Southern Indiana redevelopment lauded for innovation and local impact

 JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (Oct. 16, 2020) – The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) has recognized the River Ridge Development Authority (RRDA) with the 2020 Excellence in Economic Development Award. River Ridge received a Gold Award, the top honor, in the Real Estate Redevelopment and Reuse (Population 25,000 to 200,000) category at IEDC’s annual conference. The award recognizes innovative projects that create jobs and serve as a catalyst for economic development in their region.

The RRDA, which manages the River Ridge Commerce Center, was established in 1998 to replace lost economic activity on 6,000 acres vacated by the former Indiana Army Ammunition Plant. The Authority has invested more than $120 million to date to redevelop about 30 percent of the property. The investments in roads, utilities and other infrastructure have spurred private development activity and created thousands of jobs in Southern Indiana.

“To compete against economic development agencies from across the U.S. as well as Canada, Europe and other nations and win speaks volumes about River Ridge,” said Jerry Acy, executive director of the River Ridge Commerce Center. “We continue to reinvest in our region and amplify the positive impacts on our community and its being recognized on an international level.”

The River Ridge Commerce Center has become one of the largest magnets for economic growth and job creation in Southern Indiana and Louisville Metro. It serves as home to more than 60 companies with over 10,500 on-site workers. The Commerce Center estimated that it produced a total of $2.5 billion in economic output in 2019 and supported more than 16,900 regional jobs.

River Ridge credits its success to the combined efforts of local leaders in Clark County, Charlestown, Jeffersonville and Utica; the state of Indiana; and economic development officials with the Indiana Economic Development Corp., One Southern Indiana and Greater Louisville Inc.

“We’ve had great economic success in Southern Indiana, but we know we are only as good as the product we represent,” said Wendy Dant Chesser, president and CEO of One Southern Indiana, the leading economic development organization for Clark and Floyd counties. “River Ridge is a tremendous redevelopment project so deserving of the IEDC’s highest award. It serves as an asset to draw a variety of companies into our region, and we are so fortunate to have the economic climate, transportation access and workforce availability within the Louisville metro area to maximize River Ridge’s value.”

River Ridge attracts local, national and international employers from major industries including automotive, aerospace, food and beverage, and logistics with a rapidly growing pharmaceutical and life-sciences cluster. PharmaCord, which connects pharmaceutical companies with manufacturers, doctors and payers, announced a $56 million expansion in June that will result in 850 new jobs at River Ridge. Medline, a medical equipment company, expanded at River Ridge with a new $70 million, 1.1 million-square-foot facility. This continued growth as a hot spot for vital industry sectors contributed to River Ridge’s IEDC award win.

“The River Ridge Commerce Center is a tremendous asset in our state’s efforts to fuel job creation and business growth in Indiana,” said Jim Staton, chief business development officer of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. “We congratulate River Ridge on this well-deserved honor and look forward to continuing to work together to build on the region’s economic momentum and keep Indiana on a path to success for many years to come.”

The 2020 Excellence in Economic Development Award was presented virtually during the organization’s 2020 annual conference. IEDC is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization comprised of more than 5000 economic development practitioners around the world. IEDC awards recognize the world’s best economic development programs and partnerships, marketing materials, and the year’s most influential leaders. This year, 35 awards were handed out honoring organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in urban, suburban, and rural communities. For more information, visit http://iedcconferences.org/dallas/.

About the River Ridge Development Authority

The River Ridge Development Authority was established to replace the lost economic revenue previously generated by the now-shuttered Indiana Army Ammunition Plant. Our goal has expanded to meet the tailored needs and create the top destination for advanced manufacturing, distribution and industrial companies from across the nation and around the world. Learn more at riverridgecc.com.

SELLERSBURG, IND. (September 9, 2020) – With the assistance of One Southern Indiana (1si), the chamber of commerce and lead economic development organization for Clark and Floyd counties, Ind., Owings Patterns, Inc., will appear before the Sellersburg Town Council on Monday, September 14, 2020.  The company will ask for a tax abatement for the $445,000 purchase and retooling of a format in-line thermoforming machine, which will keep the company competitive in its field.

The business provides tooling and production for the thermoforming industry as well as prototype, production and engineering of tooling services for heavy- and thin-gauge plastic thermoform and vacuum-formed parts.  Industries served by Owings Patterns, Inc., include the heavy truck, food and beverage, custom packaging, farm and agriculture, and medical industries.

“The project plan is to purchase a Soncorpwhite series 2500 thermoformer, capable of handling larger formats, thin-gauge thermoforming for packaging and shipping container part production. The expansion in thin-gauge thermoforming production will ultimately expand our tooling demands,” Bob Owings, president of Owings Patterns, Inc., said recently.  “We appreciate the Town of Sellersburg considering our request and anticipate the support and value-add Owings Patterns provides to the community to continue for years to come.”

Owings Patterns, Inc., was founded in 1975 by James R. (Bob) Owings, Jr. who was succeeded by his son Robert R. (Bob) Owings. The company moved to Sellersburg in 2011 due to the business-friendly environment and opportunities to engage with community leadership for talent development, attraction and retention in the region, according to Owings.

Owings Patterns, Inc., continues to develop its customer base due to the diversity of its capabilities. This includes, but is not limited to, providing project development, project management, tooling and production for the thermoformed plastics industry.  Currently the facility employs 22 individuals, but it could hire as many as 12 new employees at a wage 17 percent higher than the county average hourly wage.  This hiring would take place over the next five years, should the company move forward with the purchase.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) offered Owings Patterns, Inc., up to $100,000 in conditional tax credits based on the company’s job creation plans. These incentives are performance-based, meaning the company is eligible to claim incentives once Hoosiers are hired.

“Indiana is the strongest manufacturing state in the U.S., with one in five Hoosier jobs supporting the industry,” said Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger. “Companies like Owings Patterns that continue choosing the Hoosier state for growth are proof that Indiana’s 21^st century workforce is well-equipped to support our economic growth for years to come, and we’re proud to continue supporting their growth.”

Sellersburg Town Manager Charlie Smith said, “This is an exciting time in Sellersburg. Not only is attracting new business to town a top priority of this council, but so is retaining and expanding our current businesses. The council’s consideration of support of this expansion shows the business community Sellersburg is open for business. The time of Sellersburg following our neighbors has passed, this council wants to be the leader.”

“Focusing efforts on supporting our existing businesses and encouraging favorable economic policies which help those businesses grow is the backbone of the 1si economic development mission,” said 1si President and CEO Wendy Dant Chesser. “Owings Patterns is a home-grown business providing above average-wage jobs to the citizens of Sellersburg, and we will continue to work with them to ensure their future is a successful one.”

About Owings Patterns, Inc.

Owings Patterns Inc. provides tooling and production for the thermoforming industry, as well as prototype, production and engineering of tooling services for heavy- and thin-gauge plastic thermoform and vacuum-formed parts.  Industries served by Owings Patterns include the heavy truck, food and beverage, custom packaging, farm and agriculture, and medical industries. For more information, visit the website at www.owingspatterns.com.

About One Southern Indiana:

One Southern Indiana (1si) was formed in July of 2006 from the economic development organization serving Clark and Floyd counties and the chamber of commerce. 1si’s mission is to help businesses thrive in the Southern Indiana and metro area.

Since its inception, the organization has evolved to include a three-prong approach to serve its members and investors. Business resources, as the chamber side of the organization, encompasses membership, signature events and programs which support and encourage business growth; economic development works to grow the regional economy through the attraction of new commerce and assists with retention and expansion of existing businesses; and advocacy supports businesses at the government level by engaging in the initiatives to preserve, protect and promote a business-friendly environment free of obstacles to growth and development of commerce. For more information on One Southern Indiana: www.1si.org

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Owings Patterns – Johnny Pace, 812.944.5577; Johnny@OwingsPatterns.com
One Southern Indiana – Suzanne Ruark, 812.206.9050; suzanner@1si.org