Evansville regional economic group previews Ohio River vision; Port Authority accepts July financials and vouchers

The Port Authority of Evansville on Aug. 4 heard a presentation from the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership on the Ohio River Vision and reviewed routine financial business, including acceptance of July 2025 financial statements and an accounts payable register.

The presentation outlined detailed planning underway for a reimagined downtown riverfront and a multi-year timetable for completing construction drawings. The board approved routine items by voice vote: acceptance of the July 7 meeting minutes, the July financial report and the accounts payable voucher register.

Patrick Hickey, economic development director at the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (EREP), told the Port Authority he and colleagues came to “strengthen our relationship and explore ways that maybe we can work a little bit more closely.” Hickey described EREP as a 2021 merger of three legacy organizations that now pursues business attraction, retention and expansion across the region. He said the organization has secured “over a $130,000,000 in state grants” and is “leveraging that over into over a billion dollars in public and private investment.”

Ashley Diekman, EREP’s river…