All posts by : One Southern Indiana

Continued development, investments and sales activity position Southern Indiana business park for employment boom

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jeffersonville, IN (January 26, 2022) – The River Ridge Commerce Center posted one of its most successful years ever in 2021, with a record number of investments by private developers and historically strong sales activity as more prospects look to locate major facilities at the Southern Indiana business park. Meanwhile, the River Ridge Development Authority (RRDA), which manages the Commerce Center, made significant infrastructure investments to fuel long-term growth.

“This was a transformative year for River Ridge,” said RRDA president J. Mark Robinson. “Our staff and partners not only managed significant additions to the Commerce Center, but they also continued to build a strong foundation for the future. In 2021, River Ridge added new, higher-wage jobs, diversified the mix of industries represented, invested in expanding water and wastewater capacity, and forged new partnerships that will ensure the Commerce Center continues to grow for decades to come.”

The River Ridge Commerce Center currently is home to more than 70 companies with estimated employment of more than 10,600 onsite workers. According to a 2020 economic analysis, it produces a total of $2.5 billion in economic output and supports more than 17,500 regional jobs.

New employers to add more than 2,000 workers

Several employers that expanded in 2021 at River Ridge will bring thousands of jobs to Southern Indiana. They include:

• Communications Test Design, Inc. (CTDI), a leader in the rapidly growing communications, mobility, and consumer devices service industries. The company opened a new facility at River Ridge that is slated to become one of the largest employers at the Commerce Center with more than 1,000 workers.
• HempRise, which invested more than $70 million to construct the world’s largest industrial hemp processing and innovation facility to produce CBD and hemp extracts.
• Affinity, a uniform, professional workwear and safety garment manufacturer and distributor, located its U.S. headquarters, manufacturing facility and distribution center to a property within River Ridge.  The $3.9 million project is expected to create 160 new jobs with pay averaging 32 percent above the Clark County average wage.
• PharmaCord LLC opened a new operations and call center that will provide support services to patients and physicians on behalf of pharmaceutical companies. PharmaCord’s plans call for the addition of 850 new, full-time positions at River Ridge.

Gateway Office campus adds first building

A major initiative took shape in 2021, as the RRDA and its partners opened the first building in the developing Gateway Office & Research Campus. The 45,000-square-foot office building will serve as the home for the Development Authority and Clark County Government. The $12.3 million building overlooks a 5-acre lake, an amphitheater and walking trails, and is the anchor for the planned Gateway Office & Research Campus.

“We’ve been looking forward to this development for several years,” said River Ridge Executive Director Jerry Acy. “This building provides the Class A space we needed to host prospects and partners, including a large community room and multiple conference rooms. It also illustrates the advantages available for companies looking to locate headquarters, research and development facilities and corporate offices within River Ridge.”

Prospects and announcements reach record level

Despite the challenges of COVID, the RRDA saw its most active year of economic development activity in its history.

River Ridge responded to a record 154 requests for proposals for economic development projects and hosted a record high 41 prospect visits from the Indiana Economic Development Corp., commercial Realtors, site selectors, owners and developers. These visits culminated in announcing 15 potential land sales that would result in development of more than 800 acres and more than 3.4 million square feet of additional space within the park.

These potential development deals include the largest land sale in the history of River Ridge – a more than 600-acre parcel. The deal, announced in December, would lead to the development of a build-to-suit industrial campus with multiple facilities on River Ridge’s megasite.

“We have seen so much enthusiasm and excitement nationally and regionally from companies wanting to locate at River Ridge,” added RRDA president Mark Robinson. “We truly believe we’ve only scratched the surface of what is possible.”

Infrastructure continues to be a major focus

To support sustained growth, the RRDA forged several partnerships in 2021, including a deal to add world-class rail service for the Commerce Center. OmniTRAX, Inc., a comprehensive supply chain provider and its parent The Broe Group, began operations in November as the new rail partner for the River Ridge Commerce Center. The long-term partnership allows the national rail-services provider to further develop the park’s rail infrastructure and tenant base. In addition to providing OmniTRAX customers a centralized hub to reach the Midwest, Northeast and Southeast markets, the agreement allows OmniTRAX to collaborate with the RRDA, state and local officials to attract new projects that increase economic development within the region.

The rail agreement with OmniTRAX allowed the RRDA to terminate the last remaining encumbering agreement it inherited from the U.S. Army in conjunction with its purchase of the Commerce Center land. Initially, as of 2003, there were 53 leases assigned to the RRDA by the U.S. Government that encumbered and hindered early development of more than 3,000 acres within the business park.

River Ridge also struck a new water operating agreement with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) that will expand its water supply. The 50-year contract reserves up to 20 million gallons of water per day from the Ohio River Outflow Aquifer, which is owned by the Indiana agency. The RRDA also completed negotiations for the IDNR to construct new water wells and treatment facilities to add 3 million gallons per day to the water system.

Meanwhile, River Ridge began construction of new supply lines and two, 2 million-gallon water towers to accommodate the long-term needs of businesses within the Commerce Center.

And the RRDA worked with the cities of Jeffersonville and Charlestown to seek funding for waste-water treatment facilities. That work led to inclusions of the projects in a $50 million request a Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) grant. The State of Indiana announced in December that Southern Indiana’s regional development authority would be awarded the grant, and the funding is expected to be split among numerous projects.

“This has been a great year for River Ridge and Southern Indiana,” Acy said. “Most importantly, we are poised for an even better year in 2022 if this progress continues.”

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About the River Ridge Development Authority

The River Ridge Development Authority manages the River Ridge Commerce Center, a 6,000-acre business and office park established in 1998 to replace lost economic activity from the closure of a former government installation at the site. The Authority has invested more than $150 million to redevelop about 35 percent of the Center. River Ridge is home to more than 70 companies, such as Amazon, Bose, Collins Aerospace, Enjoy Life Foods, Medline, Optum and PharmaCord. Onsite employment totaled more than 10,600 in 2020, and the Center produced a total of $2.5 billion in economic output and supported more than 17,500 regional jobs. The investments and growth at River Ridge recently earned the RRDA the International Economic Development Council’s Gold Award for Real Estate Redevelopment and Reuse. For more information, visit RiverRidgecc.com.

Eligible small businesses may apply for up to $15,000 to support app or technology development, business management systems, grant writing services and more

INDIANAPOLIS (Jan. 18, 2022) – The Indiana Small Business Development Center (SBDC) today announced applications are open for the Indiana Technical Assistance Program (INTAP) through Feb. 20, 2022. This statewide initiative connects small businesses with critical professional assistance to complete growth and improvement projects.  
 
“INTAP helps small businesses grow and thrive by helping them complete critical growth projects they might not otherwise be able to pursue,” said Indiana SBDC State Director and Vice President of Small Business David Watkins. “Small businesses can utilize this program for a variety of professional assistance, everything from product prototyping to inventory control systems. I strongly encourage small business owners to learn more about this program and see how it could help take their business to the next level.” 
 
Through INTAP, eligible small businesses may apply to receive up to $15,000 in professional services from a qualified vendor to complete growth and improvement projects that require specialized assistance or technical expertise such as app or technology development, intellectual property legal assistance and grant writing assistance for the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs. The program is administered in partnership with Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington’s Cook Center for Entrepreneurship, which houses the South Central Indiana SBDC regional office. 
 
INTAP has assisted 128 businesses with completing projects since the program was launched in 2017, 68 of which were completed in 2021. To be eligible for INTAP, Indiana small businesses must meet the following criteria:

• Be or become an Indiana SBDC client,
• Have a physical presence in Indiana,
• Use a vendor physically located in Indiana,
• Be able to complete the project within five months and before Dec. 31, 2022,
• Be an eligible project type, and
• Be able to demonstrate a positive impact after completion, including but not limited to new job creation, increased production or sales, or new market expansion.

Indiana companies are encouraged to learn more about eligibility requirements and submit applications online. 
 
Success Story: Lafayette-based startup Sunny (rebranded from Menstrual Mates) partners with developer to design data-informed self-care product
Hoosier Heartland Indiana SBDC client Sunny, a socially conscious self-care startup, delivers eco-friendly products, honest education and global giveback. The company utilized INTAP in 2021, working with Indianapolis-based product development firm Glassboard to finalize the design of its menstrual cup expected to launch by the end of 2022. Sunny also received investment from Elevate Ventures, Indiana’s venture development partner. 
 
The Indiana SBDC, which is a program of the IEDC, helps businesses start, grow, finance, innovate, and transition through no-cost, confidential business advising and training. For more information on resources and programs for small businesses, visit isbdc.org. To become a client of the Indiana SBDC, contact the regional office nearest you.

About Indiana SBDC
The Indiana Small Business Development Center (Indiana SBDC) is a program of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, which leads the state of Indiana’s economic development efforts. The Indiana SBDC helps entrepreneurs and small businesses start, grow, finance, innovate, and transition through no-cost, confidential business advising and training. With a network of 10 regional offices through the state, the Indiana SBDC creates a positive and measurable impact on the formation, growth and sustainability of Indiana’s small businesses. 
  
The Indiana SBDC is funded, in part, through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. For more information about the Indiana SBDC, visit isbdc.org.   

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Media Contact: 
Melissa Thomas (IEDC) – 317.750.4792 or mthomas@iedc.in.gov

The company is finding success in an overlooked sector of industry

MEDIA CONTACT: alex.reed@vsimple.com

NEW ALBANY, IN — Jan 4, 2022 — Workflow efficiency software provider Vsimple announced today it has closed a fundraising round led by Airwing Ventures. Its eponymous platform was built to prepare distributors, dealers and manufacturers—industry segments often ignored by technology companies—for the future of work.

Focusing on the underserved market was a conscious decision, says Vsimple Co-Founder and CEO Buddy Bockweg. “Our team has collectively spent decades in the industry, so we feel uniquely positioned to help our customers in a meaningful way.”

With the additional funding, Bockweg and team will continue developing new features for its platform as well as increase its efforts to connect with industry professionals. “We were impressed with Vsimple’s workflow platform and the demonstrable ROI customers are reporting; there is real product market fit,” said Dan Beldy, Partner at Airwing Ventures. “Partnering with organizations to understand their specific industry needs and delivering a solutions-oriented service is the hallmark of all successful SaaS companies.” Airwing was joined in the fundraising round by Render Capital, Elevate Ventures and several others.

Vsimple’s software pulls all of the workflow that happens in an organization—order and quote management, documentation, stage gate approvals, communication and collaboration, data reviews—into one digital place. Bockweg claims the solution isn’t a replacement for Enterprise Resource Planner (ERP) or Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) platforms, but a revolution of the way work traditionally gets done. “Bouncing between emails, spreadsheets, phone calls and shared drives is normal in a lot of environments,” Bockweg notes. “This can really inhibit high growth companies, especially if they aren’t able or willing to hire more and more people to manage the chaos.”

On top of streamlined communication, document storage and project management, the platform delivers insights and data which can be hard to extract from emails, spreadsheets and shared drives. Beyond the core tenants of the platform, Bockweg says the secret to their success so far has been their hands-on style of engagement. “We sit with teams and help map their processes and procedures—current and ideal—before we ever get into implementation,” he explains. “We then spend time onsite during and after implementation, putting a heavy emphasis on training and support. It’s all about delivering results for our customers.”

The results being reported by customers have been staggering. ProLift Toyota Material Handling, an eight-location forklift dealer with hundreds of employees, has been using the platform for several months and has increased its total number of users by more than 10x since initial implementation. Customers have also reported organization-wide email traffic reduction of more than 55%, 2x faster order processing time and overall operational efficiency gains of more than 30%. “Vsimple is quickly staking their claim as a leading software solution for manufacturers and distributors with their easy-to-use platform and process,” said Patrick Henshaw, Managing Director of Render Capital. “We’re delighted to play a role in the growth of such an innovative local startup and we believe the future is bright for Vsimple’s team, product, and customers.”

With early traction and an infusion of capital, the company expects to post triple digit growth over the next 12 months with a combination of existing customer growth and new client onboarding. “We’re encouraged by what we’ve seen this year, but nowhere near a point of satisfaction,” Bockweg says. “Our mission is to build something of tremendous value for our customers and our community.”

About Vsimple

We’re quick to acknowledge Vsimple is not a typical software company. And we fully embrace that. Most of our team’s prior experience comes from within the industries we now serve:  companies that move and make things. Building software is only part of the equation. The most important part is the willingness to go deep with customers. Understand who they are, what they worry about, and how we can help them, not just sell to them. And that’s what we’re about—people helping people. At Vsimple, it’s our mission to deliver the future of work, today.

Sellersburg, Ind. – Dec. 3, 2021
Clark County REMC’s board of directors named Jason Clemmons chief executive officer of the not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative. Clemmons, whose first day is Jan. 3, will replace retiring CEO David Vince.

“I am excited to be a part of Clark County REMC and serve their membership in this capacity,” said Clemmons. “Clark County REMC has a longstanding commitment of service to its communities, and I look forward to continuing this commitment in the future.”

Clemmons has 17 years of electric cooperative industry experience, most recently as vice president of marketing and member services at RushShelby Energy in Manilla, Ind. He joined that East Central Indiana electric cooperative in 2004 as its marketing, member service, and energy efficiency manager.

He is a graduate of Ball State University and earned a Management Internship Certificate from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Clemmons also completed the Rural Electric Leaders in Training Exchange program and is a recipient of the C. Tom Taylor Member Services Award, an award that recognizes outstanding contributions to electric cooperative member services.

Clark County REMC, located in Sellersburg, Ind., is an electric utility cooperative serving over 22,000 consumers in parts of Clark, Floyd, Scott, Jefferson and Washington counties. The electric cooperative maintains over 1,800 miles of energized line. For more information about the cooperative, visit clarkremc.coop.