Business Images Southwest Indiana: 2009

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Amazing Amazonia Zoo’s new exhibit leads to attendance records Dream Job Center cultivates entrepreneurs Air to There Evansville airport connects the region to the world TM BUSINESS T BUSINESS SPONSORED BY THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF SOUTHWEST INDIANA | 2009 imagessouthwestindiana.com SOUTHWEST INDIANA Click the top corners of the magazine to turn pages

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Southwest Indiana is known for the production of appliances, nutritional products, pharmaceuticals, aluminum sheet metal, automobiles, auto glass, coal and oil, and plastics. While a vital manufacturing center, the region has worked to diversify its economic base by attracting advanced warehousing and distribution, retailing, health care, finance, utility and technology-based businesses.

Transcript of Business Images Southwest Indiana: 2009

Page 1: Business Images Southwest Indiana: 2009

Amazing Amazonia Zoo’s new exhibit leadsto attendance records

Dream Job Center cultivates entrepreneurs

Air to ThereEvansville airport connectsthe region to the world

TM

BUSINESST

BUSINESS

SPONSORED BY THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF SOUTHWEST INDIANA | 2009

imagessouthwestindiana.com

SOUTHWEST INDIANA

Click the top corners of the magazine to turn pages

Page 2: Business Images Southwest Indiana: 2009
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OVERVIEW 5

BUSINESS ALMANAC 6

BUSINESS CLIMATE

Working As One 8Collaboration isn’t lip service in Southwest Indiana.

Dream Job 11

TRANSPORTATION

Paving the Way for Growth 12I-69 construction bolsters the transportation grid.

Air to There 15

EDUCATION

A Classroom Conversation 16District’s strategic plan invites wide-ranging input.

HEALTH

That’s Good Medicine 20A strong provider network delivers quality care.

LIVABILITY

Reaching for the Stars 22The Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science benefi ts from a major expansion program.

MANUFACTURING

Built for Success 24The manufacturing sector is robust – and growing.

RECREATION

Amazing Amazonia 26Mesker Park Zoo sets attendance records.

ARTS & CULTURE

Art in Harmony 27A community’s utopian ideals live on.

ECONOMIC PROFILE 28

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On the Cover PHOTO BY JEFF ADKINS

The U.S. 41 Twin Bridges cross the Ohio River.

All or part of this magazine is printed with soy ink on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

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S O U T H W E S T I N D I A N A I M A G E S S O U T H W E S T I N D I A N A . C O M 1

BUSINESS

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SOUTHWEST INDIANA

BUSINESS

SOUTHWEST INDIANA2009 EDITION, VOLUME 3

C U S TO M M A G A Z I N E M E D I A

MANAGING EDITOR BILL McMEEKIN

COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS

ASSOCIATE EDITORS LISA BATTLES, JESSY YANCEY

ONLINE CONTENT MANAGER MATT BIGELOW

STAFF WRITERS CAROL COWAN, KEVIN LITWIN

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS PAIGE CLANCY,

MICHAELA JACKSON, ROY MOORE, JESSICA MOZO,

SAM SCOTT, CLAIRE RATLIFF-SEARS

DATA MANAGER RANETTA SMITH

REGIONAL SALES MANAGER CHARLES FITZGIBBON

SALES SUPPORT MANAGER SARA SARTIN

SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER BRIAN MCCORD

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS, TODD BENNETT,

ANTONY BOSHIER, IAN CURCIO, J. KYLE KEENER

PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT ANNE WHITLOW

CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS

WEB DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR BRIAN SMITH

ASSOCIATE PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN

PRODUCTION PROJECT MANAGERS

MELISSA BRACEWELL, KATIE MIDDENDORF, JILL WYATT

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER,

KRIS SEXTON, CANDICE SWEET, VIKKI WILLIAMS

LEAD DESIGNER JANINE MARYLAND

GRAPHIC DESIGN ERICA HINES, ALISON HUNTER,

JESSICA MANNER, AMY NELSON, MARCUS SNYDER

WEB PROJECT MANAGERS ANDY HARTLEY, YAMEL RUIZ

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EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN

SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER

SR. V.P./SALES CARLA H. THURMAN

SR. V.P./OPERATIONS CASEY E. HESTER

V.P./SALES HERB HARPER

V.P./SALES TODD POTTER

V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER

V.P./TRAVEL PUBLISHING SYBIL STEWART

V.P./EDITORIAL DIRECTOR TEREE CARUTHERS

MANAGING EDITOR/COMMUNITY KIM MADLOM

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PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS

PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO

CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY

ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, DIANA GUZMAN,

MARIA MCFARLAND, LISA OWENS

RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY WALDRIP

DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR YANCEY TURTURICE

NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR JAMES SCOLLARD

IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE

CUSTOM/TRAVEL SALES SUPPORT RACHAEL GOLDSBERRY

SALES/MARKETING COORDINATOR RACHEL MATHEIS

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY/SALES SUPPORT KRISTY DUNCAN

OFFICE MANAGER SHELLY GRISSOM

RECEPTIONIST LINDA BISHOP

Business Images Southwest Indiana is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at [email protected].

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana318 Main St., Suite 401Evansville, IN 47708-2101Phone: (812) 425-8147 • Fax: (812) 421-5883www.ccswin.com

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GIBSONBS

POSEY

URGHUUANDERBUVAANDERBUA R U KWARRICKCKCK

SPENCER

Cynthiana

Darmstadt

Elberfeld

Francisco

Griffin Haubstadt

Hazleton

Lynnville

Mackey

New Harmony

Owensville

Patoka

Poseyville

Somerville

Tennyson

Santa Claus

Chrisney

Rockport

Chandler

Fort Branch

Newburgh

Oakland City

Boonville

Mount Vernon

Princeton

Evansville

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1. STRATEGIC LOCATION Centrally located in the

heart of the Midwest, Southwest Indiana is a prime

spot for manufacturing and national distribution.

2. FAVORABLE TAX CLIMATE The overall cost

of doing business is lower in Indiana than in

surrounding Midwest states.

3. WELL CONNECTED Evansville is easy to access

by road, rail, air or water, with a highway system,

a regional airport, rail service and river ports.

4. PROVEN SUCCESS Southwest Indiana is a

proven location for world-class business and

industry, including Whirlpool, Toyota Motor

Corp., SABIC Innovative Plastics, Alcoa, Mead

Johnson, T.J. Maxx, Ameriqual and Koch Industries.

It’s also a hot spot for corporate headquarters,

including Shoe Carnival Inc., Old National

Bancorp, Vectren Corp. and American

General Finance.

5. DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION A

vital downtown is a good gauge of a

city’s vitality, and the heart of Evansville

is in the midst of a major renaissance.

6. CULTURAL AMENITIES From

symphonies and rock concerts

to art and science museums,

Evansville has a wealth of

cultural offerings.

7. EDUCATION AND TRAINING Southwest Indiana boasts a

wide range of educational and

training options that build a

quality workforce.

8. VARIETY OF HOUSING OPTIONS Housing options in this region range

from chic, renovated downtown loft

apartments to brand-new homes in

modern subdivisions, with homes to

fit every price range.

9. A CULTURE OF COOPERATION Four counties

have formed the Economic Development Coalition

of Southwest Indiana to attract new industry and

jobs to the region, to help existing businesses, and

to develop a better climate for entrepreneurs and

business development.

10. DIVERSE AND INNOVATIVE ECONOMY Southwest Indiana is known as a center of health

care, manufacturing, warehousing and distribution

and finance. Many of the region’s leading industries

are part of multinational companies.

TOP 10 REASONS TO DO BUSINESS IN SOUTHWEST INDIANA

SEE VIDEO ONLINE | Take a virtual tour of Southwest Indiana at imagessouthwestindiana.com, courtesy of our award-winning photographers.

Southwest Indiana

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PLENTY OF HORSE SENSEIt has survived barn fires, floods, four

changes of ownership and even a tornado.

Ellis Park Race Track in Henderson County,

Ky., is just minutes from downtown

Evansville. The facility was constructed in

1922, and today offers live thoroughbred

racing five days a week from July 4

through Labor Day. Year-round simulcasting

of races from tracks across the country is

available Wednesday through Sunday from

September through July.

Ellis Park is a 1 1/8-mile dirt track, and

there is also a one-mile inner turf course.

The Kentucky landmark was originally

known as Dade Park, and recent

renovations include an upgrade of

the track’s twin spires. For more on the

track, go to www.ellisparkracing.com.

DRUMMINGUP SUPPORT

A performing drum line group in Evansville is

a booming success.

Boom Squad Inc. involves 110 students representing 35

schools, with participants ranging in age from 4 to 17. More

than 55 parent and adult volunteers also participate.

The squad has five instructors who write, arrange and teach

percussion technique as well as parade cadences and show-

style routines. The drum line performs at various sporting

event halftime shows, parades, community functions and

social events.

The program also helps kids learn about role modeling and

social skills, and helps to combat juvenile delinquency. Visit

www.boomsquadinc.com to learn more.

TAKE NOTE, MUSICTELLERSTales & Scales has been helping to produce sound minds for more than 20 years.

The performing arts company bills itself as the nation’s only “musictelling” ensemble, and its main goal is to create innovative productions that ignite the imaginations of young people.

Tales & Scales collaborates with composers, writers and theater directors to spin stories of music, dance and creative movement. The group has performed for 1 million children in schools, libraries and community centers and with symphony orchestras. Go to www.talesandscales.org

to learn more.

DRUMMINGUP SUPPORT

A performing drum line group in Evansvi

a booming success.

Boom Squad Inc. involves 110 students representin

to learn more.

ALL ABOARD, TOURISTSYou don’t have to arrive by train to get

information on tourism in Gibson County.

Just walk in the front door.

The recently renovated Princeton Train

Depot is home to the Gibson County

Visitors & Tourism Bureau, as well as the

Princeton Railway Museum. Built in 1875,

the Princeton Depot is the only remaining

depot structure in Gibson County following

the demolition of the Southern Railway

depot many years ago.

Train travel was once the lifeline of

commerce and transportation for Gibson

County, but passenger service was

discontinued in the late 1960s. Tours of

the old depot are available on request.

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KNOWLEDGE ON BEST COLLEGESU.S. News & World Report knows all about

the University of Evansville.

The magazine’s 2008 Best Colleges issue

ranked Evansville No. 3 in best value among

master’s degree-granting universities in the

Midwest. The magazine cited UE’s academic

quality, reputation and reasonable cost.

In addition, UE was also ranked 11th on

the magazine’s list of master’s-granting

universities in the region in terms of

overall education. Factors in the evaluation

included student graduation and retention

rates, faculty resources, financial resources

and alumni giving.

HOME OF ABE AND SANTASpencer County lays claims to two famous

people – Abe Lincoln and Santa Claus.

Lincoln’s early home is celebrated at

the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

on Indiana Highway 162. The life of the

16th U.S. president is also highlighted

at Lincoln State Park and Lincoln

Pioneer Village.

And Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari,

located in Santa Claus, Ind., in Spencer

County, is one of the few remaining

privately owned and operated theme

parks in the world. In 2009, Holiday

World will open Pilgrim’s Plunge, the

world’s tallest water ride.

The town of Santa Claus features a number

of one-of-a-kind attractions, including the

Santa Claus Post Office and Santa Claus

Museum. For more information, go to

www.legendaryplaces.org.

CELEBRATING BAPTISTTOWNOne of the nation’s first housing projects was built in Evansville, and it is now honored in a new museum.

The Evansville African American Museum opened in 2008 to commemorate Lincoln Gardens, which was built in 1938 under President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal program. In those days, the community was known as Baptisttown, with black doctors, lawyers and educators living there.

The museum is open to the public, and hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday. It’s closed Sunday and Monday.

The museum includes a video presentation, scale model of the Lincoln Gardens community and a refurbished original one-room apartment, as well as trophies and memorabilia from sports teams in the days before integration. Call (812) 423-5188 for more information.

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Working

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A regional approach to economic development isn’t just talk in Southwest Indiana.

The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana is forging partner-ships with counterparts in surrounding communities to maximize the region’s collective potential.

“A few years ago it became a significant initiative, or a vision I guess you could call it, for our chamber to make an effort to operate on much more of a regional basis,” says Evan Beck, chairman of The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana. “With that initiative in place, we began taking one piece at a time.”

The first step was a merger between the Metropolitan Evansville Chamber of Commerce and the Posey County Chamber of Commerce to form what is known now as The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana.

Since then, agreements have been signed with Warrick County, Henderson County, Ky. and, most recently, Spencer County. In mid-2008, the Southwest Indiana chamber and Spencer County Chamber signed a one-year memoran-dum of understanding to cooperate on common initiatives and share non-voting seats on each other’s boards.

Economic development leaders empha-size the shared benefits that materialize through regional cooperation.

“Companies are looking to what the region offers,” Beck says. “Like work-force development: They’re not going to hire people just from one community. They’re going to hire from a variety of communities within so many miles of

a facility that they may build.”Sharing resources and ideas, speaking

in a unified voice on common issues and collaborating to promote the entire region is critical in today’s economic environment.

“We believe that by putting together the voices of the various chambers, we can better express ourselves on issues that have regional concern to the folks in Southwest Indiana,” says Mark Gayhart, who is vice chairman of the Spencer County Chamber of Commerce. The Interstate 69 project is the most prominent issue affecting all of the counties in the region. The first 70 miles of the new corridor between Evansville and Indianapolis are currently funded and on deck for construction. Beck has been meeting with community leaders in Kentucky to discuss the project’s impact in that state and in Indiana.

Jennifer Keach, chairwoman of the Henderson-Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, met Beck more than two years ago on an exploratory trip into Northern Kentucky that was organized by The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana.

The two chambers have forged a healthy relationship, working on projects such as updating the bridge between Evansville and Henderson.

“We found out we had a lot of common vision,” Keach says. “A river separates us, and we just hoped that we could think of ways to build a relationship and work to take down that river barrier.” – Michaela Jackson

The U.S. 41 Twin Bridges cross the Ohio River into Henderson County, Ky., near Evansville, Ind., a symbol of the link between the regions. Inset: Evan Beck is chairman of The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana. P

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As One

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Dream JobCENTER HELPS ENTREPRENEURS GET GOING AND GROWING

Successful entrepreneurship

depends on more than a gut

feeling. A solid business plan,

sound advice and access to

capital are crucial.

The Southwestern Indiana

Small Business Development

Center, hosted by The Chamber

of Commerce of Southwest

Indiana, provides current and

aspiring entrepreneurs with the

resources they need to turn

their ambition into a thriving

small business.

“Growing a small business is not

easy,” says Kim Howard, regional

director for the Southwestern

Indiana SBDC. “We have some

unique tools here that can really

help the small business owner.”

Staff members provide one-

on-one counseling and assist in

writing business plans, performing

marketing research and seeking

grant and loan dollars. The center

also holds workshops on topics

such as human resources and

entrepreneurship basics.

During confidential one-on-one

counseling sessions, which Howard

says are the backbone of the

program, specialists work both to

set businesses on the right track

and to make sure people don’t

get in over their heads.

In 2007, representatives from

the center met with about 225

potential small business owners.

Out of those efforts, 20 businesses

began operating and the clients

they worked with generated $6

million in investment in the

Southwest Indiana economy.

“Small businesses are the engine

of growth for our economy. They

are the ones that are creating

jobs,” Howard says. “It’s critical

that we provide resources for

existing small businesses as well

as for people who are starting

a business.” – Michaela Jackson

Looking for ways to save money on gas and help the environment? The EPA

wants to share some smart driving tips that could give you more miles per

gallon of gas and reduce air pollution. Tips like making sure your tires are

properly infl ated and replacing your air fi lter regularly. And where possible,

accelerate and brake slowly. Be aware of your speed ... did you know that

for every 5 miles you go over 65 mph, you’re spending about 20 cents more

per gallon of gas? If you’re shopping for a new car, choose the cleanest, most

effi cient vehicle that meets your needs. If we each adopt just one of these tips,

we’d get more miles for our money and it would be a little easier to smell the

fl owers. For more tips and to compare cleaner, more effi cient vehicles, visit

www.epa.gov/greenvehicles.

Save Money. Smell the Flowers.

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I-69 construction bolsters the region’s already strong transportation network

Paving

Growththe Way for

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Interstate 69 may be Indiana’s newest transportation undertaking, but that doesn’t mean the project popped up

on the state’s to-do list this year – or this decade.

The Indiana Department of Trans-portation has been working for roughly 40 years to secure funding for the mammoth project, part of a national effort that is ultimately intended to connect Canada and Mexico.

Money is in place to build roughly the first 70 miles of the Evansville-Indianapolis corridor, and bulldozers began moving dirt in July 2008.

The start of the I-69 project will boost growth and development in Southwest Indiana as companies looking to expand or relocate take advantage of a connected, accessible business location.

The first section, a 2.5-mile stretch from I-64 and State Road 67 in Warrick County to State Road 68, will be complete by July 2010. Construction on the next two-mile section is slated to begin in July 2009.

“You can actually envision what this is going to look like, including the over-passes and interchanges, so this is really coming together quite nicely,” says Cher Goodwin, public information officer for INDOT’s Vincennes Office.

The impact of the I-69 project will be felt throughout the region, says Greg

“I-69 represents the promise of being

connected to North America in a more

direct manner than what we are now.”

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Above: After decades of planning, construction has started on the first segment of I-69, providing a direct Evansville to Indianapolis link. Left: I-69 is part of a transportation corridor that will ultimately stretch from Canada to Mexico.

Wathen, president and CEO of the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana.

The road being laid today is a step toward the larger goal of an integrated transportation network for Southwest Indiana. “It’s an important piece of infrastructure,” Wathen says. “If you look at a map of Indiana as sort of a wheel and the interstate system as the spokes of a wheel, there were some spokes missing. And this is a much-needed spoke that will just strengthen the overall transportation network that we have in the state.”

The whole idea behind growth and development, Wathen says, is connectiv-ity, be that by road, rail or remote access.

“I think what I-69 represents,” he says, “is the promise of being connected to North America in a more direct manner than what we are now.”

Transportation access played a key role in a decision by Evansville-based retailer Shoe Carnival Inc.

When the company decided a couple of years ago that it needed a larger dis-tri bution facility, a study it conducted determined the ideal site would still be in Southwest Indiana.

“We built a new distribution center along the current I-164 corridor in antic-ipation of I-69 coming through,” says Mark Lemond, Shoe Carnival president and CEO. “That will provide us with much better north-south access to our store locations. So that’s the primary reason why we located a new distribution center where we located it.”

The company’s 400,000-square-foot nationwide distribution facility has now been open more than a year.

Lemond says he believes other busi-nesses will be drawn to the Southwest Indiana region for the same reasons Shoe Carnival was.

“I think, without a question, it will improve the viability of this area tremen-dously,” he says.

– Michaela Jackson

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transportation

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Air travel can sometimes

prove vexing, and even more

so if a long drive to the airport

is part of the equation.

Luckily, travelers in Southwest

Indiana are not in that situation.

The Evansville Regional

Airport offers roughly 40 flights

a day via American Eagle, Delta

Connection and Northwest

Airlink airlines to hub cities

including Atlanta, Detroit

and Dallas.

The airport has three runways

and is equipped with an

instrument landing system.

Passengers arrive and depart

via a 10-gate, 140,000-square-

foot terminal, which is adjacent

to more than 1,000 parking

spaces.

The airport, which was built

in the late 1920s and formally

dedicated in June 1930, also

includes a 76-acre Foreign

Trade Zone, complete with

warehouse space, which allows

for duty-free treatment of

products and materials while

they are in the trade zone.

“It’s basically a one-stop

connection to the rest of the

world,” says Dianna Kissel,

who is marketing director at

the airport.

“We’re just a close drive, and

you have all the convenience of

a smaller airport added to all

the things you get from a larger

airport,” she says.

– Michaela Jackson

Air to There

Evansville Regional Airport offers some 40 flights a day.

EVANSVILLE AIRPORT CONNECTS THE REGION TO THE WORLD

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School district’s strategic plan invites input from all sectors

After 55 forums and more than 250 meetings with groups and organizations, the Evansville

Vanderburgh School Corp. adopted a new strategic plan in March 2008.

But the conversations didn’t stop with the board’s unanimous vote.

“Since the plan’s adoption, we have held over 100 meetings,” says Dr. Vince Bertram, superintendent of the 22,000-student district.

“Education is a complex enterprise, and schools cannot do the work alone,” he says. “It takes collaboration and the coalescing of resources to address the needs of the whole child.”

The plan includes several objectives, such as increasing college placement and completion rates, eliminating the achievement gap between populations, and expanding support networks for stu-dents and parents.

At center stage is the goal of improving the educational environment for all children. The plan calls for construction of two new schools, renovations and expansions for existing schools, and other improvement projects that total $171 million.

“Some communities have cited school quality as the most significant barrier to economic development,” Bertram says. “We must have high-performing schools,

Dr. Vince Bertram, Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. superintendent, oversees a district with more than 22,000 students, 3,000 employees and 40 schools.

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Community,Conversation,

Classroom

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Students Caleb Simmons and Mark Murillo use computer technology in an English honors class at Plaza Park Middle School in Evansville.

Shaping Young MindsCAMPAIGN AIMS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO EARLY LEARNING

A major initiative is under

way in Southwest Indiana to

improve education, nutrition

and parenting for the region’s

youngest children – from

newborns to age five.

Joan Scott, early childhood

development coordinator at the

United Way of Southwestern

Indiana, says more than 175

participants from more than

70 business, government and

community organizations have

been involved in the Early

Childhood Development

Coalition. “If they start behind,

they hardly ever catch up,”

Scott says.

The coalition has organized

literacy parties, worked with

teachers, distributed nutritious

food and even commissioned

books about young Napoleon

Peacock’s adventures at places

like Evansville’s Mesker Park

Zoo & Botanic Garden.

In all, six Napoleon Peacock

books are planned. Each will

be available free to families

in Vanderburgh, Warrick and

Spencer counties who have

children three and younger.

The coalition is also working

with other agencies around

the state to lobby Indiana

legislators to fund early-learning

initiatives, says Matt Meadors,

president and CEO of The

Chamber of Commerce

of Southwest Indiana.

“It will pay dividends on the

back end,” Meadors says of

the effort. “They will be better

employees, better workers and

better community members.”

– Sam Scott

well-maintained facilities and schools in proximity to high population-growth areas. Education is essential to producing a quality workforce and ensuring a com-munity’s overall quality of life.”

The district is helping to create a future “filled with abundant economic oppor-

ScorecardEVANSVILLE VANDERBURGH SCHOOL CORP.BY THE NUMBERS

22,350Number of students in the district

3,000Number of district employees

$157.5 million2009 general fund budget

40Total number of schools, including five high schools, 10 middle schools, 20 elementary schools, three alternative schools and two charter schools

tunity” by establishing a more innovative, efficient and dynamic educational model, says Bob Jones, president and CEO of Evansville-based Old National Bancorp.

For Jones, exciting highlights of the plan include the creation of early child-hood learning centers and enhanced learning and communication tools such as interactive white boards and in-classroom IP phones.

Old National is donating space to house the new Center for Family, School and Community Partnerships.

The strategic plan is a research-based, systemic approach to improving student achievement, Bertram says.

The plan’s five core focus areas are:1. Early childhood education for the

district’s most vulnerable children.2. State-of-the-art technology avail-

able in all schools.3. Continuous, job-embedded profes-

sional development for all faculty and staff in the district.

4. Innovative school models to give families real educational choices.

5. Creating additional family, school and community partnerships.

“We cannot permit another generation of children to go through our system without addressing the barriers to their success,” he says. “We must operate with a sense of urgency. Our children are here now, and they must be prepared to succeed in a competitive global marketplace.”

– Paige Clancy

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Evansville, Southern Indiana universities provide knowledge assets to community

There are no ivory towers at the University of Southern Indiana and University of Evansville,

where academics and students are a force in solving real-world problems.

At USI’s Center for Applied Research, for example, the focus is on matching expertise with community needs.

Since opening in 2006, the center has improved the effectiveness of the local Habitat for Humanity organization, stud-ied coal scrubbers for Alcoa power plants and analyzed bus routes, ambulance service and downtown parking for the city of Evansville, among other projects.

“It’s one more good thing that Evansville has going for it,” says Susan Ellspermann, center director.

At the University of Evansville, a private school founded in 1854, the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration also connects campus and community, says Robert Clark, busi-ness school dean and vice president for strategic initiatives.

In the past three years, the school has seen a 50 percent increase in business

Student Denise Bube studies inside the University of Southern Indiana’s new David L. Rice Library in Evansville. J

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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN INDIANA www.usi.eduFounded: 1965Campus: 330 acres in EvansvilleEnrollment: About 10,100Courses: Associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees conferred in 21 areas of studyFaculty: 605 full-time faculty and administrators and 244 part-time faculty

UNIVERSITY OF EVANSVILLE www.evansville.eduFounded: 1854Campus: 75 acres in EvansvilleEnrollment: About 2,700Courses: More than 80 areas of studyFaculty: Around 205 faculty members

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majors and has launched the region’s first executive MBA program, allowing profes-sionals to advance their careers without having to pause them. “We are able to provide the region a more talented work-force,” Clark says.

The university’s business school houses the Institute for Global Enterprise in Indiana, which opened in 2003 with a

mission to build global awareness among students, faculty and businesses.

Evansville is home to the Southwest Indiana campus of Ivy Tech Community College. (www.ivytech.edu)

The 6,000 student Evansville campus offers two-year associate degrees and training programs in dozens of fields of study. – Sam Scott

LearningCenters of

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Strong provider network, quality focusdrive region’s health-care delivery

In Southwest Indiana, two nonprofit hospital systems lead the provider market and are investing in the latest technologies to improve the quality of care.

Deaconess Health System and St. Mary’s Health System and Medical Center trace their operations back decades and have expanded their reach in recent years to serve the various needs of patients.

St. Mary’s operates a 490-bed, acute-care hospital, long-term-care center, women’s and children’s hospital and home-health agency. At its hospital in Evansville, St. Mary’s provides a full spectrum of inpatient services, including trauma care, cardiology, orthopedics and neonatology.

St. Mary’s also has focused on outpatient care with facilities that serve ambulatory surgery, oncology and physician-office needs. More than 12,000 procedures are performed each year at the outpatient surgery sites.

In 2001, St. Mary’s created a separate hospital for women and children connected to its main hospital. This unit focuses on labor, pediatrics neonatal intensive care and obstetrics, all housed in specialized departments.

The provider plans to grow its services by adding physicians and investing in technology and facilities that will increase efficiency and effectiveness.

“Our patients expect clinical quality, to be treated like a fellow human being and for us to respect their time, resources and intelligence,” says President and CEO Tim Flesch.

Satisfaction scores are improving and clinical quality meets or exceeds regional and national benchmarks.

Deaconess Health System has emerged as a full-service provider, with five hospitals, a hospital for women and infants, a behavioral health hospital and a freestanding cancer center.

Quality is stressed at the teaching hospital, earning Deaconess a Solucient Top 100 Hospitals award for cardiac and orthopedic services.

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Deaconess Health System is a full-service care provider. Left: St. Mary’s Health System includes a 490-bed hospital.

MedicineIn addition to its 365-bed main hospital, Deaconess bol-

stered its 14 ambulatory-care sites with a merger with Welborn Clinic, a multi-specialty physician group with more than 100 doctors. The merger brought Welborn’s 30 medical and surgical specialty physicians under a hospital, providing continuous care.

Deaconess and Welborn had little overlap so the combined operator touches most of the region’s communities, including Newburgh and Reo.

Keeping patients’ interests in mind, the merger allows for nearly 90 practices to come under an integrated health-care system, says Dr. David D. Christeson, the former Welborn Clinic CEO who is now chief physician administrative officer of Deaconess Clinic.

Importantly, the merger allows the two to operate on a unified technology system. Patients from one provider will be able to have their medical records accessed by physicians at a separate location. Much of the technology upgrade is taking place this year and next.

– Roy Moore

S O U T H W E S T I N D I A N A I M A G E S S O U T H W E S T I N D I A N A . C O M 21

health

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The sky is the limit after major upgrade at the Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science

The Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science, the oldest and most-established cultural institution in the state, has embarked upon the most ambitious

facility expansion in its 104-year history.“Reaching for the Stars” is a $15 million capital expansion

project that will enable the museum to educate and inspire like never before in the arts, history, science and anthropology.

Dynamic changes in the museum’s architectural profile include a spectacular two-and-a-half story glass pavilion, expanded museum shop and immersive theater, the newest in planetarium technology.

John Streetman, in his 34th year as executive director, credits

a deeply committed community and board of trustees for the success of the campaign. “There is a wonderful sense of community here,” he says. “We raised $10 million before the campaign was announced.” Groundbreaking is expected for summer 2009.

“We appreciate the museum and the wonderful, cultural asset it is to our community and the region,” says campaign Chairwoman Rita Eykamp, whose family is a longtime supporter of the museum.

When completed, the enhanced Koch Planetarium will pro-vide a 360-degree experience. Indiana’s first planetarium will become the most advanced in the state, taking solar system

A first-century funerary mask is among the holdings at the Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science. PHOTO BY BRIAN M C CORD

StarsReachingfor the

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livability

Page 25: Business Images Southwest Indiana: 2009

exploration to a new level.“We have one of the best types of star projectors available,

creating a realistic-looking Indiana night sky,” says Mitch Luman, director of the Koch Science Center and Planetarium. Along with a traditional star show, the planetarium offers planet viewing events and special features on topics such as black holes, famous astronomers and myths about astronomy.

The museum, an anchor of the downtown riverfront, is one of just 10 across the country that received a grant to study space literacy and education opportunities.

An educator and 12 space exhibits are taken to fairs, festivals and events in rural areas, providing a museum experience. “We reach a lot of people,” Luman says.

The multi-million dollar art gallery houses an impressive collection, and the museum is renowned for championing American realist painters. The museum offers an artist-in-residence program and fine-art consultancy for those wanting to develop collections or find commissioned works.

“This is not a static museum,” Eykamp says. “In addition to the wonderful permanent collections, there are constantly changing galleries and exhibits.”

Rivertown USA is a stroll through time with storefronts and houses depicting the 19th century. Plans are under way to extend the timeframe to pre-World War II and beyond.

A World War II interpretive center will become a focal point of the gallery, drawing from the museum’s vast holdings for that period.

In a separate building on the site, the Evansville Museum Transportation Center presents regional transportation through the years. A highlight for all ages is the full-scale, Art Deco train.

“Every four to six weeks, there is a new exhibition ready to be viewed,” Luman says. “If you haven’t visited the Evansville Museum recently, you don’t know what you’re missing. For us, every day is opening day.”

– Claire Ratliff-Sears

THE EVANSVILLE MUSEUM OF ARTS, HISTORY AND SCIENCE

411 S.E. Riverside DriveEvansville, IN 47713(812) 425-2406www.emuseum.org

Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday

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Take a Walk on the Wild SideWESSELMAN WOODS IS A PRISTINE OASIS IN EVANSVILLE’S BACKYARD

With approximately 200 acres of wilderness,

Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve in Evansville

is a nature-lover’s delight.

A National Natural Landmark and a State Nature

Preserve, the woods is the largest tract of virgin

bottomland hardwood forest inside a city limits of

100,000 population anywhere in the United States.

Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve offers trails,

environmental education programs and family

events throughout the year.

Exhibits, observations areas and a gift shop

are among the features at the interpretive center.

The woods boast an array of native plants and

trees, some which have stood undisturbed for

more than 400 years.

“Explorers like Lewis and Clark went through

areas just like this, and it hasn’t changed,” says

Kim Meadors, executive director and CEO of

Wesselman Nature Society Inc. “It’s important

to understand the value of these treasures.”

The raptor recovery center cares for birds

of prey unable to return to the wild. Visitors can

participate in a host of annual activities, such as

banding of migratory birds, and learn from several

resident “teaching animals.”

The not-for-profit Wesselman Nature Society

oversees the nature preserve as well as Howell

Wetlands, Indiana’s largest urban wetlands, and

Canoe Evansville, offering wild rides on Pigeon

Creek. Conservation, preservation, research and

education are the four central themes for program

and event planning.

Whether it’s a butterfly hike, a moonlight paddle

or an owl prowl, there’s always something new to

do and learn.

“We want people to see and understand what

we are trying to preserve,” Meadors says. “If we

take care of our resources, they will continue to be

able to give back to us.” – Claire Ratliff-Sears

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quality of life livability

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The region’s manufacturing sector is robust – and growing

If you’ve ever sat beneath a tent at a wedding, a concert or even a circus, there is a very good chance that you’ve been sheltered by

Anchor Industries Inc., the nation’s leading manufacturer of outdoor tents.

The Evansville company started as a small riverboat supplier on the Ohio River in 1892. Over time, it has morphed into a maker of pool covers, awnings, and even infrared resistant military tents.

The family-owned company also does a growing trade making portable shelters for firefighters trapped by forest fires. The emergency device looks like a baked potato wrapped in aluminum foil, but its simplicity can save lives, says Brandy Spainhoward, Anchor marketing director.

The success of Anchor, which employs more than 400 people and brings in annual revenues of about $50 million, is emblematic of Southwest

Success

MENTIONED IN STORY

Built for

Anchor Industries makes fabric items such as tents and awnings. Right: Keller Crescent is a specialty packaging leader.

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MAJOR MANUFACTURERS AND EMPLOYMENT

Toyota: 4,500

Alcoa Warrick: 2,150

Whirlpool Corp.: 2,083

Mead Johnson: 2,000

Black Beauty Coal Co.: 1,753

SABIC Innovative Plastics: 1,440

Berry Plastics: 1,400

Anchor Industries: 400

Ameriqual: 400

Keller Crescent: 386

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Indiana’s robust manufacturing sector, which employs more than 15,000 people in the Evansville area alone.

The biggest player in the sector is Toyota, which has invested more than $3 billion in its Princeton plant, which opened in 1998.

More investment is on the way to fund a 2009 switch in production to the Highlander model from the Tundra, Toyota spokeswoman Kelly Dillon says. The plants, which also make Sequoias and Siennas, turn out about 300,000 vehicles a year and employ 4,500 people.

“We found a very skilled workforce in the region, and one with a very strong work ethic,” Dillon says.

AmeriQual Group LLC, based in Evansville, is the country’s leading supplier of Meals Ready-to-Eat, the lightweight, durable and self-heating rations that feed U.S. soldiers.

In its 2007 fiscal year, AmeriQual supplied Uncle Sam with more than $140 million of its preserved food products.

Other manufacturers in Southwest Indiana include Mead Johnson, which employs some 2,000 in the region making Enfamil and other

baby-nutrition products.Evansville-based Berry Plastics Corp., a leading

manufacturer and marketer of plastic packaging products, is adding 85,000 square feet and 250 jobs at its downtown headquarters.

Design company Keller Crescent makes cartons, inserts, booklets, labels and other packaging for the pharmaceutical and health-and-beauty sectors.

For homegrown Anchor, Evansville’s location is within easy shipping distance of the company’s major markets along the East Coast and in close proximity to producers of aluminum used in its products.

The area has also provided skilled and loyal workers. The average employee has been with Anchor for more than 20 years, Spainhoward says. “They like the family atmosphere,” she says. “It’s just a really good place to work.”

Toyota’s Dillon seconds the advantages. The crisscross of interstate highways and railroads give the auto manufacturer ready access to sup-pliers and dealers.

“That’s critical,” she says. – Sam Scott

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Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden’s new exhibit leads to attendance records

If you thought you had to f ly to South America to visit the rainforest, think again.

Evansville’s 50-acre Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden opened its newest exhibit, Amazonia, in August 2008, and it lets visitors get up close and personal with swinging monkeys, colorful toucans, slithering snakes and other South American animal species.

Amazonia is the biggest project the zoo has completed in its 78-year history, says Stephanie Sanderson, visitor services curator for Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden. The exhibit includes an indoor rainforest with 10,000 square feet of public space. Jaguars, toucans, porcupines, tarantulas, tree boas, howler monkeys and turtles are among the residents in the lush, tropical setting.

Amazonia has helped the zoo set new attendance records, attracting 38,000 visitors in its first 30 days after opening.

“We’re getting people from all over Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky,” Sanderson says. “I don’t think there’s anything like Amazonia in the entire Midwest. You certainly don’t feel like you’re in Evansville.”

Tropical trees give Amazonia an authentic feel, and a roaring waterfall and suspension bridge add to its ambiance.

Throughout the rest of the zoo, more than 700 animals and thousands of exotic plant species also thrive.

“We have a great giraffe exhibit that lets you get really close to the animals, and our Indian rhinoceros exhibit is really

nice,” Sanderson says. “Kids love our wonderful otter exhibit, because they can crawl into a glass tunnel and watch the otters swim over and around them.”

The zoo’s horticulture staff works to make sure the envi-ronments surrounding the animals are similar to the habitats from which they came.

“We use plants that resemble those in the areas the animals are from, like bamboo near the Asian exhibits,” says Misty Minar, Mesker Park zoo horticulturist. “We have some unusual plant species at the zoo, including hardy bananas, hardy ele-phant ears and hardy palms.”

The first weekend in May, the zoo hosts its annual plant sale, where the public can purchase some of its rare and unusual plants. “We grow them all in our greenhouse, and people love it,” Minar says.

The zoo hosts several highly anticipated annual events, including the Boo at the Zoo Halloween event in October.

“There are crafts, face painting and magic shows, and you leave with a bag full of goodies,” Sanderson says. “It’s also neat because you get to explore the zoo in an evening setting, which you rarely get to do.”

In 2009, the zoo will be raising money for a new African-themed project that will include lions, meerkats and other African species, and will open an Aldabra Tortoise exhibit that will feature the world’s second-largest tortoise species.

– Jessica Mozo

A scarlet ibis is part of the Amazonia exhibit at Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden in Evansville. PHOTO BY BRIAN M C CORD

AmazingAmazonia

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Born from utopian ideals, a community lives on as haven for culture, history

In a town of fewer than 1,000 people, a cluster of art galleries may not be the first thing you expect to find.

But New Harmony, Ind., about 30 minutes outside Evansville, has never been a typical small town. The com-munity was founded as a utopian site, Harmonie on the Wabash, in 1814 by the Harmony Society, a group of Separatists from the German Lutheran Church who migrated from Pennsylvania.

In 1825, the group sold the entire town to another utopian idealist, Robert Owen, and moved back to Pennsylvania. Owen’s utopia lasted officially for only two years, but the community remained a center of science and education for the next several decades.

Today, the community is essentially a living historic site, managed jointly by the University of Southern Indiana and the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites. Buildings from the original commu-nity are sprinkled throughout the town, and visitors take guided walking tours of the city to learn its unique history.

“The residents of New Harmony are proud of the town’s rich history,” says Samantha Brown, manager of devel-opment and public affairs for New Harmony. “Several town organizations and community members support and believe in Historic New Harmony’s mission of preserving New Harmony’s utopian legacy.”

Never absent from the air is New Harmony’s almost tangible sense of its history and its culture.

“We call it a living community, which means, basically, that the ideals that

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A pig statue welcomes visitors to the Yellow Tavern in New Harmony, founded in 1814 and now an arts-heavy community of galleries, shops and spiritual centers.

were used to found the town – arts and education and science – they continue today,” says Amanda Bryden, who man-ages Historic New Harmony’s extensive artifact collections.

Art has always been heavily empha-sized in New Harmony, and today’s modern galleries and studios blend seamlessly with the town’s historic past. Many artists from urban areas have taken up residence in New Harmony, deep-ening the already-rich culture with their work and their influence.

“There’s always been a good group of people in the arts community that have kept that legacy alive, and it con-tinues today,” Bryden says. “It’s very active, very vibrant.”

Roughly a half-dozen galleries blanket the town with art, featuring everything

from blown glass to oil on canvas, hand-made jewelry to sculpture.

Erica Myers-Bromwell directs the 30-plus-year-old New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art.

Myers-Bromwell’s gallery hosted the community’s first annual Arts in Harmony festival in 2008, a two-day event that brought nearly 50 artists together to display their work.

Every spring in New Harmony means the Plain Air Paint-Out, an event spon-sored by Hoosier Salon that invites artists to set up their easels wherever they can find a spot outdoors and paint scenes of the town.

“There’s plenty of room to be creative,” Myers-Bromwell says. “The town acts as a muse in a way. It’s very inspirational.”

– Michaela Jackson

HarmonyArt in

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ECONOMIC PROFILE

Our Signs are Everywhere!

BUSINESS CLIMATESouthwest Indiana is known for the production of appliances, nutritional

products, pharmaceuticals, aluminum sheet metal, automobiles, auto

glass, coal and oil, and plastics. While a vital manufacturing center, the

region has worked to diversify its economic base by attracting advanced

warehousing and distribution, retailing, health care, finance, utility and

technology-based businesses.

GIBSON COUNTY

LABOR FORCE 2005Total Labor Force, 17,273

Employed, 16,422

Unemployed, 851

Unemployment Rate, 4.9%

POSEY COUNTY

LABOR FORCE 2005Total Labor Force, 13,936

Employed, 13,287

Unemployed, 649

Unemployment Rate, 4.7%

VANDERBURGH COUNTY

LABOR FORCE 2005Total Labor Force, 91,606

Employed, 86,816

Unemployed, 4,790

Unemployment Rate, 5.2%

WARRICK COUNTY

LABOR FORCE 2005Total Labor Force30,132

Employed, 28,766

Unemployed, 1,366

Unemployment Rate, 4.5%

DISTANCE TO MAJOR CITIES

Chicago, 300 miles

Cincinnati, 216 miles

Indianapolis, 176 miles

Louisville, 126 miles

Nashville, 156 miles

St. Louis, 174 miles

TRANSPORTATION

Southwest Indiana is within

a five-hour drive of major

cities including Chicago

and Cincinnati. Easy access

to transportation makes

this a burgeoning location

for economic growth.

AIRPORTEvansville Regional Airport

(812) 421-4401

HIGHWAYSInterstate 64 extends west

of Evansville to St. Louis.

For motorists heading east,

I-64 offers a direct route to

Louisville and Lexington, Ky.,

Charleston, W. Va., Richmond,

Va., and cities along the southern

tip of the Chesapeake Bay.

Interstate 69, the new

international trade corridor

from Canada to the Rio Grande

Valley, will pass through

Evansville, providing rapid access

to Memphis, and Indianapolis.

Interstate 164 provides a direct

link from I-64 to the city’s

thriving Eastside retail district

and a convenient route to

Henderson, Ky., for travelers

coming from the northeast.

U.S. 41 passes through

Evansville’s population center

and comes within two miles of

the downtown area. The four-

lane highway provides access

north to Chicago, and connects

I-64 to the Pennyrile Parkway

and the Western Kentucky

Parkway to the south.

State Road 62 and State

Road 66 provide access to

surround ing communities such

as New Harmony and Mount

Vernon in Posey County, and

Newburgh and Boonville in

Warrick County.

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RAILROADS

CSX Corp., Wabash & Ohio

Railroad and Norfolk Southern

Corp. serve the tri-state’s rail

transportation needs. The

Southwind Maritime Center

in Posey County and Valley

Terminal in Evansville were

attracted to the area by the

Ohio River, which carries more

freight tonnage than any inland

body of water in the world.

MAJOR EMPLOYERS

Company, No. of Employees

Toyota Motor Mfg. Indiana, 4,500

Deaconess Health System, 4,200

St. Mary’s Medical Center, 3,317

Industrial Contractors Inc., 2,500

Alcoa Warrick Operations, 2,150

Whirlpool Corp., 2,083

Mead Johnson, 2,000

University of Southern

Indiana, 1,929

Black Beauty Coal Co., 1,753

Vectren, 1,750

Evansville-Vanderburgh

School Corp., 1,607

T.J. Maxx, 1,540

SABIC Innovative Plastics, 1,440

FOR MORE

INFORMATION

The Chamber of Commerce

of Southwest Indiana

318 Main St., Suite 401

Evansville, IN 47708

Phone: (812) 425-8147

Fax: (812) 421-5883

www.ccswin.com

SOURCES:

www.swidc.org,

www.southwestindiana

chamber.com,

www.stats.indiana.edu,

Bureau of Labor Statistics,

Indiana Department of

Workforce Development

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Ad Index 18 BIAGGI ’S RISTORANTE ITALIANO

14 CASINO AZTAR

2 DEACONESS HEALTH SYSTEM

15 DUNN HOSPITALITY GROUP

C4 FIFTH THIRD BANK

C3 HERITAGE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

10 OLD NATIONAL BANK

C2 ST. MARY’S MEDICAL CENTER

C3 TOYOTA

18 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN INDIANA

14 VECTREN CORPORATION

28 WOODWARD COMMERCIAL REALTY

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Ad Index # SOME COMPANY

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