Thank You for Renewing Your Membership | February 2026

by with No Comment 1si NewsThank Your for Renewing Your Membership

One Southern Indiana would like to thank the following members for renewing their membership during the month of February 2026.

Quarter Century Club (25 years or more)Member Since
Indiana-American Water Company1967
The Koetter Group1975
Junior Achievement of Kentuckiana1985
Indiana University Southeast1985
Hughes Group, Inc.1985
AML Construction1986
Altor Solutions1990
Amatrol, Inc.1990
New Albany Floyd County Schools1991
Ironmark1992
Indiana Land Co.1994
Childplace1994
J. Rorrer & Company, CPA1994
Mister ”P” Express, Inc.1996
Grace Design Studios1998
Wiggam Lumber, Inc.1999
Axiom Financial Strategies Group1999
St. Elizabeth Catholic Charities1999
Floyd Circuit Court Judge 2001
  
10-24 Years 
One Vision Credit Union2002
Toby’s Lawn & Landscape2003
Padgett, Inc.2003
RE/MAX FIRST2004
Old National Bank2004
Kentuckiana Air Education Network2004
Wellstone Regional Hospital2005
Leadership Southern Indiana2007
Scot Mailing and Shipping Systems2008
S & M Precast, Inc.2010
Arctic Minerals2011
GHK Truss, LLC2012
C. W. Erecting, LLC2013
United Consulting2013
Stotts Orthodontics2013
ERL, Inc.2014
Hampton Inn by Hilton New Albany Louisville West2016
Our Lady of Providence High School2016
Zaxby’s – Charlestown Rd.2016
  
5-9 Years 
Republic Services2017
Terracon Consultants, Inc2017
Personal Counseling Services, Inc.2017
Atlas Technical Consultants2017
Premier Capital Corporation2017
Center for Lay Ministries, Inc.2017
JPAR Aspire2018
Louisville Sports Commission2018
Preferred Meats, Inc.2018
Floyds Knobs Water Company2019
Russell Cellular2020
Makarios Consulting, LLC2020
BluMine Health, LLC2021
Destination Georgetown2021
Videobred, Inc.2021
CRG Automation2021
CTDI – Jeffersonville2021
  
2-4 Years 
Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe Jeffersonville2022
Parkside Trace Apartments2022
M & M Office Solutions, Inc.2023
St. Mary’s Catholic Church2023
Covered Bridge Golf Club2023
Drake’s2023
Kosair for Kids2023
Open Door Youth Services2023
American Structurepoint2023
GelCraft Building2023
Mirazon2024
HearingLife2024
Floor Coverings International Louisville East 2024
Michener Mullins & Arrington PLLC2024
City Wide Facility Solutions 2024
Goodbounce Pickleball Yard2024
Alzheimer’s Association of Greater KY & Southern IN2024
  
One Year 
CICG2025
Town of Utica2025
Austins Clean Cars Auto Detailing LLC2025
Thoroughbred Engineering2025
Your Land and Title2025
River City Sheet Metal2025
Grube CPA, Inc.2025
ABTECH Electrical Services2025
Myers Collision Center2025
Everwise Credit Union2025
CTL Leadership2025

Growth, Revisions, and the Impact of Trade Policy

by with No Comment 1si NewsEconomic Development
Submitted by Uric Dufrene, Ph.D., Sanders Chair in Business, Indiana University Southeast
 
Revisions to national payrolls wiped out a significant portion of previously reported job gains between April 2024 and March 2025. As a result, employment growth over that period was revised downward by 898,000 jobs.
 
We also saw weaker-than-previously reported payroll growth for 2025 itself, a year that included the economic effects of the so-called Liberation Day tariff announcements. Payrolls increased by only 180,000 during 2025, down sharply from the previously reported 584,000.

On a monthly basis, that translates to an average gain of just 15,000 jobs per month, one of the weakest non-recessionary performances going back to 2003.

Back in 2022, many economists, including this one, predicted that 2023 would bring about a recession. That forecast was driven largely by signals from financial markets, particularly the yield curve, the relationship between short- and long-term bond yields. When the yield curve inverts, meaning short-term rates rise above long-term rates, a recession has historically followed about a year later.

The recession never officially materialized. But with the benefit of revised data, we now know that job growth throughout 2024 and into 2025 was far weaker than originally believed. In hindsight, the economy may not have been as strong as headline numbers suggested.

We entered 2025 with elevated uncertainty surrounding trade policy. Then came Liberation Day on April 2nd, and uncertainty intensified. Equity markets experienced significant volatility, and capital allocation decisions became more reactive than strategic, sometimes shaped more by social media posts than by long-term planning.

What was the ultimate impact of this uncertainty on economic growth? The quarterly data provide some clues.

First-quarter GDP contracted sharply. Much of the decline was due to a surge in imports. Retailers, manufacturers, and even consumers rushed to purchase goods ahead of tariff implementation. Because imports subtract from GDP in the national accounting framework, that surge pulled overall growth lower. At the same time, data center investment was unusually strong, providing an offsetting but concentrated boost.

In the second quarter, GDP rebounded as imports normalized. Trade once again played an outsized role, contributing significantly to 3.8% growth. Much of that rebound reflected a reversal of the earlier import spike rather than broad-based acceleration.

By the third quarter, growth strengthened further, driven primarily by consumer spending, particularly services, along with continued improvement in net exports.

Advance estimates for the fourth quarter show growth slowing to 1.4%. Once again, the consumer carried much of the expansion, largely through services spending, while goods spending softened. The government shutdown erased nearly as much activity as the economy generated during the quarter, dampening overall momentum.

Tariffs were intended to boost domestic manufacturing and reduce the nation’s trade deficit. Nearly one year after the announcements, the trade deficit widened in the most recent quarter and now sits roughly where it stood prior to the first-quarter import surge. In fact, the deficit exceeds levels seen in 2023 and is comparable to 2024 levels.

On the manufacturing front, some early green shoots are emerging after several years of sluggish performance. However, tariffs have not been kind to Indiana. Manufacturing employment in the state has declined since the April Liberation Day announcement.

Total employment in Indiana has increased by only about 2,000 jobs since April. Remove the gain of approximately 14,000 jobs in education and health services, primarily health care, and overall employment would show a clear decline.

For Indiana, tariffs have been more headwind than tailwind.

With the recent Supreme Court reversal and the potential reduction or elimination of certain tariffs, manufacturing may see improved conditions heading into 2026. A more stable trade environment could provide a meaningful lift for Indiana, across rural counties and metropolitan regions alike.

Building Today’s Manufacturing Workforce: Skills That Matter

by with No Comment 1si NewsMetro Manufacturing Alliance

Submitted by Ivy Tech Community College

Manufacturing is evolving faster than ever—and so are the skills required to succeed in today’s industrial environment. At Ivy Tech Community College, we are committed to meeting this moment by delivering high-impact training and strong career connections that prepare employees and students for the growing demands of modern manufacturing.

While technical expertise remains essential, employers consistently tell us that professional skill development is in higher demand than ever. Leadership, communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and project management skills are no longer “nice to have”—they are critical to productivity, safety, and long-term growth on the shop floor and beyond.

Ivy Tech removes the barriers that often prevent employers from launching effective training initiatives. We bring the training to you, customize curricula to meet your organization’s specific needs, and work with your team to schedule training at the most convenient times. Professional development offers long-term value by helping organizations level-set new managers and prepare employees for greater responsibility—making it a vital component of strategic workforce planning.

In parallel, Ivy Tech continues to deliver industry-relevant technical training aligned with the needs of today’s manufacturers. Our hands-on programs cover a wide range of in-demand disciplines, including:

  • Electrical and industrial electrical systems
  • Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC)
  • Hydraulics and pneumatics
  • Welding and other core manufacturing technologies

These programs are developed in collaboration with industry partners and emphasize applied learning that translates directly to workplace performance.

Beyond training, Ivy Tech serves as a key career connection hub for Indiana manufacturers. We connect employers with students for job placement, internships, and apprenticeships—helping companies build talent pipelines early and efficiently. Employers are also encouraged to visit our Advanced Manufacturing campus to see students in action, meet our Dean and instructors, and learn how our programs align with real-world workforce needs. Building relationships early is one of the most effective ways to secure local talent and keep it in the region.

Ivy Tech also offers tools to help employers fill immediate workforce needs. Through our HIRE IVY network, employers can post job opportunities reaching more than 205,000 current Ivy Tech students statewide, along with a broad alumni network.

As manufacturing continues to modernize, success depends on a workforce that combines technical expertise, leadership capability, and adaptability. Ivy Tech Community College is a trusted partner for Indiana manufacturers, and we are eager to support your workforce needs—today and into the future.

Take the next step and partner with Ivy Tech to build the workforce your business needs to thrive.

CLICK HERE:   Ivy Tech Workforce/Career Interest Form

Employer Consultants:

Delana Roederer  (droederer1@ivytech.edu)

Christy Ralston (cralston20@ivytech.edu)

The Mustard Seed Announces Valentine’s Giveaway to Support Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse

by with No Comment Member News

Southern Indiana — February 2026 — This Valentine’s season, The Mustard Seed is inviting the community to share love with purpose through a special in-store Valentine’s Giveaway taking place at all three Mustard Seed thrift store locations in Floyds Knobs, Sellersburg, and Corydon, Indiana.

The giveaway is designed to both thank shoppers for their generosity and visibly demonstrate community support for survivors of childhood sexual abuse — the heart of The Mustard Seed’s mission.

During the giveaway period, any shopper who chooses to round up their purchase or make a monetary donation at checkout will receive a paper heart. Shoppers are invited to write their name on the front and their contact information on the back of the heart, which will then be displayed in-store as a public show of support for survivors.

At the close of business on Saturday, each Mustard Seed location — Floyds Knobs, Sellersburg, and Corydon — will randomly select one heart, resulting in three total winners. Each selected participant will receive a $100 Mustard Seed gift card. Winners will be contacted directly the following Monday.

All funds raised through round-ups and donations help The Mustard Seed continue its mission of connecting survivors to healing resources, including trauma-informed counseling and other supportive services.

The Valentine’s Giveaway will take place at all Mustard Seed thrift store locations in Floyds Knobs, Sellersburg, and Corydon, Indiana. Community members are encouraged to stop in, shop with purpose, and help fill the stores with hearts — both on the walls and in action.

For more information about The Mustard Seed or its mission, visit www.themustardseedthrift.com or follow along on social media.

About The Mustard Seed
The Mustard Seed is a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting survivors of childhood sexual abuse to healing resources through funding, education, and prevention. The organization is primarily funded through its thrift stores located in Southern Indiana.

Media Contact:
Elle Fleenor
Director of Marketing, Media, & E-Commerce
The Mustard Seed
elle@mustardseedthrift.com
(812) 595-4183

Are Green Shoots Starting to Emerge After a Three-Year Manufacturing Drought?

by with No Comment 1si NewsEconomic Development
Submitted by Uric Dufrene, Ph.D., Sanders Chair in Business, Indiana University Southeast

 

Since October 2022, the ISM Manufacturing Index has been above 50 only once, a January reading that barely cleared the expansion threshold. Higher interest rates were the initial culprit behind the sector’s decline, followed more recently by tariffs, or at least the threat of tariffs. Regardless of the cause, manufacturing has remained in contraction territory for an extended period.

For manufacturing-rich regions such as Louisville Metro, Indiana, and Kentucky, this prolonged slowdown has mattered. Recent economic data, however, suggest the sector may be on the cusp of expansion, improving the outlook for these regions.

The latest encouraging signal comes from the ISM Index itself. The Institute for Supply Management’s monthly reading rose to 52.6, not only above 50 but also higher than the prior month and stronger than anticipated. Key subcomponents showed that both new orders and production moved into expansion territory, pointing to a more favorable near-term outlook.

The employment subindex also improved from the prior month, but it continues to signal contraction, now for 36 of the past 37 months. As we’ve discussed in prior columns, economic expansion does not necessarily translate into labor growth. The latest ISM report reinforces that view.

This divergence between growth and hiring helps explain recent productivity gains. The latest data show that unit labor costs declined by nearly 2 percent in the most recent quarter, while productivity rose by almost 5 percent. Workers are producing more output, and doing so more efficiently, which is helping to drive unit labor costs lower. These productivity gains, driven largely by investments in capital goods, support profitability while also helping to keep inflation in check.

The groundwork for these gains was laid years ago. In 2021, the economy experienced a near-gargantuan surge in industrial machinery investment, the largest one-year increase in more than three decades. Coming out of the pandemic, job openings far exceeded the number of available workers. Employers were forced to pivot, relying more on capital than labor simply because labor was scarce.

We are now beginning to see the payoff from those capital investments made five years ago. Some will attribute today’s productivity gains to artificial intelligence, but the shift toward capital-intensive production was set in motion well before AI became the latest headline. Growth in manufacturing accompanied by limited labor growth is likely to persist. Any reshoring of manufacturing back to the U.S. will require a competitive cost structure, and that means even more investment in automation, or capital over labor.

Productivity gains will be a key factor influencing the next Federal Reserve chair and could help justify additional rate cuts later this year, beyond what markets currently anticipate.

Turning to the labor market, the February employment report was delayed due to the brief government shutdown. The latest private-sector ADP report showed continued softness in hiring, with just 22,000 jobs added, well below expectations of 50,000. At the same time, unemployment claims remain at historically low levels, suggesting layoffs are not accelerating, despite recent high-profile announcements. Job openings, however, saw a steep decline from the prior month, hitting the lowest level since the Covid year. The job creation engine of the U.S. economy continues to sputter.

Closer to home, preliminary estimates suggest Louisville Metro will finish the year roughly flat in terms of job growth. The largest declines were seen in leisure and hospitality, which shed about 3,000 jobs, followed by transportation and warehousing, down roughly 2,000. The largest gains were in education and health services, and primarily healthcare, which added about 1,000 jobs.

As we start 2026, green shoots appear to be emerging in both manufacturing and the service side of the economy. Job growth may not fully reflect that improvement, which helps explain why the Federal Reserve may ultimately cut rates more aggressively than the two reductions currently priced into markets.

Welcome New Members | January 2026

by with No Comment 1si NewsWelcome New Members

One Southern Indiana welcomes the following members that joined or rejoined during the month of January 2026.

Thank You for Renewing Your Membership | January 2026

by with No Comment 1si NewsThank Your for Renewing Your Membership

One Southern Indiana would like to thank the following members for renewing their membership during the month of January 2026.

Quarter Century Club (25 Years or More)Member Since
Graceland Baptist Church1970
DMLO CPAs & Advisors – New Albany1972
Greater Clark County Schools1980
Dennis Ott & Company, Inc.1990
City of New Albany1992
First Harrison Bank1999
Smith Creek, Inc.2001
  
10-24 Years 
Park Community Credit Union2006
Theresa J. Lamb Insurance Agency, Inc.2009
Environmental Compliance Source, LLC2010
Community Montessori Charter Public School2013
HMC Service Company, Inc.2015
Denton Floyd Real Estate Group2016
  
5-9 Years 
W.M. Kelley Company, Inc.2017
The Breakwater2017
Cunningham Campers, Inc.2017
S&ME, Inc.2018
ARC Janitorial Supply2018
The Floyd County Library2018
HoneyBaked Ham2018
Heritage Ford2019
ImmunoTek Bio Centers, LLC2021
  
2-4 Years 
Brookstone Financial LLC2022
Olive Tree Resources2022
Pet Wants Clarksville2022
Red Yeti2022
Harrison County Lifelong Learning2023
Floyd County Parks and Recreation2023
Wilson Education Center2023
Rural 1st2023
AG Master Tile & More2023
CannaRaised2023
Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)2024
The Skin Group, PLLC2024
WorK Architecture + Design2024
Livability Media dba Journal Communications, Inc.2024
Black Box Dumpster2024
Porta Kleen2024
Ten20 Craft Brewery2024
  
One Year 
Partners Personnel2025
ECS Southeast LLC2025
Floyd County Animal Rescue League2025
ENCON Equipment2025
MAS Consulting, LLC2025

Advocacy Update 1.28.2026

by with No Comment 1si NewsAdvocacy

We are continuing to learn and monitor policies that may impact our local region. The goal of our Advocacy Agenda is to articulate the opportunities and concerns of Southern Indiana businesses and to speak for them as one voice. 

Due to weather, the Advocacy Committee has postponed their trip to the statehouse but continue to look forward to meeting with officials at a future date. 

If you are interested in understanding local priorities, you can also register for our upcoming 5 O’clock Network at Indiana-American Water Company for our annual, “Meet Your Local Elected Officials.” You can register here. 

We encourage everyone to see upcoming deadlines. 

  • Monday January 26 – Latest Day session must reconvene (IC 2-2.1-1-3) 
  • Thursday January 29 – Last day for 3rd reading of Senate bills in Senate 
  • Thursday January 29 – Last Day for 3rd reading of House bills in the House. 

 

Bills we are monitoring: 

SB 283 Regional Development Tax Credit 

Status: 

  • 1/12/2026: First reading: referred to Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy 
  • 1/12/2026: Authored by Senators Mishler, Niezgodski 

HB 1101 Regional Economic Development 

Status: 

  • 1/05/2026: First reading: referred to Committee on Ways and Means 
  • 1/05/2026: Coauthored by Representatives Snow, Lehman 
  • 1/05/202: Authored by Representative Heine 

HB 1164 Tax Increment Financing Districts 

Status: 

  • 1/05/2026: First Reading: referred to Committee on Ways and Means 
  • 1/05/2026: Authored by Representative Rowray 

 

Bills we oppose: 

HB 1104 Nondisclosure Agreements in Economic Development 

Status: 

  • 1/12/2026: Representative Commons added as coauthor 
  • 1/05/2026: First reading: referred to Committee on Government and Regulatory Reform 
  • 1/05/2026: Authored by Representative Greene 

 

You can find a copy of the 1si 2026 Advocacy Agenda by visiting https://1si.org/advocacy/ or downloading a PDF copy here. 

Strong Output, Slower Hiring: A Look at Recent Economic Trends

by with No Comment 1si NewsEconomic Development
submitted by Uric Dufrene, Ph.D., Sanders Chair in Business, Indiana University Southeast
 

The current macroeconomy has been described by some as a “no hire–no fire” economy. Gross domestic product (GDP), a measure of the market value of goods and services produced, has been strong, with third-quarter estimates now at 4.4%. In the most recent quarter, growth was driven primarily by a combination of the resilient consumer, and a reversal of the import surge observed during the first quarter of the year.

Despite the strong growth, comparable gains have not followed in the labor market. Payroll growth has slowed significantly from last year, and hiring activity has declined. Layoffs, however, have not surged. In fact, layoffs remain at historically low levels and well below arecession threshold of roughly 350,000 initial claims per week. Employers, it seems, are holding onto workers, but are increasingly reluctant to add new ones.

Closer to home, we are observing similar patterns across the State of Indiana. The latest state GDP report shows robust 5.1% growth in the third quarter, the strongest quarterly growth since late 2023. Yet job gains for both 2024 and 2025 are running at the slowest pace of the past decade, excluding the sharp losses associated with the COVID recession. Year over year, Indiana payroll employment is ahead by roughly 19,000 jobs, below both pre-pandemic and post-pandemic averages of approximately 27,000 and 38,000 jobs, respectively.

Interestingly, 2019 produced the third-weakest year for job growth over the past decade, with payrolls rising by only about 20,000 jobs. That year followed the implementation of tariffs in 2018, including those on steel and aluminum, an important point of reference for today.

Nearly all the jobs added over the past year in Indiana came from healthcare, which accounted for roughly 17,000 of the 19,000 net jobs gained. Other notable gains came from professional and business services, which added about 9,000 jobs, and construction, which contributed another 3,000.

Indiana remains a national hub for both manufacturing and logistics. Both sectors are particularly sensitive to trade policy, and both struggled in 2025. Transportation and warehousing shed approximately 4,000 jobs over the year, while manufacturing employment was essentially flat. For manufacturing, however, 2025 represented something of a stabilization year following losses of roughly 14,000 and 10,000 jobs in the prior two years.

Turning to Louisville Metro, the latest data show that payroll growth has modestly accelerated in the second half of the year. While the most recent figures show a net gain of about 2,000 jobs over the year, average monthly gains in the second half exceeded those seen earlier in the year. Unlike Indiana, healthcare is no longer the dominant job-creation sector in Louisville Metro, adding fewer than 1,000 jobs in 2025. Last year, Louisville healthcare drove a significant component of overall job growth.

Like Indiana, Louisville is both a manufacturing region and a logistics hub, and both sectors experienced job losses over the past year. Manufacturing employment declined only slightly, but transportation and warehousing shed approximately 2,000 jobs. Construction, by contrast, added more than 2,000 jobs.

Taken together, 2025 stands out as one of the slowest years for job growth for both Indiana and Louisville Metro. Higher interest rates initially weighed on manufacturing activity beginning in 2022. More recently, however, the impact of tariffs appears to be a growing headwind for both the Indiana economy and the Louisville Metro area. Tariff-sensitive sectors such as manufacturing and transportation and warehousing have borne the brunt of these effects. With GDP growth running strong and consumer spending remaining resilient, tariffs increasingly stand out as a key factor holding back job growth.