‘Korean War Armistice’ Named Theme for Clarksville’s Memorial Day Ceremony

by with No Comment Member News

The event will be held this Sunday at 2:00 pm at the Veterans Place Memorial

CLARKSVILLE, IN (May 23, 2023) – This July will mark 70 years since the Korean War Armistice Agreement was signed ending that major United States conflict in 1953. That will be the theme of this year’s Memorial Day Ceremony sponsored by the Town of Clarksville. The annual event is held each year at the Veterans Place Memorial behind Clarksville’s Town Hall. This year’s event will be held this Sunday, May 28th at 2:00 pm.

The event will feature the Clarksville Police Honor Guard, live patriotic music, vocalists, and the reading of the names of our fallen heroes. As part of this year’s theme, visitors will also hear the story of Chaplain Herman Felhoelter, a military chaplain who was born in Louisville, KY. Felhoelter served with the 19th Infantry Regiment during the Korean War. On July 16, 1950, Felhoelter was north of Taejon helping a group carry 30 wounded Soldiers. They came under attack and when it became apparent they could not endure the enemy assault. Felhoelter convinced the medical officer to lead all able Soldiers to safety while he remained with the wounded and dying. They were soon attacked and killed. Felhoelter, who posthumously received the Distinguished Service Cross, was the first Chaplain Corps casualty in Korea.

This special event is open to the public, and everyone is welcome to attend. Following the Memorial Day ceremony, Clarksville Scout Troop 4010 will be holding a flag retirement ceremony, and residents are encouraged to bring any American flags which need to be honorably retired. Veterans Place Memorial is located behind Clarksville Town Hall at 2000 Broadway Street in Clarksville.

Click here to download the program.

 

Worker Safety Concerns Prompt Hard Closure of Blackiston Mill Road

by with No Comment Member News

Project leaders reporting several close calls with workers and equipment.

CLARKSVILLE, IN (May 24, 2023) – When the Town of Clarksville announced that a large section of Blackiston Mill Road would be closing to thru traffic for construction, the plan was to keep the road accessible to make it easier for residents living in the work area. That is about to change due safety concerns caused by reckless drivers.

There will be a hard closure on both ends of the construction zone beginning Tuesday, May 30th, which means no thru traffic will be able to access the construction zone. Those who need to access homes and businesses within the limits of the barricades will have to utilize the roadway connecting Blackiston Bowl to the backside of Peddler’s Mall. Public Works Director Brad Cummings says the change needs to be made due to safety issues caused by drivers.

“We didn’t go with a hard closure in the beginning in order to make it easier for residents to access their homes and businesses,” said Cummings. “Unfortunately, many drivers continued to use Blackiston Mill Road as a cut through rather than using the posted detour.”

Not only were drivers still using Blackiston Mill Road as a cut through, Cummings says drivers have also been moving recklessly through the construction zone nearly hitting equipment and construction workers.

“There have been several close calls prompting complaints from the construction crews,” said Cummings.

Crews are working to add sidewalks, a new turning lane into the Peddler’s Mall entrance, new sight lines for motorists, and improved drainage for stormwater runoff. The closure of Blackiston Mill Road is scheduled through November 20th.

Clarksville Launches Search for New Economic Development Director

by with No Comment Member News

Visionary leader wanted for development of ‘blank canvas’ in South Clarksville.

CLARKSVILLE, IN (May 25, 2023) – When it comes to local municipal government, there are very few positions as vital as that of the Economic Development Director.  Along with the Town Manager, the Economic Development Director is the driving force behind the growth and development of the community. 

Although there are many such positions available across the Hoosier state, none could be more exciting than the newly available position with the Town of Clarksville.  The thriving southern Indiana community has been without a development leader since the resignation of Nic Langford in August 2022.

“Some may wonder why it has taken so long for us to begin the search for a replacement,” said Communications Director Ken Conklin. “The reason is that we wanted to look at how we could change the department to make it more efficient and productive for the residents of Clarksville.”

Town leaders took extra time to craft a plan for moving forward, first with the hiring of a new Economic Development Director, then the addition of a Capital Projects Manager in the weeks to come.  They also wanted to create a financial and benefits package that would be attractive to potential candidates.

“There is a lot of competition for quality candidates, but the Town of Clarksville has a benefits package that is second to none,” said Conklin.  “Candidates will be blown away during the interview process of what we have to offer.”

Another enticing challenge for candidates will be to lead the development of South Clarksville.  The Town of Clarksville has been working for years on a plan to create a new downtown district with multi-use developments, luxury apartments, restaurants, hotels, and possibly a convention center.

“This is an extremely exciting time to be a part of the Town of Clarksville team, and we are looking forward to finding the right candidate to lead the way,” said Conklin.

Clarksville will be accepting applications for the new Economic Development Director position through Monday, June 5th.  Interested applicants can find an extensive job description at www.townofclarksville.com/employment.

Economic Update | Mixed Signals

by 1si NewsEconomic Development

submitted by
Uric Dufrene, Ph.D., Interim Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Sanders Chair in Business, Indiana University Southeast

The one indicator that was moving toward the recession camp was unemployment claims.  The Labor Department releases new unemployment claims every Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. and claims had been inching higher the past several months.  New claims hit a bottom of 182,000 in September 2022 and climbed to 264,000 in early May 2023. Last Thursday, the report showed that claims for unemployment dropped to 242,000. This was support to the soft-landing crowd and bear market investors were likely not pleased. Levels need to be closer to 350,000 for the declaration of a recession. This is not a rule; only observation from historical patterns. Claims could potentially see a rapid climb, but that is unlikely.  Consequently, as we mentioned in the last column, a recession in 2023 is getting increasingly unlikely.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics also released the monthly report on state employment and unemployment last week, and Indiana gained 15,800 jobs in April, one of the largest increases among the 50 states. On a year-to-date basis, Indiana has added 38,000 jobs. In the past three recessions, Indiana saw a precipitous decline in payrolls. During 2023 however, jobs have been added at an increasing rate. Professional and business services, education and health services, and leisure and hospitality were responsible for a significant amount of the payrolls gains. The state’s unemployment rate declined to 3%.  Kentucky saw an addition of 7,000 jobs and an unemployment rate decline to 3.7%.

We have more information on inflation since the last column.   The CPI declined to 4.9%, still above the Fed preferred range of 2%.  The core inflation rate (CPI minus food and energy) came in at 5.5%, suggesting more stickiness in the core rate, which is of greater interest to the Fed. The CPI came in a little less than expected, and the NASDAQ approved with a significant gain for the day. The CPI coming in a little less than expected suggested a pause in Fed hikes for the next meeting, a more favorable condition for growth-oriented stocks. The produce price index (PPI) was released a day after CPI, and it also showed additional slowing of producer inflation. The annual rate declined to 2.3% and was under the expected rate of 2.5%. These two series are highly correlated and historically do not move counter to the other.  With a PPI of 2.3%, we can expect CPI to continue the downward trend.

And now for the bad news. The Federal Reserve released the results of the Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey.  The results show a clear tightening of credit standards for consumer and commercial and industrial loans. Along with credit tightening, the results also revealed softening loan demand. When you place this data in a graph, you see a significant increase in credit tightening and a significant decrease in loan demand. Such a graphic pattern is usually followed by a recession. So, as the recession continues to be pushed back further, the senior loan officer opinion survey supported the notion that one will likely occur. To be continued…

Community Broadband Visioning Session to be held May 24th

by with No Comment Member News

The Indiana Broadband Offices is holding a county stakeholder engagement session on May 24th from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. at the Pine View Government Center Assembly Room, 2524 Corydon Pike, in New Albany, IN. To RSVP for this event, click here.

PURPOSE
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is an agency of the United States Department of Commerce responsible for overseeing the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, which provides $42.45 billion to expand high-speed internet access across the country. The Program requires Indiana to submit a Five-Year Plan detailing the current state of broadband in Indiana, the State’s vision of broadband, and how the State plans to execute this vision.
The team writing the Five-Year Plan is conducting 18 in-person visioning sessions across the State. Indiana is diverse in many ways, and every community has distinct needs. The purpose of these sessions is to adequately understand and address the barriers to broadband deployment and unique community challenges.


The visioning sessions are being hosted by the Indiana Broadband Office (IBO). The IBO, led by Deputy Director Earnie Holtrey and State Infrastructure & Broadband Administrator Steve Cox, assists Hoosiers in need of affordable and reliable broadband connectivity. The IBO has done extensive work to provide broadband to Hoosiers wherever they need it – at home, work, and school – and strives to continue their work until every last Hoosier is connected. The IBO is currently engaged with Guidehouse, a private consulting firm, to complete this Five-Year Plan.

For more details, click here to download an informational flyer.

Bluegrass Supply Chain Services to Invest Over $16 Million in Jeffersonville. 

by with No Comment 1si News1si Press ReleaseEconomic Development

NEW ALBANY, IN (May 15, 2023) Southern Indiana continues to build on its momentum in the logistics industry, as Bluegrass Supply Chain Services, LLC and Bridgeport Partners REIG, LLC announce plans for a new facility at 1205 Bridgeport Drive in Jeffersonville, Indiana.  The Bowling Green, Kentucky-based companies plan to invest $15,931,000 in the new facility, along with an additional investment of $835,000 in machinery and equipment.  The new facility will add up to 25 new employees at an average hourly wage of $27.22, which is above the average hourly wage for Clark County, Indiana.   

“We’re extremely excited to bring this new, state-of-the-art logistics center to Jeffersonville,” said John Higgins, CEO of Bluegrass Supply Chain Services, LLC and Bridgeport Partners REIG, LLC. “Supply chain management, logistics, and advanced innovation plays a critical role in the economic health and vibrancy of our country.  This new facility positions us to combine the best of breed technology with integrated solutions to continue playing a key part in this vital area.  We appreciate all the efforts made from the State of Indiana, the City of Jeffersonville, and One Southern Indiana to help us expand our footprint and our workforce with job wages at or above the Clark County average.”

The company was approved for over $1.3 million in tax abatements from the City of Jeffersonville, including $1,299,680 in real estate taxes over the next five years, and $11,693 in personal property taxes over the same period, as approved by the Jeffersonville City Council during its May 1 meeting. The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) is supporting this project by expanding their existing 2018 incentives to incorporate this additional investment in Indiana. 

“We’re thrilled to partner with Bluegrass Supply Chain Services on this project,” said Jeffersonville Mayor Mike Moore.  “It’s yet another example of Jeffersonville’s vibrant business climate, and further evidence of our quality resident workforce in the area which supports economic growth across our region.  We look forward to assisting in any way we can to bring this exciting project to fruition.”

Wendy Dant Chesser, President and CEO of One Southern Indiana said, “This is wonderful news for Jeffersonville and Southern Indiana.  We continue to attract dynamic companies at the forefront of their industries, and with their focus on innovation, technology and continuous improvement in logistics, Bluegrass Supply Chain Services is certainly no exception.  1si is delighted to be a part of this process, and we look forward to watching their progress.”   

About Bluegrass Supply Chain Services
Bluegrass Supply Chain Services offers a full suite of value-added warehousing services and transportation management solutions to enhance operational efficiency. By offering expanded capabilities and capacity, reducing time touch and travel, and improving on-time performance, they help companies expand their customer base, venture into new markets, and create positive consumer experiences, so they can focus on core business and becoming more competent, and competitive, in the market. 

About One Southern Indiana
One Southern Indiana (1si) was formed in July of 2006 as the economic development organization and chamber of commerce serving Clark and Floyd counties. 1si’s mission is to help businesses innovate and thrive in the Southern Indiana / Louisville metro area via the three pillars of Business Resources, Economic Development and Advocacy. For more information on One Southern Indiana, visit www.1si.org.

Contact:

Wendy Dant Chesser
President & CEO, One Southern Indiana
Wendy@1si.org
812.945.0266

John Higgins
CEO
Bluegrass Supply Chain Services, LLC
Bridgeport Partners REIG, LLC
jhiggins@bsc3pl.com
270.535.7010

Nonprofit Spotlight | YouthLink Southern Indiana

by with No Comment 1si NewsNonprofit Spotlight

Youth Link Southern Indiana
1740 Williamsburg Drive, Suite G
Jeffersonville, Indiana 47130
Business Phone: 812-280-0028

Website: www.youthlinksi.org
Contact Person: Lauren Wagoner, Marketing and Development Manager
Contact Email: lwagoner@youthlinksi.org

 

Please use 300 words or less to describe your agency and your impact in the community.

Youth Link Southern Indiana is a local youth-serving organization that provides academic support, mental health services, and basic needs resources. Youth Link Southern Indiana partners with all four school districts in Clark County and New Albany High School in Floyd County, providing support to 19 schools and 4,500 students through their vital programming. The organization’s focus is Linking Youth to Pathways of Success by removing barriers for students. Youth Link Southern Indiana was formerly known as Community in Schools in Clark County.

 

Youth Link provides a variety of programming through their school day services. Resource Coordinators provide 1-on-1 and small group tutoring, distribute Bare Necessities items, and oversee the 321 Read Program. The Bare Necessities program provides coats, shoes, hygiene products, and other basic needs to students. The 321 Read program matches a community volunteer with a struggling reader for a 1-on-1 weekly session. Youth Link Southern Indiana also partners with Centerstone Mental Health to provide licensed, clinical therapists to students in need at no cost.

 

Youth Link Southern Indiana provides programming outside of the school day. The 21st Century Community Learning Center sites offer after school academic and behavioral interventions for referred students grades 1-12. In addition to homework assistance and tutoring, students participate in a variety of enrichment activities. The Extended Day Learning Program (EDL) provides engaging and enriching before and after school care for elementary students in a nurturing environment.

 

Agency Mission Statement or Description: 

Linking Youth to Pathways of Success 

Year established: 2002

Counties/regions serviced: Clark and Floyd County

 

Focus areas: Education, Academic Support, Enriched Activities, Bare Necessities Supply Closets, Mental Health Services, Literacy Mentor Program

 

Impact in community: We remove barriers for students to reach their full potential.

 

Volunteer Opportunities: 321 Read matches a community volunteer with a struggling reader for a one-on-one weekly session of reading to and with the student. Each week, the student is given a new book of their own to take home and add to their home library. Once the student is matched with a “reading friend,” we make sure they have a volunteer to read with them for a full three years, from first through third grade, the most critical years for reading mastery.

 

How 1si members can help your organization:

  • Volunteer for 321 Read Program (just 30 minutes a week at the school of your choice)
  • Donate essential clothing and hygiene items to the Bare Necessities Supply Closets
  • Donate directly to Youth Link Southern
    • A gift of $25 per month provides:
      • 40 new books for our 321 Read Students
      • 10 personal items for low-income youth
      • 1-month student scholarship for our after-school programs
      • 20 hours for 1 student – in-school tutoring or academic support
      • 1 year of school-based therapy – Access for one student for an academic year