Posts in category: Member News

NEWS RELEASE
Indiana University Southeast
Contact: Nancy Jo Trafton
812-941-2676
ntrafton@ius.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

IU Southeast announces fall lifelong learning options

NEW ALBANY, Ind. (July 21, 2022) Beginning this fall, IU Southeast will expand its learning options to include non-credit programs for all ages. These classes are part of the Lifelong Learning initiative, demonstrating IU Southeast’s commitment to the community and region to promote growth, learning and well-being.

In addition to the well-established Arts Institute, which offers private instruction in music and theater, and Project AHEAD, an educational program designed for gifted and talented students, Lifelong Learning adds adult education in a variety of subjects from IU Southeast’s top-notch faculty and from area experts. Fall’s offerings will include courses in music, safety, science, and personal health.

Learners can choose from the following courses:
• Personal self-defense & awareness,
• Emergency survival skills
• Yoga
• Personal planning: From frazzled to focused
• Getting started with guitar
• Bourbon, an introduction for the inquisitive drinker
• The chemistry of beer
• Mindfulness & meditation
• Arts Institute, private instruction in music and theater
Some programs begin as early as August 24, and fees for the courses range from free to $300, with most courses costing $100-$125 for four-to-six sessions.

“The Lifelong Learning program solidifies the IU Southeast campus’s commitment to expanding knowledge, skills, and experiences, for people of all ages throughout our community,” said Jim Hesselman, dean of the School of Arts & Letters. “Once learning begins, no one ever really stops being a student of life. The School of Arts & Letters is here to help everyone continue that exciting journey.”

For more information on the course offerings and to register, visit www.ius.edu/lifelong-learning/adult-education.

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About IU Southeast: IU Southeast is one of seven campuses of Indiana University. Offering more than 130 degree programs and concentrations, the scenic 180-acre campus is located less than 15 minutes from downtown Louisville, Kentucky. It currently has an enrollment of more than 4,000 students and employs more than 400 faculty members. About 400 students now 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 eight counties in the Louisville region. For more information, visit www.ius.edu. IU Southeast is a tobacco-free campus.

Qualifying customers can receive up to $300 toward their energy bill

PLAINFIELD, Ind. – More than $225,000 in financial assistance is still available to Duke Energy Indiana customers who may be struggling to pay their energy bills.

“Hoosiers are paying more at the grocery store and gas pump and may also be noticing higher energy bills, as rising fuel costs impact the price of electricity,” said Stan Pinegar, president of Duke Energy Indiana. “We know that higher bills can be a hardship for many, and we want to connect our customers with financial assistance and resources to help. So far this year, we have been able to support approximately 450 households with more than $100,000 in assistance.”

The funding is made possible through Duke Energy’s Share the Light Fund, which brings together customers and communities to help individuals and families struggling to pay their energy bills. Duke Energy works in partnership with the Indiana Community Action Association to distribute the company’s assistance funds.

Qualifying Duke Energy customers who are struggling to pay their electricity bills can receive up to a $300 credit annually on their account. Customers should contact their local community action agency to take advantage of funds available locally. Click here to find a listing of service providers by county.

Duke Energy offers a number of tools and resources to help customers take control of their energy use and save money. To learn more about these programs, visit duke-energy.com/HereToHelp.

Duke Energy Indiana
Duke Energy Indiana, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides about 6,300 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 870,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it Indiana’s largest electric supplier.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 28,000 people.

Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business and at least a 50% carbon reduction from electric generation by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The 2050 net-zero goals also include Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 emissions. In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune’s 2022 “World’s Most Admired Companies” list and Forbes’ “America’s Best Employers” list. More information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy’s illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Jeffersonville, IN – May 12, 2022 – Indiana native and PGA legend Fuzzy Zoeller continues to invest in southern Indiana with the opening of his new hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn Jeffersonville & one of a kind restaurant, Fuzzy’s The 15^th Club Food & Spirits. Located inside the Hilton Garden Inn Jeffersonville, Fuzzy’s The 15th Club Food & Spirits is open to the public and available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Located at 4900 Water Tower Rd, Jeffersonville, the 114-room hotel is situated on the northwest corner of I-265 and IN-62, conveniently located to the nearby River Ridge Commerce Center and with easy interstate access to Louisville and surrounding communities. The hotel is developed and owned by Fuzzy Zoeller and his family in a partnership with Indianapolis-based General Hotels Corporation.

“Even with occasional supply chain issues, we are thrilled to be opening this hotel on time and on budget thanks to our construction arm Hospitality Project Services” said James Dora Jr, President/CEO, General Hotels Corporation. “We are proud to partner with Fuzzy & his family for this unique project and are thrilled to begin welcoming guests to the hotel and restaurant.”

“After a couple of years of planning and construction we are so excited to finally see this dream become a reality.” said Fuzzy Zoeller, “I am looking forward to celebrating during our Official Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening Party on May 26th”.

Unique to Hilton Garden Inn Jeffersonville IN is the full-service Fuzzy’s-themed restaurant and bar with a variety of appetizers, salad and sandwich options for lunch and an expanded dinner menu featuring rich smoky barbeque favorites such as Broasted Chicken, St. Louis Style Ribs,

Smoked Beef Brisket, as well as hearty Steaks, Salmon, and Portabello Mushrooms. The hotel will offer amenities including complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, a 24-hour business center, a state-of-the-art fitness center featuring Peloton equipment, full cooked-to-order breakfast, cocktails and dinner. Each guestroom boasts the brand’s signature bedding featuring fresh, white duvets and crisp linens and an in-room “hospitality center” with a mini fridge, microwave oven as well as a Keurig® coffee maker.

The hotel will participate in Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest-loyalty program for Hilton’s 17 distinct hotel brands. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of Points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount that can’t be found anywhere else and free standard Wi-Fi. Members also enjoy popular digital tools available exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton Honors mobile app, where Hilton Honors members can check-in, choose their room and access their room using a Digital Key.

For more information or to make a reservation call +1 812-670-5713 or view online at Jeffersonville.hgi.com. For group rates, or to book meeting space, contact Bridget Ford, Director of Sales at hiltongardeninnjeffersonvillesales@genhotels.com.

Read more about Hilton Garden Inn at www.hgi.com and newsroom.hilton.com/hgi.

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About Hilton Garden Inn

The award-winning Hilton Garden Inn brand provides business and leisure guests upscale, affordable accommodations and unexpected amenities for an experience that is ‘Simply on Another Level.’ The Hilton Garden Inn Promise affirms the brand’s goal to make each guest’s stay better and brighter.

Guaranteed. Team Members at more than 865 hotels in 49 countries and territories around the world ensure today’s busy travelers have a bright and satisfying experience, starting with the first hello. As a recognized F&B leader, Hilton Garden Inn serves locally sourced food and beverage at its full-service restaurants and bars, featuring cooked-to-order dishes, handcrafted cocktails, and on-trend small plates. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits. For more information about Hilton Garden Inn,

visit www.hgi.com or newsroom.hilton.com/hgi, and connect on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

About Fuzzy Zoeller

Originally from New Albany, IN, Frank “Fuzzy” Zoeller is most widely known as one of the great characters and competitors golf has ever known. His professional golf career produced 10 PGA victories, including the ‘84 US Open and ‘79 Masters. Fuzzy is only one of three players to win the Masters in their

first appearance. He also has wins on the Champions Tour – the 2002 Senior PGA Championship and the 2004 MasterCard Championship. Fuzzy was uniquely selected to the USA Ryder Cup team 3 times and while each of those wins and selections are special, an even greater honor has been receiving the prestigious Dave Marr Memorial Award for exemplifying sportsmanship, honesty, character, and an enthusiastic passion for the game of golf; and the Brian “Bruno” Henning awards for making special and outstanding contributions to the Champions Tour. View Fuzzy’s PGA Profile

His passions include hunting and fishing, and he enjoys all sports as well as golf course design. To date he has designed numerous golf courses, three of which are utilized on The PGA TOUR. Two courses can be found in Southern Indiana, the Covered Bridge Golf Club in Sellersburg, IN and Champions Pointe Golf Club in Memphis, IN. Most recently, Fuzzy designed The Pfau Course at Indiana University, soon to be announced as one of the Top 5 greatest Collegiate Golf Courses nationwide by Golf Weekly. Visit fuzzygolf.com

On June 1, 2009, Fuzzy launched a new venture, “Fuzzy’s Ultra-Premium Vodka” and since that time, it has won multiple awards in prestigious spirits competitions. Learn more at fuzzyvodka.com

A proud southern Indiana native, Fuzzy is known throughout the community for his generous spirit of giving. Fuzzy and his family believe strongly in investing in the local community. This belief is the cornerstone of his newest adventure as a hotel and restaurant entrepreneur. Construction of the new Hilton Garden Inn in Jeffersonville, IN with “Fuzzy’s” themed restaurant and bar began in October 2020 and opened to the public on May 12, 2022.

About General Hotels Corporation

Founded in 1962, General Hotels Corporation (GHC) is committed to enriching lives through award- winning hospitality. As a Midwest leading hotel owner/operator, developer and third-party management company, the Indianapolis based organization currently operates 50 hotels representing over 5,100 guestrooms with several new locations in development and under construction. The organization’s portfolio includes a broad range of brands and property types including select service, full service, extended stay, independent hotels, city-center hotels, airport hotels and small market hotels. The company’s core values of caring, commitment, excellence, growing, integrity and respect, serve as its guiding principles in all operations and interactions with guests, associates, investors and partners. To learn more about GHC visit genhotels.com

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.