to grow in 2013 with more and more
innovators and entrepreneurs looking to the Growth Alliance for mentoring,
networking and startup/commercialization resources. The number of
technology-based startups supported by the Growth Alliance has increased
significantly; and the Growth Alliance is now certified to offer an
internationally-recognized startup program. Networking among the
innovation and entrepreneurial community is active and growing.
e things would yield
Since establishing the new strategic areas of focus in 2011, the Growth
Alliance has handled nearly 1,000 requests for assistance and actively worked
on projects that are adding 1,800 new jobs with over $1 billion per year in
positive economic impact. To continue this level of service and performance,
we must, and will, continue to be flexible and innovative.
Dan Arens
Board of Directors, Chair
2013
STAFF
Chris Kinnett
Business Development
Director
Shance Sizemore
Economic Development
Programs Manager
Abby Elpers
Marketing Communications
Manager
Andrea Lendy
Business Services
Coordinator
INTERNS
Kyle Hochstetler
Courtney Ellingsen
Celia Shoulders
Facility Operations
Manager
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BUSINESS ATTRACTION
The Growth Alliance’s business attraction efforts are fueled by leads that come from many
sources: the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, the Economic Development
Coalition of Southwest Indiana, direct calls and walk-ins to the Growth Alliance office,
local Real Estate Professionals, and self -generated leads that are the result of targeted
marketing efforts. Each project is unique and every effort is made to understand what and who
drives the selection of a community for the project.
UNDER
CONSTRUCTION
SHELL BUILDING IN VANDERBURGH COUNTY
In 2013 the Growth Alliance executed an RFP process for construction of a shell
building at the Vanderburgh Industrial park. Many of the project leads received
by the Growth Alliance require existing buildings in the 100,000 SF range with
32 ft. ceilings. Evansville/Vanderburgh County is currently lacking this type of
facility, but a new shell building will give us a competitive advantage for
attracting new projects.
SHELL BUILDING (SUMMER 2014)
Woodward Commercial Realty
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BUSINESS ATTRACTION
DYWIDAG-SYSTEMS
INTERNATIONAL
Project Type: Incubation
Location: Vanderburgh Industrial Park
Number of New Jobs: 44
Project Date: April 24, 2013
DSI
DSI Underground Systems is a global market leader in the design, development,
production and supply of underground products and systems.
DSI Underground Systems will create 44 new jobs in Vanderburgh County with an
average wage of $22.50 per hour. The economic impact on the community resulting
from the new jobs and investment will total in excess of $141 million over the next
10 years.
Project Type: Attraction
Location: Vanderburgh County
Number of New Jobs: 9-40
Project Date: November 7, 2013
nFLOW offers an extensive high quality remanufactured engine product line for ATV
and UTV vehicles with quick deliveries of in-stock engines at much reduced prices
compared to new engines.
BUSINESS ATTRACTION PROJECTS
BY INDUSTRY
3%
Manufacturing
Retail, Trade, Commercial
4%
13%
Transportation & Utility
BUSINESS
ATTRACTION
PROJECTS
BY INDUSTRY
Professional & Business Services
Construction
68%
Health & Education
Leisure
Other
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BUSINESS RETENTION & EXPANSION
Business Retention and Expansion (often simply called BR&E) includes all efforts to
encourage the survival and growth of a community’s existing businesses.
Examples of support the Growth Alliance could provide or help secure:
•
Tax abatement on new investment
•
Technology Transfer opportunities with federal labs
•
Permitting and licensing guidance
•
Networking to potential suppliers and/or customers
•
Grant and loan funding opportunities
•
Technical training for new employees
•
Product process development; technical resources, facilities, etc.
Project: Rail Expansion - Tax Phase-In
Location: Oakley Street, Evansville
New Jobs: 280 Retained Jobs: 500+
Project Date: December 2013
Berry Plastics’ Oakley Street facility receives the majority of its raw material via the
rail infrastructure on Division Street, and solving logistics at this site was key to the
future of company operations. Berry also moved forward with restructuring and
consolidation of operations that brought hundreds of new jobs to Evansville.
Project: Industrial Recovery Site Tax Credits
Location: Grove Street, Evansville
New Jobs: 7
Retained Jobs: 150
Project Date: November 2013
KAUFFMAN
FASTTRAC
Startup your idea.
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Growth Venture
The Growth Alliance applied for and received Industrial Recovery Site designation for
an underutilized facility located at 1000 Grove Street. Through this designation from
the Indiana Economic Development Corporation tax credits are now available for
tenants that make improvements to the facility to better their business. Uniseal will
be moving a portion of their operations from their current location to this facility.
The Growth Alliance provided the Kauffman
FastTrac Growth Venture program to 10
local business owners in 2013. The Growth
Venture program teaches how to plan for
purposeful, profitable growth, and improved
business performance.
BUSINESS INCUBATION
Innovation Pointe
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 to
increase the overall wealth of our city and people.
New Clients
Vidal Plastics, LLC- Suite 506 (Start-Up Company)
Vidal Plastics, LLC sells a wide range of resins, from prime raw materials to recycled compounds
and will be certified as a minority-owned enterprise (MBE). Alfonso Vidal started this
company which currently employs four people.
Mario Lomaglio - Suite 207 (Start-Up Company)
Mario Lomaglio started a business that involves working with the Italian community in foreign
countries as a consultant with issues regarding citizenship, government communication, etc.
Exergy Resources - Suite 206 (Business Attraction)
Exergy Resources is a small business based out of the East Coast dealing in trading/oil business,
buying and selling, and using high technology transport product.
The Nature Conservancy-Suite 209: In addition to their six project offices located throughout
the state of Indiana, The Program Director for The Nature Conservatory’s Lower Wabash and
Wetlands Chapter, is now occupying an Evansville office at Innovation Pointe. The Nature
Conservatory is involved in the acquisition and management of Indiana nature preserves with
the mission to conserve the lands and waters.
Gorman & Associates-Suite 219: Gorman & Associates fills the gap between head hunters
and temp agencies working with companies looking to fill a certain position/ skill set. They
specialize in custom staffing/recruiting, as well as technology training and business
consulting. The company, headquartered in Owensboro, KY, has been doing business within
the US and internationally for 17 years.
Project Type: Incubation
Location: Innovation Pointe
Number of New Jobs: 15+
Project Date: July 24, 2013
Started by former Whirlpool design engineers, Envolve Engineering has already landed
significant design contracts providing these services: 3D component modeling & print
detailing, plastic part design, metal part design, electromechanical and electronic
assemblies, and software and control algorithm development.
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INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Business Innovation
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics; in the last two decades, about 60 percent of the
private sector’s net new jobs have been created by existing establishments and about 40
percent from the churn of startups minus closures.
The Growth Alliance mentors and provides networking services to a variety of local innovators
and entrepreneurs. The Growth Alliance also leads or participates in a number of initiatives
aimed at developing an entrepreneurial ecosystem that supports the launch of technologybased businesses and the development and commercialization of products and processes that
apply technological advances.
I69 Innovation Corridor Initiative
The Growth Alliance is a member of the Executive Committee for the I69 Innovation
Corridor Initiative being led by USI’s Division of Outreach and Engagement, and also chairs
the Innovation & Entrepreneur Networks Task Force for this initiative. The I69 Corridor
Initiative has pulled together over 300 government, academic, business, industry and
economic development leaders from across southwest Indiana to look at long-range
planning to improve the innovation index along the corridor and promote transformational,
technology-based economic development.
Innovation & Entrepreneur Task Force
The Innovation & Entrepreneur Task Force is investigating the networking needs of regional
innovators and entrepreneurs to support new product commercialization and technologybased business startups.
• A Facebook page was developed to share information on events and spaces for
entrepreneurs from along the corridor and training and development needs of
regional entrepreneurs are being identified.
• Domains of focus are being considered to help develop mentor networks of
experts who can help innovators assess the technical feasibility and
manufacturability of their ideas.
• One domain of opportunity is Optic & Photonics. The Growth Alliance is working
with the Mid-America Science Park, Westgate Academy at Crane, and USI to
evaluate the feasibility and possible value of a Southern Indiana industry cluster withh
Centers of Excellence for Optics and Photonics; the science and application of light.
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INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Technology Commercialization Academy
The University of Southern Indiana conducted its second Technology Commercialization
Academy (TCA), with teams of business and engineering students working full time for 5
weeks on developing and testing commercial ideas based on NSWC Crane patents. A
continuation session of the TCA had students take the most promising ideas further with
market assessment, early prototyping and commercialization plans. The Growth Alliance
sponsored team-building activities and provided mentoring services to the student group.
KAUFFMAN FastTrac NewVenture
The Growth Alliance is now certified to provide the Kauffman FastTrac NewVenture
program for entrepreneurs in the process of startup thru host University USI – in addition
to GrowthVenture, a program for existing businesses interested in developing strategic
growth plans. Another session of Growth Venture was completed in 2013, bringing the total
number of local business owners completing the program to 46. Over the next 2 years the
Growth Alliance will have the opportunity to offer 30 scholarships to regional residents who
have ideas that will lead to new business start-ups, and therefore support economic
development. Funding for the scholarships was generously granted by the Vectren
foundation and Fifth Third Bank.
Evansville Tech on Tap
“Evansville Tech on Tap” started one year ago by local entrepreneur enthusiast, Drew
Peyronnin provides monthly networking events for business founders, funders and
facilitators. There are 237 registered members for Tech on Tap through www.meetup.com.
Anyone interested in the event is welcome to join and membership is free.
Co-Working Space @ Innovation Pointe
Suite 220: This space offers local start-ups the ability to pay an annual membership in
exchange for access to 800SF of Co-working space, conference rooms, high-speed WiFi,
printers, copiers, fax machines, and more. The vision for the space is to bring together
startups and facilitate a productive work environment that creates the feeling of a community
to foster innovation and new ideas within Evansville.
Pitch Practice Events
Nearly 20 local investors and entrepreneurs have used Pitch Practice events to learn about the
elements of a successful pitch and to practice getting valuable feedback from experts and
business mentors. One of the attendees at the first Growth Alliance Pitch Practice and a regular
Tech on Tap attendee is the founder of Curvo, a new company started here in Evansville. Curvo
recently pitched at the Innovation Showcase in Indianapolis and received a $50,000 seed
investment from Elevate Ventures.
Special Thanks!
NEW VENTURE SCHOLARSHIP SPONSORS
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DOWNTOWN COMMERCIALIZATION
Downtown Development
The Growth Alliance works to support the City of Evansville’s redevelopment plan to produce a
vital Downtown that attracts business. So far in 2013:
•
The Growth Alliance has assisted six businesses with inquiries regarding start-up or
relocation space in Downtown Evansville.
•
Eighteen businesses within the Downtown Redevelopment area were assisted through
the Downtown Design Review process.
•
Lieberman Technologies partnered with the Growth Alliance to create a new Downtown
Walking Map mobile app that is now available for Download on the Google Play store
and iTunes.
•
The Devour Downtown facebook page and @DowntownEvv twitter accounts are
updated and maintained on a daily basis.
•
The 2013 Vanderburgh County Farm Bureau Farmers’ Market reported record-breaking
attendance numbers once again. The market is hosted every Friday from 8:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. with the season ending on September 27, 2013.
•
Once again, the Growth Alliance hosted the 4th of July fireworks display in Downtown
Evansville. Special thanks to Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana and Tropicana
Evansville for sponsoring the 2013 display.
•
Promoting the reuse and development of underutilized commercial properties in
Evansville’s major corridors continues to be a priority for the Growth Alliance. We
have a working knowledge of available spaces, are familiar with community growth
plans, and are capable of developing strategies to attract investment into the
corridors.
Walking Map App
Available through the
Google Play Store and
iTunes
facebook.com/devourdowntownevansville
Twitter: @DowntownEvv
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2013 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dan Arens (Chair)
Retired Chairman & Co-founder of Keller
Schroeder & Associates, Inc.
Brent Beeler
Former Chief Operating Officer
Berry Plastics Corporation
Mark Sebree
Vectren Corporation
Tom Shetler, Jr.
President
Vanderburgh County Council
Rick Shulz
Mark Bernhard, PhD
University of Southern Indiana
Daniel Bugher
Vectren Corporation
Carrie Ellspermann
Old National Wealth Management
John Friend
Common Council Member
City of Evansville
Scott Gordon, PhD
University of Southern Indiana
Dwight Hamilton
Fifth Third Bank
Philip Hooper (Ex Officio)
Department of Metropolitan
Development, Evansville
Doug Joest (Treasurer)
Evansville Vanderburgh Airport
Authority
Stephen Melcher
Commissioner, Vanderburgh County
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United Companies
Stephen Standifird, PhD
University of Evansville
Sabrina Stewart-Thomas
Aflac
Alfonso Vidal (Vice-Chair)
Vidal Plastics, LLC
Turk Walton (Secretary)
Evansville Auto Parts Foundation
Ocean Beach Lake Cottage Rentals
Greg Wathen
Economic Development Coalition
of Southwest Indiana
Mayor Lloyd Winnecke
Mayor, City of Evansville
Marvin Wright
Kemper CPA Group LLP
2013 FINANCIAL INVESTORS
City of Evansville
Vanderburgh County
Vectren Corporation
Old National Bank
Berry Plastics
Anonymous Donor
Fifth Third Bank
Philip A Schnautz, CPA
Peyronnin Family Foundation
SealCorp USA
Woodward Commercial Realty
CGM Computers
EVV Airport Authority
Anonymous Donor
TRU Event Rental
SPECIAL THANKS
INNOVATION POINTE &
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER PARTNER
University of Southern Indiana
GLOBALIZATION PARTNER
University of Evansville
JULY 4TH EVENT SPONSORS
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana
Tropicana Evansville
Mulzer Crushed Stone
Dunn Hospitality
104.1 WIKY Radio
ANNUAL MEETING SPONSOR
Tropicana Evansville
KAUFFMAN NewVentures
SCHOLARSHIP SPONSORS
Vectren Foundation
Fifth Third Bank
LIEBERMANN TECHNOLOGIES
Downtown Walking App Sponsor
CO-WORKING SPACE PARTNER
University of Southern Indiana
Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville
318 Main Street, Suite 500
Evansville, Indiana 47708
--(812) 401-4243
www.GrowthAllianceEvv.com
facebook.com/GrowthAlliance
twitter.com/GrowthAlliance