Scott County renews one-year service agreement with One Southern Indiana

John Launius of One Southern Indiana told the Scott County Board of Commissioners during its June 17 meeting that the organization’s work focuses on business attraction, retention and expansion and asked the board to continue a one-year service agreement at the county’s historic cost.

Launius highlighted regional efforts spanning January through June, including business retention and expansion visits, participation in the SelectUSA summit and the Area Development Conference, and local workforce initiatives tied to Madison-area sites and manufacturing outreach. “We always just like to start off with our primary functions of business attraction, retention, and expansion,” Launius said while describing the group’s priorities.

Launius said One Southern Indiana has supported projects that produced new jobs in the county, citing two Conco projects of about 175 jobs each, and described outreach to existing employers such as Morgan Foods and participation in regional manufacturing week for students. He also described the state’s "ready" region footprint and said One Southern Indiana’s board has authorized an enhanced economic development council structure that would invite county designees to participate.

Commissioner Randy moved to approve a one-year $30,000 contract to continue the partnership; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. The board noted the agreement is renewable annually and that the county will evaluate the arrangement following the year-long term.

Why it matters: the contract funds a regional partner that markets Scott County to site consultants and supports existing employers with workforce and technical assistance. Commissioners said they expected continued reporting and a county designee to help align local priorities with the regional council.