IEDA In Your Ear

INVETS is Indiana’s unique and holistic effort to attract transitioning veterans to Hoosier communities and jobs.  Unlike any other effort in the US, INVETS provides wrap-around services for both employers and veterans and even during the pandemic, the initiative has been adding new residents and workers to Indiana.  Executive Director of INVETS, Wes Wood, talks about the unique aspects of the program and how Indiana communities and employers can get signed up.

Roberto Gallardo is the ‘new’ Director of the Purdue Center for Regional Development (PCRD), but he isn’t new to the Center and it’s mission of serving Indiana communities.  Roberto talks about the value of data to economic developers and how he hopes to evolve the Center’s ability to use data to tell stories that will help regions understand their growth opportunities.

Do you know what an aerostat is and how it may solve Indiana’s rural broad band challenges?  In this podcast Lee talks to Matt Crouch, OCRA, and Scott Rudd, Indiana’s Director of Broadband Opportunities as they detail the Lt. Governor’s Rural Road to Recovery Plan and Scott talks about how aerostats are being deployed in rural Indiana to expand broadband access.

Innovate WithIN is a dynamic program targeting Indiana high school students helping them to ‘view life through a lens of innovation and entrepreneurship while building a life of purpose.’  The program is unique in the US and is looking to expand further into Indiana communities.  Don Wettrick, founder of the program, speaks with Lee Lewellen in this episode of ‘IEDA In Your Ear,’ sponsored by Wabash Valley Power Alliance.

Jim Schellinger serves as the Secretary of Commerce for the State of Indiana and has been in a leadership role with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation since 2015.  In addition to his usual duties with IEDC, this year has seen Jim take on additional responsibilities assisting Governor Holcomb in the State’s COVID-19 response.  In this podcast, Secretary Schellinger talks about the impact of the pandemic on current economic development efforts and how the IEDC is preparing to rebound even stronger after the pandemic.

Ever been to a ‘backwards parade?’  In Owen County, that was how they helped school children celebrate the beginning of a new school year. In this podcast Marce King and Don Bingham with the Owen County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Corporation talk about that and how they were able to avoid cancelling any events during the pandemic.

Have you wondered what the ‘CEcD’ after an economic developer’s name means and whether your should have those letters after your name?  Jim Plump of the Jackson County Industrial Development Corporation is an advocate for the economic development certification, CEcD, and in this podcast he talks about why certification is an important step in an economic developer’s professional progression.  This podcast is sponsored by CRMorphew Consulting.

Invest Hamilton County had a robust talent attraction effort before the pandemic hit, but as early as April, the organization was able to pivot swiftly to identify open job opportunities and begin to aggressively connect displaced workers to willing employers.  Director of Workforce Strategy Carol Sergi talks about the formation of a task force composed of community stakeholders that has developed short and long-term workforce strategies.

In this podcast, Lee speaks for a second time with Leslie Wagner, Senior Principal with Ginovus.  Leslie this time shares her observations about how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting business trends and how those changes will impact the site selection process in the short and long-term.

Shance Sizemore, CEO, and Kayla Bryant, Marketing Manager with the Lawrence County Growth Council talk about the COVID-19 response: how they focused on communication, business education, and resource development and how their efforts with workforce development remain at the forefront of their priorities, even if the crisis has evolved the strategies.