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Local economic development group outlines talent programs, REDI projects and site strategy
Summary
EREP staff updated the council on 2024 economic-development work: remote-worker recruitment, the "Belong Here" program for filling local jobs, REDI investments and I-69/I-64 corridor planning; presenters emphasized the need for shovel-ready sites to attract large industrial projects.
Patrick Hickey, Economic Development Director for EREP (Vanderburgh County—s Local Economic Development Organization), presented the organization—s 2024 work to the County Council on Nov. 6, describing talent-attraction programs, regional investment activity and site-preparation priorities.
Hickey, joined by Josh Armstrong and Abby Alpers, said EREP manages a REDI portfolio of projects and programs that support business retention and expansion, talent attraction and quality-of-place investments. Alpers described two talent initiatives: a remote-worker recruitment program that brought 25 remote-work households (62 individuals) and a local recruitment program, "Belong Here," that has placed 12 households (29 individuals) into local jobs since April 2024. Alpers said the incoming remote-worker households had an average wage of about $127,823 and that many purchased homes locally.
Hickey and Armstrong emphasized that a principal constraint to landing large industrial projects is the lack of shovel-ready sites and buildings of the scale national searches require. They described an I-69 corridor planning initiative and a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (SEDS) funded by the Economic Development Administration. Hickey said the I-69 bridge work and approach timelines are moving forward and that regional coordination is ongoing.
Council members asked detailed questions about how EREP selects firms for assistance, whether local employers feel pressure from new entrants, and how EREP measures outcomes. Hickey said EREP focuses on both larger industrial users and smaller local firms through BR&E (business retention and expansion) visits and works with state partners and workforce boards to tailor responses.
Why it matters: EREP—s efforts aim to expand the county—s tax base and fill local workforce shortages; their programs influence housing demand and long-term economic development strategy.
What happens next: EREP will continue to pursue REDI projects, site-readiness work and talent programs and will take public comment on the SEDS draft through Nov. 18, after which the document will be revised for commissioner-level consideration.
