Clarksville Celebrating Completion of New Mural with Ribbon-Cutting

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The expansive mural was commissioned by the Cornerstone Group in Downtown Clarksville.

CLARKSVILLE, IN (September 9, 2024) – The Clarksville Arts Commission will be celebrating the completion of Clarksville’s newest art installation with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, September 16th.  Area residents and members of the community are invited to learn more about the project and the artist behind it.  The mural covers nearly the entire side of a building at the intersection of Main Street and Court Avenue.

Artist Damon Thompson is a full-time mural artist based in Louisville, Kentucky, and a 1997 graduate of Dupont Manual High School’s Visual Arts magnet program. For more than 15 years, Damon was represented by the Tim Faulkner Gallery, a major presence in Louisville’s art scene. After the gallery’s recent closure, he transitioned to representing himself and launched his own website, damonpaints.com, where he showcases prints of his murals and original artwork. 

Damon gained widespread recognition during the early days of the COVID pandemic, completing 43 murals in Louisville in just six weeks, from March 20 to May 8, 2020.   His latest work is the expansive Clarksville mural in Clarksville, Indiana, featuring a series of murals embedded in each letter of the town’s name, celebrating the history and culture of Southern Indiana.

Damon will be available for interviews following a short presentation and ribbon-cutting with the Clarksville Arts Commission.

WHAT:              Ribbon Cutting for New Clarksville Mural

WHEN:             Monday, September 16th @ 5:30pm

WHERE:           Intersection of Court Ave and Main St. – Clarksville, IN

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BBB’s Annual Shred & Electronics Recycling Event to be Held on Saturday, September 28th

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September 9, 2024 – BBB serving Greater Kentucky and South Central Indiana will hold its annual Shred & Electronics Recycling Event on Saturday, September 28th from 10 am to 2 pm at RML Shredding.

BBB will partner with RML Shredding and River Metals Recycling for this free community event. Individuals can bring old documents (up to four boxes) for shredding and/or old electronics for secure recycling. Visit bbb.org for a full list of items eligible for recycling.

New this year, the event will be held at RML Shredding and food trucks will be on-site as well. Drop off your old documents and electronics, and grab lunch while you’re there!

BBB’s Shred & Electronics Recycling Event is free to the public, but donations are appreciated. Proceeds go to BBB Consumer Education Fund’s support of scam prevention programs, BBB Charity Review program, student scholarships, and more!

BBB Annual Shred & Electronics Recycling Event

When: Saturday, September 28th
10 am to 2pm

Where: RML Shredding
1925 Production Dr, Louisville, KY 40299

Cost: Free (donations appreciated) 

For more information and media inquiries, contact Whitney Adkins, Director of Communications, at wadkins@ky-in.bbb.org.

ABOUT BBB: For more than 100 years, the Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. The International Association of Better Business Bureaus is the umbrella organization for the local, independent BBBs in the United States, Canada and Mexico. BBB’s Louisville and Lexington offices merged in 2022 to form BBB Serving Greater Kentucky and South Central Indiana, which serves 108 counties in Kentucky and 10 counties in Southern Indiana.

Economic Update | An Employment Report for All

by with No Comment 1si NewsEconomic Development

submitted by
Uric Dufrene, Ph.D., Sanders Chair in Business, Indiana University Southeast

The Super Bowl of economic indicators was released last week, and there was news for the pessimists and optimists. On the negative side, payrolls rebounded from the prior month, increasing by 142,000, compared to 114,000 the prior month. While the 142,000 gain was an uptick from July, it was less than the consensus forecast of 165,000. Manufacturing, in a slump for more than a year, saw a decline of 24,000 jobs. The decline was attributed to a 25,000 drop in jobs in durable goods manufacturing.     

Health care continued the upward rise in job creation, adding another 31,000 payrolls. Construction saw an unexpected pick-up, adding 34,000 jobs, higher than the 12-month average of 19,000. The average workweek increased from 34.2 hours to 34.3, and average hourly earnings increased by .4%, higher than anticipated.    

On the plus side, the unemployment rate ticked back down to 4.2%. The labor force expanded by 120,000, but employment increased by 168,000. This combination led to an overall decline in unemployment and the unemployment rate. Last month, the unemployment rate increased, and this was partially attributed to the spike in temporary unemployment. Temporary unemployment fell again this month, and this was one of the reasons for the unemployment rate decline.   

Prior month revisions shaved 86,000 in payrolls from the prior two months. This slower payroll growth will be closely scrutinized by the Fed at the September meeting, along with the higher-than-expected increase in average hourly earnings.   

More signs of a labor market slowdown came last week with the release of the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS).  Job openings declined to a level last observed in early 2021 and are almost on par with the number of unemployed. Openings exceeded the number of unemployed by double back in early 2022. The balance between openings and unemployed does reflect the normalization of the labor market, but we should expect the number of unemployed to exceed job openings as we move through 2024 and into 2025.    

Turning to Indiana and Kentucky, we are seeing an overall increase in unemployment rates. Kentucky’s unemployment rate is up to 5.3%, compared to 4.6% last year. Indiana’s unemployment rate is up to 5%, up from 3.7% last year. Job growth in both states has slowed, with manufacturing showing declines from last year. Indiana manufacturing jobs are down 6,000 and Kentucky down by 4,000. 

Softening is also evident across Indiana and Kentucky metro regions.  All Kentucky metro areas now have an unemployment rate that exceeds 5%, except for Lexington. The highest unemployment rate is Elizabethtown at 5.5%, and Lexington had the lowest at 4.3%. Indiana has several metro areas with unemployment rates well above 5%.   Kokomo has the highest at 7%, and Muncie is just behind with an unemployment rate of 6.3%.   

40-year high inflation resulted in higher interest rates, impacting rate-sensitive sectors like manufacturing, and this shows up through weaker payroll growth or losses.   One example of the impact of higher interest rates on IN and KY manufacturing is in the auto industry.  Higher interest rates suppressed auto sales due to the higher cost of financing.  Kentucky and Indiana are heavy auto manufacturing states, and the historically low auto sales nationwide also impact manufacturing employment in both states.  National manufacturing has been in a slump, and heavy manufacturing states, like Indiana and Kentucky, are feeling the effects of this slower manufacturing environment. 

We can still expect a rate reduction of .25% by the Fed at their September meeting. Some are calling for a reduction of .5%, but the economy is not weak enough to justify it.   We’ll likely see similar cuts of .25% in November and December. Last week saw a drop in the 10-Year Treasury yield, so we will likely see additional progress in lower mortgage rates. Declining interest rates will provide a stimulus to interest rate sectors, and the economy overall.  The consumer continues to show some resilience, and while we continue to believe that the economy will be in a soft patch, we are still not ready to call a recession. 

Now Seeking Nominations and Applications for the 2024 ONCE Awards!

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AWARD CATEGORIES
  • Duke Energy Kevin Hammersmith Community Leader
  • Axiom Financial Strategies Group James W. Robinson Young Professional of the Year
  • Kightlinger & Gray, LLP Sam Day Professional of the Year
  • Rising Star Award is given to a company who has been in business from 1-5 years.
  • Cherry Bekaert Business of the Year Award for companies with 50 or less employees
  • German American Bank Business of the Year Award for companies with 51 or more employees
  • Centra Credit Union Non-Profit Program of the Year
  • Ivy Tech Community College DE&I Initiative Award
  • Minority Business of the Year
  • Harding, Shymanski & Company, P.S.C. Manufacturer of the Year

NOMINATE

If you know an individual or organization that should apply for one of the following ONCE Award categories, click here to nominate them. 

APPLY

If you would like to apply for one of the categories, click here to complete the application.

The 2024 ONCE Awards will be held on Thursday, November 14th at Caesars Southern Indiana so SAVE THE DATE!

Thanks for Renewing Your Membership | August 2024

by with No Comment Thank Your for Renewing Your Membership

One Southern Indiana would like to thank the following members for renewing their membership during the month of August 2024.

Quarter Century Club (25 Years or More)Member Since
Frank Stemler & Sons dba Stemler Plumbing1977
AAA Hoosier Motor Club1984
Chase1988
Community Foundation of Southern Indiana1995
Chemtrusion, Inc.1996
Renaissance Design Build, Inc.1999
  
Ten to 24 Years 
Youth Link Southern Indiana2004
Caesars Foundation of Floyd County2005
Mariner Wealth Advisors2005
Impact Sales Systems2007
Talis Group, Inc.2007
Northern Continental Logistics2008
American Beverage Marketers, Inc.2009
C3 Tech2009
Town of Clarksville2009
HJI Supply Chain Solutions2010
Lindsey Wilson College2010
LifeSpan Resources, Inc.2012
Lotus Sign & Design2012
Brown-Forman2014
World Trade Center Kentucky2014
  
Five to Nine Years 
Louisville Orthopaedic Clinic2015
Knapheide Truck Equipment Co.2016
Louisville Zoo2016
South Central Regional Airport Authority2016
Groups Recover Together2017
PMC Regional Hospital2017
Franklin Pest Solutions2018
KY-IN Paralyzed Veterans of America2018
McRae Enterprises, LLC2018
Cattleman’s Roadhouse2019
Progressive Material s2019
Wooded Glen Recovery Center2019
  
Two to Four Years 
Big O Tires – Sellersburg2020
Conrad Brothers Moving & Storage2020
East End Crossing Partners2020
Hilton Garden Inn Jeffersonville Louisville North2020
Idemitsu Lubricants America Corporation2020
Avant-Garde Turnstiles2021
Harry’s Taphouse and Kitchen2021
River City Bank of Kentucky2021
Southern Indiana United Soccer Club2021
Stein Law2021
Zoeller Pump Company2021
CertaPro Painters of Kentuckiana2022
EightTwenty2022
Lamar Advertising2022
Louisville Low Voltage LLC2022
RQAW Corporation2022
Shrewsberry & Associates, LLC2022
Taft Law2022
TNT Fireworks2022
Upland Brewing Company2022
  
One Year 
AJ Business Consulting2023
Alee Solutions 2023
Charleston Place at New Albany2023
Classic Truss and Wood Components, Inc.2023
Cornerstone Insurance Agency, LLC2023
Lilys SoftWash LLC2023
Office Resources, Inc.2023
Resort 4 Paws2023
Unbreakable Bonds Catering LLC2023
Versa Designed Surfaces2023

Welcome New Members | August 2024

by with No Comment Welcome New Members

One Southern Indiana would like to welcome the following new members that joined or rejoined during the month of August 2024.

Economic Update | And Still No Recession

by with No Comment Economic Development

submitted by
Uric Dufrene, Ph.D., Sanders Chair in Business, Indiana University Southeast

The Federal Reserve received the data it needed to finally pivot from an inflation emphasis to a focus on employment, and along with that, a signal of the first interest rate cut.  The last CPI (Consumer Price Index) came in weaker than expected, both at the headline number and the core rate (CPI minus food and energy). The PPI (Producer Price Index), issued just a day before CPI, also came in softer than expected. The favorable inflation readings, along with the weak employment report for July, combined to provide a green light to the Federal Reserve for a potential rate cut come September. Equity markets approved and are again pushing all-time highs. The market meltdown from early August is a distant memory.   

Emerging from the pandemic has led to challenges for the economic forecasting industry. Predictions of recessions have yet to materialize. The last national employment report, for example, triggered the so-called Sahm Rule, which basically says that the economy is in a recession if the three-month moving average of the U.S. unemployment rate rises by more than .5 percentage points from the lowest 3-month average unemployment rate over the past 12 months. It has been historically accurate and only produced two false positives since 1959. 2024 may be the 3rd. 

The yield curve, quite accurate for every recession since the early 80s, has also produced a recession signal that has yet to be accurate. The yield curve inverts when rates on 10-Year Treasury securities are lower than shorter-term rates, such as the yield on 2-Year Treasuries. The current yield curve became inverted back in July 2022, and a recession has not been declared. My outlook back in November 2022 included a recession call for 2023, and clues from the yield curve was one of the primary reasons. Higher interest rates have slowed the economy, as intended, but not to the extent of a recession declaration.   

Another measure, industrial production, was also flashing a possible recession signal starting last year.  Industrial production, which measures the output in manufacturing, mining, and utilities, coincides with a recession when year-over-year changes become negative. Going back to the 1920s, a negative change in industrial production not resulting in a recession has only occurred on three separate occasions. Over the past year, year-over-year changes in industrial production have hovered around 0, with 9 of 12 months being negative. So, the current cycle may be the 4th time that industrial production has turned negative, but absent a recession. 

Another economic indicator with some information about the state of the economy is new claims for unemployment.  As the economy slows, layoffs increase, leading to higher unemployment rates, less consumer spending, and an upward spiral of overall slower growth.  For unemployment claims, the number to watch is about 350,000. This is not a precise rule, but when new claims for unemployment approach 350,000 or surpass that level, a recession may be likely. The latest claims for unemployment were at 232,000, and the highest level for 2024 was 243,000.    

During a recession, consumers are expected to spend less on goods and services. But this is not always the case. In the 2001 dot com recession, spending on both goods and services increased from recession start to recession end.   During the Great Recession, spending on services remained just about flat, but goods spending saw noticeable declines. In the quick Covid recession, spending on both goods and services plummeted, but quickly recovered and saw subsequent spikes in both goods and services spending to all-time highs. Goods spending saw some declines from 2023 to 2024 but has stabilized since.  Services spending continues unabated. Based on recessions going back to 2001, reductions in both goods and services spending are not necessarily present during a recession, however.    While we can probably rule out a complete collapse of the consumer, softening in both goods and services spending is still likely.  

Data continue to point to an overall softening of the economy, but not quite a recession, just yet.  The soft landing is in sight once again.   

Locally Operated Pet Care Facility Opens in Southern Indiana, Offering Premier Boarding, Grooming, and Daycare Services

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Locally Operated Pet Care Facility Opens in Southern Indiana, Offering Premier Boarding, Grooming, and Daycare Services 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Southern Indiana – 8/15/2024 – Resort 4 Paws, a state-of-the-art pet care facility located at 1430 Cedar Street, Clarksville, Indiana, is now open to the public.  Resort 4 Paws is independently owned and operated by local entrepreneurs. 

As the newest addition to the local pet care market, Resort 4 Paws is committed to ensuring every furry friend is treated with the utmost care and attention.  Our team is dedicated to providing exceptional boarding, grooming and daycare services for dogs and cats of Kentuckiana. 

At Resort 4 Paws, we understand that pets are family!  Our facility boasts a range of services designed to cater to the diverse needs of our clients, focusing on an environment that is Safe, Clean & Fun!  They include: 

  • Dog and Cat Boarding:  Spacious, comfortable accommodations tailored to ensure a relaxing stay for your pets.  
  • Professional Dog Grooming:  A full suite of grooming services to keep your pet looking and feeling their best 
  • Doggy Daycare:  A safe, engaging environment where dogs can socialize and play under the supervision of trained staff.  

Resort 4 Paws also boasts a large versatile event space within the facility. This unique area can be utilized for various gatherings, from pet-centric events and training workshops to community meetings and celebrations. Our goal is to create a hub for pet lovers and the community, fostering connections and support amongst pet owners.  

“We are excited to bring a new level of pet care to this market, said Stephen Hoard, Co-Founder of Resort 4 Paws. Our facility is designed with the well-being of pets in mind, and we are eager to serve our community and their furry companions.” 

For more information about Resort 4 Paws, please visit www.r4paws.com or contact us at 812-946-4998.  

About Resort 4 Paws – – Resort 4 Paws is a premier pet care facility located in Southern Indiana, just 5 minutes across the Lincoln bridge offering boarding, grooming, and daycare services for dogs and cats. With a commitment to offering a Safe, Clean and Fun environment for the pets and owners we serve. 

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Earn Points and Claim Exclusive Prizes with the SoIN Fun Trail Digital Passport

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Use the passport to explore family-friendly locations in Southern Indiana through Labor Day Weekend  

Southern Indiana (August 22, 2024) – The SoIN Fun Trail digital passport continues in Southern Indiana, connecting passholders to fun activities in Clark and Floyd counties. Families can sign up and use the free passport to earn points for prizes now through September 2, 2024. 

This weekend only, SoIN Fun Trail passholders can take advantage of a limited time offer. From August 23 – 25, passholders can stop by the Southern Indiana Visitor Center, 128 Spring Street, Suite 106, Jeffersonville, to claim a free Falls of the Ohio State Park mammoth mug! The visitor center is open from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Saturday and from Noon – 5 p.m. on Sunday. One mug per passport. Offer is available while supplies last. 

More than 80 locations are on the SoIN Fun Trail, including places where families and individuals can play, stay, dine, explore and learn. Check in while: 

  • Finding the Force at “Star Wars Meets Indiana Jones: The Hero’s Journey of Dr. David West Reynolds” (on display at the Floyd County Carnegie Library Cultural Arts Center thru August 31) 
  • Taking a guided kayak tour on Deam Lake 
  • Aiming for a strike during Cosmic Bowling at Clarksville Strike & Spare 
  • Painting a masterpiece at Viva Art 
  • Learning about birds, bones and more on an interpretive hike at Charlestown State Park 

More than 20 locations have special offers exclusive to passholders. Offers include: 

  • Get $2 off admission at Clarksville Cove waterpark 
  • Buy one tea at the tea bar, get one tea at the tea bar free Spice & Tea Exchange 
  • Free Small ½ bucket of range balls at Wooded View Golf Course 
  • 20% off any ukelele at Maxwell’s House of Music 
  • $5 off any purchase of $30 or more at Legacy Pizza & Bakery 
  • 5% off room rate at TownePlace Suites by Marriott Louisville North 

Prizes 
Participants check in at participating locations to earn points that can be used to shop for gift cards to SoIN locations like Indiana State Parks, Wimsatt Soap & Soy Candle Bar, Regalo Gifts and H.M. Franks an O’Shea’s Pub. Passholders can also use their points to rack up entries for the grand prize drawing – a “Visit SoIN Again” package including a stay at TownePlace Suites in Jeffersonville, a gift card to J&B Magic Shop & Theater for a show of your choice, a 1-hour pickleball clinic at Goodbounce, a gift card to RecBar 812, and more! Passholders choose when and how to redeem points. Points must be used by September 15, 2024. 

Game On 

For the most dedicated Fun Trail passholders – the first 20 individuals to complete the SoIN Fun Trail by checking in at all locations on the pass will receive an exclusive Fun Trail t-shirt commemorating their achievement. 

Passholders can view all participating partners, special offers and prizes in their passport. Some restrictions apply. Check with participating businesses for full details. 

Getting Started 

Those interested in signing up for the free SoIN Fun Trail passport can visit GoSoIN.com/Passports. The website includes more details on the passport, prizes and step-by-step instructions on how to sign up. 

If you are interested in interviewing someone about the SoIN Fun Trail or if you would like more details, please contact Communications Manager Anna Rosales-Crone at Anna@GoSoIN.com or 812-282-6692. 

SoIN Tourism is the official destination marketing organization for Clark and Floyd Counties in Southern Indiana, just north of Louisville, Ky. Offering authentic experiences in the Kentuckiana region, SoIN includes historic downtowns in Jeffersonville and New Albany, Clarksville’s retail corridor, as well as the communities of Charlestown, Floyds Knobs, Henryville, Memphis, New Washington, Sellersburg, and Starlight. Visitors who would like more information can visit the destination’s website, GoSoIN.com. 

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