IU Southeast Earns Prestigious 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification 

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New Albany, Ind. — Indiana University Southeast has earned the prestigious 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, placing the campus among a select group of colleges and universities nationwide recognized for deep, sustained partnerships that advance teaching, learning, and public impact. The designation—awarded by the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching—highlights IU Southeast’s long-standing commitment to community engagement. 

“Higher education is a vital economic engine for us all. Our colleges and universities not only fuel science and innovation, they build prosperity in rural, urban, and suburban communities nationwide,” said Timothy F.C. Knowles, president of the Carnegie Foundation. “We celebrate each of these institutions, particularly their dedication to partnering with their neighbors—fostering civic engagement, building usable knowledge, and catalyzing real-world learning experiences for students.” 

IU Southeast is one of 48 institutions receiving the classification for the first time and one of only three in the Kentuckiana region. It is also one of eight institutions in Indiana to earn the designation and the only regional Indiana University campus to do so. 

“IU Southeast is proud of its deep and sustained commitment to our community,” said Chancellor Debbie Ford. “Through community-engaged teaching and learning across our academic programs, our faculty create meaningful opportunities for students to collaborate with local partners, apply their knowledge in real-world settings, and make a lasting impact throughout the region.” 

During the 2023–2024 academic year, IU Southeast students logged more than 2,600 service hours across 631 community engagement activities. These efforts included blood drives, mission projects, fundraising initiatives, participation in Big Brothers Big Sisters, drives benefiting the SouthEats Food Pantry, and the Alzheimer’s Walk. Students, faculty, and staff also participate annually in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. In January 2025, 103 students served at three community sites. 

The Office of Student Life supports student engagement by providing funding for transportation to community activities and excursions, ensuring student organizations have access to resources that strengthen their service and partnership efforts. 

“The designation honors the transformational work IU Southeast students, staff, and faculty do in collaboration with our community partners,” said Dr. Melissa Fry, director of the Applied Research and Education Center (AREC) and professor of sociology and sustainability and regeneration studies. “Through community-engaged learning, research, and service, our students gain experiences that deepen their connection to the region and prepare them to contribute to and lead thriving communities.” 

Academic Affairs and campus departments further support community engagement through funding for class excursions, research, teaching, professional development, and innovation. These resources enable community-engaged research and service-learning initiatives. Both the New Neighbors Education Center (NNEC) and AREC also participate in ongoing dialogue with the communities they serve to ensure programming remains responsive and impactful. 

“This Carnegie designation affirms IU Southeast’s role as a regional anchor institution,” said Vice Chancellor for University Relations Joe Glover. “Our partnerships with businesses, nonprofits, and civic leaders strengthen workforce development, fuel innovation, and help create the conditions for long-term economic growth across Southern Indiana and the greater Louisville region. When our community thrives, our students thrive—and this recognition reflects that shared success.” 

In the 2026 cycle, 237 institutions earned the Community Engagement Classification, joining those previously classified to bring the total number of institutions holding the designation nationwide to 277. The 2026 cohort includes 157 public institutions, 80 private colleges and universities, and 81 Minority Serving Institutions. 

About IU Southeast: IU Southeast is one of nine campuses of Indiana University. Offering top-quality and nationally accredited programs in education, nursing, business, social sciences, natural sciences, arts and humanities, the scenic 180-acre campus is located less than 15 minutes from downtown Louisville, Kentucky. It currently has over 3,750 students and employs over 360 faculty members. About 400 students live on campus in five fully furnished, lodge-style residence halls. Through an agreement with the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Indiana University Southeast offers in-state tuition to students enrolled from ten counties in the Louisville region, including Bullitt, Hardin, Henry, Jefferson, Meade, Nelson, Oldham, Shelby, Trimble, and Spencer counties and discounted tuition for remaining Kentucky residents through the Indiana Partner Program. For more information, visit https://southeast.iu.edu. IU Southeast is a tobacco-free campus.

About the Carnegie Classifications

The Carnegie Classifications are the nation’s leading framework for categorizing and describing colleges and universities in the United States. Utilized frequently by policymakers, funders, and researchers, the Classifications are a critical benchmarking tool for postsecondary institutions. ACE and the Carnegie Foundation announced a partnership in February 2022 to reimagine the Classifications to better reflect the diversity of postsecondary institutions and more completely characterize the impact that today’s institutions have in society.

About ACE

ACE is a membership organization that leads higher education with a united vision for the future, galvanizing our members to make change and collaborating across the sector to design solutions for today’s challenges, serve the needs of a diverse student population, and shape effective public policy. As the major coordinating body for the nation’s colleges and universities, our strength lies in our diverse membership of nearly 1,600 colleges and universities, related associations, and other organizations in America and abroad. ACE is the only major higher education association to represent all types of U.S. accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities. For more information, please visit www.acenet.edu or follow ACE on X @ACEducation and LinkedIn.

About the Carnegie Foundation

The mission of the Carnegie Foundation is to catalyze transformational change in education so that every student has the opportunity to live a healthy, dignified, and fulfilling life. Enacted by an act of Congress in 1906, the Foundation has a rich history of driving transformational change in the education sector, including the establishment of TIAA-CREF and the creation of the Education Testing Service, the GRE, Pell Grants, and the Carnegie Classifications for Higher Education. Today, the Foundation is dedicated to the transformation of the American high school and making the postsecondary sector a more vital engine for economic mobility.

Spherion Jeffersonville’s Spencer Geer Helps Lead General Staffing Office of the Year Win

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Local Staffing and Recruiting Business Nationally Recognized for Record Growth and Workforce Impact

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. – Spherion Staffing and Recruiting (Spherion) in Jeffersonville announced that it has been named the franchise company’s General Staffing Office of the Year. Spencer Geer, branch manager, played a key role in the office’s record-setting growth and continued impact in connecting local employers with top talent.

“During our second full year in Jeffersonville, we focused on the fundamentals really well,” said Geer. “We showed up for our clients, responded quickly, and made sure we were placing the right people in the right roles. The growth followed because of the trust we’ve built with local businesses and candidates. This recognition validates the work our team is doing every day in the Jeffersonville market.

Spherion has served the Jeffersonville community since opening its office in 2022. Geer joined the team in 2023 as a recruiter and account manager and was promoted to branch manager in 2025, where he oversees day-to-day operations. His progression with Spherion reflects both his individual leadership development and the team’s commitment to developing talent from within. Geer enjoys supporting the Jeffersonville community and local employers with trusted staffing and recruiting solutions.

Spherion’s General Staffing Office of the Year award recognizes the location with the highest year-over-year revenue growth nationwide. The Jeffersonville office delivered 511% year-over-year revenue growth, achieved 197% growth in direct hire, and added six new client accounts, while maintaining a 4.9-star Google rating and a strong safety record. These impressive results distinguished the Jeffersonville team among Spherion’s general staffing offices across the country and demonstrate the persistence and dedication of Geer’s local team.

“Watching this team grow since our opening has been incredibly rewarding,” said Brock Wicker, franchise owner of Spherion Jeffersonville. “Spencer leads with care, consistency, and a strong sense of responsibility to both our internal team and clients and candidates. What matters most to me is the culture this team has built, the way they support one another, and the community they serve.”

Each Spherion office enriches its community by connecting and facilitating employment opportunities every day—and when successful, the office and its investments flow back into the neighborhoods it serves. The power of Spherion is in its local roots.

To learn more about Spherion Jeffersonville, visit www.spherion.com/jeffersonville.

About Spherion

Transform your workforce with Spherion Staffing & Recruiting, where local expertise meets national connections. For 80 years, we’ve been strategically helping businesses and job seekers thrive across America. Backed by the world’s most equitable and specialized talent company, our network of independent franchisees brings personalized service to 200+ communities, connecting more than 4,000 businesses with exceptional candidates through temporary, temp-to-hire, direct hire, and on-site hiring solutions. Our commitment to being a premier staffing partner shows through results: Our 4.9/5 national Google review rating and recognition as a Top 10 Staffing Company to Work for by World Staffing Awards, plus inclusion on Franchise Business Review’s Top 200 Franchises and Entrepreneur magazine’s 2026 Franchise 500 list. Partner with Spherion to strengthen your business or transform your career.

CONTACT: Peyton Harvey
All Points Public Relations
pharvey@allpointspr.com

River Ridge Commerce Center Reaches Major Milestone: 20 Million Square Feet of Buildings Developed

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Jeffersonville, IN (December 18, 2025)– The River Ridge Development Authority (RRDA) today announced a significant milestone in the continued growth and transformation with the River Ridge Commerce Center surpassing 20 million square feet of developed building space.

 

The achievement underscores River Ridge’s rapid evolution into one of the premier business and industrial parks in the Midwest—an economic engine supporting thousands of jobs and driving billions in regional investment. Over the past two decades, River Ridge has welcomed a diverse mix of global manufacturers, logistics leaders, and technology firms, all contributing to this latest milestone.

 

“This is more than a square-footage benchmark—it’s a testament to the vision, collaboration, and strategic investment that have shaped River Ridge into a world-class business destination,” said Marc Hildenbrand, Executive Director of the River Ridge Development Authority. “Surpassing 20 million square feet highlights both the strength of our market and the confidence that major employers place in the Commerce Center. We’re proud of this progress and excited for what comes next.”
River Ridge’s investment in modern infrastructure, roadway expansion, utility enhancements, and workforce-ready development sites has positioned the Commerce Center as a hub for companies seeking long-term growth.

 

“Every new facility represents jobs, investment, and opportunity for Southern Indiana residents,” Hildenbrand added. “Reaching 20 million square feet is a remarkable milestone.”
For more information about development opportunities at River Ridge Commerce Center, visit the RRDA website https://www.riverridgecc.com/ or contact the development office.

 

About the River Ridge Development Authority

The River Ridge Development Authority (RRDA) manages the River Ridge Commerce Center, a 6,000-acre business and office park established in 1998. The RRDA’s mission is to generate a positive regional economic impact by managing and sustaining the River Ridge Commerce Center as America’s premier development location. Today, River Ridge is home to more than 80 companies such as Amazon, Meta, Canadian Solar, Collins Aerospace, Medline, and PharmaCord. Onsite employment totaled more than 12,675 in 2024, and the Commerce Center produced a record-breaking economic impact for the region.

 

Media Contacts:
Wendy Dant Chesser, Chief Director – Corporate Strategy & External Affairs
(812) 285-8979

IU Southeast Business Students Earn Top Honors in RNMKRS Sales Competitions

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New Albany, Ind — IU Southeast School of Business students earned top honors in the recent RNMKRS sales competitions. Students in the Personal Persuasion Strategy and Customer Relations Management class participated in the competitions, with most placing in the top 30% in at least one or more of the individual events.

IU Southeast finished first in Role Play and Speed Sell. This is the second time that IU Southeast has finished first in Role Play, and the fifth time in six years in the top two. It is also the second time IU Southeast finished first in Speed Sell. The IU Southeast team has finished in the Top 3 in Speed Sell in each term it has competed. Six out of ten of the top individual scorers in the Pilot Cold Call competition were from IU Southeast.

Carter Crews earned class champion honors and finished in the Top 1% overall in both Speed Sell and Role Play. Crews also finished 6th overall and 4th in the class in the Cold Call competition.

Cassie Walls was the overall champion in Cold Call, only the second IU Southeast student to win a RNMKRS competition. (Carolyn Kannapel was the champion in Role Play for the Fall 2024 competition.) Walls also finished Top 8% in Speed Sell and Top 28% in Role Play.

Other standout finishers included:

  • Sam Boston – Top 1% in Role Play, Top 2% in Speed Sell, and 10th overall in Cold Call
  • Lillie Weber – Top 2% in Role Play, Top 5% in Speed Sell, 2nd overall in Cold Call
  • Kiki Brown – Top 1% in Role Play, Top 2% in Speed Sell, Top 14% in Cold Call

Approximately 40 schools participated in Role Play and Speed Sell, with over 2,000 students participating in the Role Play. Cold Call was a pilot competition in which about 17 schools and 350 students participated. Other schools participating in the various competitions included IU Bloomington, Indiana State University, Boston College, Auburn University, Northern Kentucky University, Northern Illinois University, Bryant University, Purdue University Northwest, West Virginia University, Rollins College, Bowling Green State University, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and the University of Illinois at Chicago, among others.

For the Role Play competition, students represented Dell Technologies, selling rugged notebook computers to a Texas police department’s IT Manager. The goal is to earn a second appointment to demonstrate the computers and complete the sale.

In Speed Sell, students found themselves on an elevator, pitching themselves for a job interview. They have about 90 seconds to make their case and convince the manager to stay on the elevator to listen to their entire pitch.

In Cold Call, students represented a staffing company Insight Global and made a cold call, to gain a meeting to learn more about the company, and how Insight Global might be a solutions provider for them.

Dr. Chris Cox, professor of the Personal Persuasion Strategy and Customer Relations Management course, says the event is a valuable experience for his students. The ultimate goal is not to win the competitions, Cox says, but to use RNMKRS as a tool to develop sales skills that can be applied in real-world selling scenarios.

“One of the great things about these competitions is that they allow students to develop their skills anytime, anywhere, and all by themselves, without a coach or instructor standing over their shoulder. We want them to develop ‘muscle memory’ for the sales process, so they do not have to think about it; so it comes more naturally. It helps them get down the road in their development of selling skills further and faster.”

Cox says students can role-play on the web or through apps on their phones, getting instant feedback from AI.

“Students can do dozens, even hundreds, of role plays. This kind of repetition is not possible in class, with live human role-plays. The AI characters can be challenging, both because the process itself is difficult to master and because the AI is still developing; it can be frustrating. But these students powered through, and showed a level of commitment, persistence, and problem-solving skills that not only help them overcome technical challenges, but more importantly, help them develop an understanding of the sales process that they can apply in their careers, whether in professional sales or non-sales selling scenarios.”

Students in the course are currently preparing for their final face-to-face role-play in the class. Cox says he is looking forward to seeing them apply what they’ve learned.

 

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About IU Southeast: IU Southeast is one of nine campuses of Indiana University. Offering top-quality and nationally accredited programs in education, nursing, business, social sciences, natural sciences, arts and humanities, the scenic 180-acre campus is located less than 15 minutes from downtown Louisville, Kentucky. It currently has over 3,750 students and employs over 360 faculty members. About 400 students live on campus in five fully furnished, lodge-style residence halls. Through an agreement with the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Indiana University Southeast offers in-state tuition to students enrolled from ten counties in the Louisville region, including Bullitt, Hardin, Henry, Jefferson, Meade, Nelson, Oldham, Shelby, Trimble, and Spencer counties and discounted tuition for remaining Kentucky residents through the Indiana Partner Program. For more information, visit https://southeast.iu.edu. IU Southeast is a tobacco-free campus.

Contact: Nancy Jo Trafton

812-941-2676

ntrafton@ius.edu

Indiana American Water Invests $5.7 Million to Keep Life Flowing in Southern Indiana

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New Binford Booster Station in New Albany Delivers Stronger Water Pressure, Greater Reliability, and Room for Growth

New Albany, Ind. – December 11, 2025 – Indiana American Water is completing a $5.7 million investment in its Southern Indiana water system with the construction of the new Binford Booster Station in New Albany, Ind. The state-of-the-art facility will improve water pressure, enhance reliability, and provide capacity to support future development for customers in Floyd and Clark counties.

 

Families and businesses from Floyd Knobs to Georgetown rely on steady water pressure every time they turn on the tap. However, aging pumps and rolling terrain made it increasingly difficult to maintain a consistent flow, especially during peak demand. In addition to serving local customers, Indiana American Water also sells water to neighboring utilities, including Ramsey Water Company, Borden Tri-County Regional Water District, and Floyds Knobs Water Company, all of which benefit from the new Binford Booster Station.

 

When it enters service before year-end, the Binford Booster Station will deliver nearly 2,400 gallons per minute of pumping capacity. It features energy-efficient, variable-speed drives that automatically adjust to real-time demand—critical during peak usage periods. Built-in redundancy ensures maintenance can be performed without disrupting service.

 

This project is part of $9 million in 2025 system upgrades, which also include replacing 16 water mains across multiple counties and targeted improvements to regional wellfields.

 

“Reliable water service is critical for public safety and economic growth. This investment not only strengthens our system today but also gives our communities the confidence to keep building for the future. By upgrading aging infrastructure and adding capacity, we’re helping to ensure that families, businesses, and first responders have the water they need—when they need it,” said Brittany Montgomery, Southern District Manager, Indiana American Water.

 

The new Binford Booster Station will deliver a range of improvements for customers and communities. Local first responders benefit from better fire-flow capability when water is needed most, while added capacity supports new housing and commercial development. Built-in redundancy minimizes service disruptions, and a broad pumping range paired with improved efficiency helps meet customer demands more effectively.

 

Indiana American Water extends its gratitude to the City of New Albany for their support with permitting, as well as to the many contractors, engineers, and design firms that made this project possible—including HTNB Corporation, EFI-Solutions, Dan Cristiani Construction, and American Structurepoint.

 

In its Southern Indiana Operations, Indiana American Water invests tens of millions of dollars annually across Southern Indiana in communities including New Albany, Jeffersonville, Clarksville, Georgetown, Charlestown, portions of Sellersburg and Borden, and unincorporated Floyd and Clark counties. These investments include replacing aging mains, upgrading treatment technology, and protecting local water sources. From source to tap, our team is on call 24/7 so customers can focus on what matters most.

About American Water American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable, and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water’s 6,700 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors, and other stakeholders. For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.

 

About Indiana American Water

Indiana American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest regulated water utility in the state, providing safe, clean, reliable, and affordable water and wastewater services to approximately 1.5 million people. For more information, visit amwater.com/inaw and join Indiana American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.

 

Editor’s Note: Image is of inside the new Binford Booster Station, a modular building that will be connected to existing water mains.

 

Media Contact:

Joel Reuter

External Affairs Manager

Indiana American Water

P: (317) 885-2434

E: joel.reuter@amwater.com

Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport Launches New, Improved Parking Reservation Experience with AeroParker

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New Partnership Enhances the Traveler Journey While Unlocking Operational Efficiency for the Airport

Louisville, KY (December 17, 2025) – The Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) is today announcing a new partnership with AeroParker, part of Metropolis’ fully integrated airport mobility platform, to expand its existing end-to end parking and reservation services. This will deliver a more seamless, streamlined journey for passengers, just in time for the busy holiday travel season.

“Passenger traffic for this year’s holiday travel is up about 7% in scheduled capacity compared to last year with more than 104,000 departing seats scheduled from December 21 through January 4,” said Dan Mann, Executive Director of the Louisville Regional Airport Authority, which owns and operates SDF. “Travelers will be able to take advantage of our new partnership with AeroParker to help simplify
the travel journey and offer even more ease and flexibility when determining their parking options.”

AeroParker enables customers to book parking up to four hours before arrival at one of SDF’s five convenient self-parking options. Travelers can now manage and amend their own reservations directly online, including changes due to flight delays or cancellations – a key feature not previously available. Two booking options are available: non-flex (no cancellation protection) and flex (cancellation protection for an additional $1 fee). To take advantage of this new parking experience and reserve a space ahead of travel at SDF, passengers can visit SDFPark.com.

The new reservation system is applicable to the five self-park options at SDF – the Garage, Surface Lot, Premier East Lot, Premier West Lot and the Express Shuttle Lot. Since 2020, more than $8 million has been invested in new or expanded parking options at the airport through the SDF Next Program, a robust capital improvement initiative for both the terminal and airfield. With these improvements, overall parking capacity has increased by 23% during this time.

With the launch of AeroParker’s parking reservation platform, SDF – which saw more than 4.8 million passengers in 2024 – now joins an exclusive group of airports and transportation hubs that offer travelers a smoother, more intuitive digital parking experience. AeroParker is trusted by more than 30 leading airports across the U.S., including San Francisco International Airport, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, and the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey.

With AeroParker and Metropolis now fully integrated as one company, holiday travelers at SDF will benefit from the airport’s commitment to delivering modern, traveler-first digital services – from reserving a parking space online to seamless entry and exiting of the parking facilities. Metropolis is already partnered with more than 75 U.S. airports and its seamless checkout-free technology is rolling out across airports, including San Antonio International, and expanding nationwide. This integration creates new opportunities for SDF to serve its passengers and enhance operational efficiency across its parking assets.

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About Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF)
Owned and operated by the Louisville Regional Airport Authority, the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) is the state’s premier airport, serving more Kentuckians annually than any other airport in the Commonwealth. Eight commercial passenger airlines offer nonstop service to more than 35 nonstop destinations from Louisville. SDF is home to UPS Worldport, moving millions of tons of product each year, making it the 3rd busiest cargo airport in North America and 5th in the world. Aviation is an economic powerhouse for the
region that generates $12.8 billion in economic impact every year. One in 8 jobs is generated by SDF and Bowman Field and their aviation partners. Visit www.FlyLouisville.com to learn more.

Natalie Chaudoin
(502) 475-8084 cell
Natalie.Chaudoin@FlyLouisville.com

About Metropolis
Metropolis is an artificial intelligence company for the real world. Its Computer Vision platform eliminates friction from daily life, powers checkout-free payments and unlocks seamless, predictive and personalized experiences everywhere consumers transact. Metropolis is
pioneering the Recognition Economy, transforming physical spaces into responsive environments with an Intelligence Layer that understands presence, anticipates needs and personalizes moments. Leveraging AI, Metropolis’ platform understands, adapts and responds
to Members in real time. Adding more than 1 million Members each month, it is one of the fastest-growing technology companies in the United States and envisions a future where transacting in the real world is even easier than online. Following its take-private acquisition of
SP+, Metropolis is now the largest parking network in the United States, with 4,200+ locations and operations in 40 countries worldwide. Its proprietary AI technology touches 50 million customers and processes over $5 billion in payments annually.

Lizzy Levitan
metropolis@hunt-gather.com

1si Non-Profit Spotlight: New Albany Main Street

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Since 1990, New Albany Main Street, a nonprofit organization, has been dedicated to revitalizing and preserving the heart of their city. From historic downtown to bustling midtown and uptown, they are committed to creating a vibrant community where residents and visitors can shop, live, play, and explore.

Watch the video to learn more about their services, or visit their website.

Allegiant Air Announces New, Nonstop Serviceto Gulf Shores from Louisville’s Airport

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Service launches in late May 2026, just in time for summer travel

Louisville, KY (November 18, 2025) – Today Allegiant Air announced new, nonstop service to Gulf Shores (GUF) from the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF), providing even more options to a top vacation destination for the region. The new, seasonal flights will begin on Thursday, May 22, 2026 – just in time for the busy summer travel season.

“This is great news for our community and region as we continue expanding options for travelers and we appreciate Allegiant’s on-going support of our market,” said Dan Mann, Executive Director of the Louisville Regional Airport Authority.“ Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are popular beach destinations and thanks to Allegiant’s new, nonstop flight, it makes it even easier as well as more affordable and convenient to experience Alabama’s coast.”

It is estimated that approximately 40,000 overnight trips from the Louisville area
to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are taken every year.

The new flights will be offered twice weekly on an Airbus A319 with 156 seats. With the addition of Gulf Shores, Allegiant provides nonstop service to nine cities from Louisville including Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Myrtle Beach, Orlando Sanford, Punta Gorda, St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Sarasota and Savannah.

Travelers can purchase their tickets today at AllegiantAir.com.

About Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF)
Owned and operated by the Louisville Regional Airport Authority, the Louisville Muhammad
Ali International Airport (SDF) is the state’s premier airport, serving more Kentuckians annually
than any other airport in the Commonwealth. Eight commercial passenger airlines offer
nonstop service to more than 35 nonstop destinations from Louisville. SDF is home to UPS
Worldport, moving millions of tons of product each year, making it the 3rd busiest cargo
airport in North America and 5th in the world. Aviation is an economic powerhouse for the
region that generates $12.8 billion in economic impact every year. One in 8 jobs is generated
by SDF and Bowman Field and their aviation partners. Visit www.FlyLouisville.com to learn
more.

Together We Build: Southern Indiana Celebrates Global Entrepreneurship Week Nov.17-21

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New Albany, Ind. —Maker13, the Indiana Small Business Development Center, IU Southeast School of Business, along with a number of local sponsors will be celebrating Global Entrepreneurship Week November 17-21, 2025 with a week full of events and activities.

Events for Global Entrepreneurship Week include:

The Creative Economy Summit – Tuesday, November 18, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
This inaugural event celebrates the vibrant spirit of the creative entrepreneur – the talented artists, authors, makers, and hobbyists. Witness the magic as talented artists, authors, makers, and hobbyists showcase how they’ve transformed their passions into thriving ventures. Explore a diverse array of captivating displays, network with fellow creatives, and enjoy some delicious food. 

The Next BIG Thing Pitch Competition 2025 – Wednesday, November 19, 5:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.
In its third year, The Next Big Thing Pitch Competition 2025 welcomes everyone with a passion for innovation. Local entrepreneurs have submitted proposals with their groundbreaking ideas, and this event will showcase 10 finalists with their new business idea or growing operation. $10,000 will be awarded as non-dilutive prize money, determined by a judging panel of local entrepreneurs and industry experts. 

Student Entrepreneur Resource Fair – Thursday, November 20, 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
This event connects high school students (grades 9 – 12) with 14 local entrepreneurs and support organizations. As a booth-style event, over 250 students will receive a “passport” booklet that guides them through the fair. As they move along the booths asking questions, they’ll receive a logo sticker of the organization they visited. By the end, they’ll have a completed resource book to help them launch, grow, and scale their business! Registration is currently closed. 

Please contact Kyleigh Hublar for any questions/details 
(502) 214-0717
Kyleigh.Hublar@Maker13.com 

River Ridge Development Authority Completes Roadway Completing North-South Link through Commerce Center

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Jeffersonville, IN (November 12, 2025)– The River Ridge Development Authority (RRDA) announced the completion of a new roadway connection linking Penny Martin Road and Patrol Road within the River Ridge Commerce Center, adjacent to Indiana Highway 62.

The project improves traffic flow, enhances access for existing businesses, and connects the north end of the Commerce Center to the rest of River Ridge. With this new link in place, motorists can now travel throughout the entire Commerce Center without entering Highway 62, easing congestion and improving safety.

“Connecting Penny Martin and Patrol Road has been a key priority for improving circulation within River Ridge,” said Marc Hildenbrand, Executive Director of the River Ridge Development Authority. “This investment strengthens accessibility for our tenants and helps drive future development.”

The new connection also enhances emergency access and overall safety within the Commerce Center.

See map of newly opened roads here:  New RRCC Roads Map

About the River Ridge Development Authority
The River Ridge Development Authority (RRDA) manages the River Ridge Commerce Center, a 6,000-acre business and office park established in 1998.  The RRDA’s mission is to generate a positive regional economic impact by managing and sustaining the River Ridge Commerce Center as America’s premier development location. Today, River Ridge is home to more than 80 companies such as Amazon, Meta, Canadian Solar, Collins Aerospace, Medline, and PharmaCord.  Onsite employment totaled more than 12,675 in 2024, and the Commerce Center produced a record-breaking economic impact for the region.

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Media Contacts: 

Wendy Dant Chesser, Chief Director – Corporate Strategy & External Affairs

(812) 285-8979