By Lance Allison, President & CEO, One Southern Indiana
Southern Indiana is on the cusp of transformational growth. Recent announcements totaling more than 4,000 new jobs and over $2.5 billion in capital investments are not just numbers on a page, they are real signs of a region on the rise. The challenge now is ensuring these investments translate into long-term success. This moment demands more than celebration, it demands vision, coordination, and a relentless commitment to shaping the future.
At One Southern Indiana (1si), we believe the formula for success is clear: a strong mix of industrial development, job creation, housing growth, and quality of life enhancements. That formula is already working. At 1si, we understand that true progress comes from collaboration, foresight, and balance. That’s why we continue to work hand-in-hand with private partners, municipalities, and regional stakeholders to ensure Southern Indiana not only keeps its momentum but accelerates it.
But no community succeeds in a vacuum. The future of Southern Indiana hinges on continued strategic investments not only locally, but also across the state. We must keep pushing for infrastructure upgrades, workforce development, site readiness, and policies that support both large-scale industry and small businesses that make our communities unique. That’s how we ensure our recent wins aren’t fleeting—but become the foundation for a more resilient economy.
One of our most persistent and paradoxical challenges is also one of our greatest assets: our regional relationship with Louisville, Kentucky. The Ohio River may separate us physically, but Southern Indiana and Louisville are deeply interconnected economically, socially, and culturally. This bi-state dynamic has created complexities when it comes to external branding and targeted industry attraction, but it also offers one of our greatest advantages: access to a broad, skilled workforce and a shared infrastructure that spans two states.
Rather than shy away from this complexity, 1si is leaning into it. We believe it’s time to reimagine how our region is presented on the national and global stage. Together with our partners, we’re taking bold steps to define a regional identity that reflects our strengths, potential, and unique logistics advantage.
That’s why we’re excited to unveil a new regional ecosystem identity in the coming months: The FOURIDOR. Developed in partnership with Duke Energy and local collaborators, this brand is more than a name, it’s a statement about who we are and what we offer. Derived from the word “corridor,” the FOURIDOR emphasizes our four R’s: River, Rail, Roads, and Runways. These aren’t just infrastructure assets, they represent a logistics and transportation network that gives our region a competitive edge unlike any other.
Much like the Research Triangle in North Carolina or Wall Street in New York, the FOURIDOR is designed to encapsulate a place where geography, proximity, talent, and industry align to create something truly exceptional. It reflects the real, strategic advantages we offer companies looking to grow, expand, or relocate.
Southern Indiana is ready. We are ready to lead, ready to partner, and ready to make the most of this unprecedented moment in our region’s history. The future will be shaped by those who choose to act boldly—and we intend to be among them. As we move forward, 1si remains committed to working alongside our regional, state, and private sector partners to ensure that every opportunity is realized and every challenge is turned into a new path for progress.
This is our time. Let’s build it—together.
