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Spencer County Ranks 7th in State Tourism Spending
June 26, 2008 issue of Inside INdiana Business
By Gerry Dick, Indiana's Business News Leader, InsideINdianaBusiness.com Report
LINCOLN CITY, IND - As the busy Fourth of July weekend travel holiday approaches, Spencer County, Indiana is taking a look at the impact tourists have on its local economy.
Home to Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, Abraham Lincoln's boyhood home, and the world's only Santa Claus Post Office, Spencer County is ranked seventh in tourism spending per capita, out of Indiana's 92 counties. That is higher than its neighboring counties including Dubois, Perry, and Warrick, the study showed.
The results of Spencer County's first Tourism Economic Impact Study were explained Thursday, June 26, at Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. This study was conducted during the past year as a joint project of the Spencer County Visitors Bureau and the University of Southern Indiana's Center for Applied Research and College of Business.
A total of 14 percent of all sales and 32 percent of all employment in Spencer County, Ind., are a direct result of visitor spending, according to the study.
Visitors to Spencer County had a sales impact f $161.7 million and were responsible for more than 30,000 jobs during 2007, according to the study.
"I hope the results of this study will serve as a useful tool to help local and state government officials understand the role of our tourism industry here," said Melissa Miller, Executive Director of the Spencer County Visitors Bureau. "It also will help us to attract new tourism-related businesses to Spencer County."
Visitors surveyed said more restaurants and additional lodging options would improve their stay in Spencer County.
"We agree and hope this study will help developers to see that Spencer County offers a great return on their investments and encourage them to build additional facilities to meet the needs of our growing numbers of visitors," Miller said.
Fun Facts About Spencer County's Visitors
- 40 percent of visitors are under age 17. People age 25 to 44 make up 31 percent of visitors to Spencer County.
- 48 percent of visitors reside within Indiana. Large percentages also come from Kentucky, Illinois and Tennessee.
- 49 percent of visitors stayed over night.
- Visitors spent an average of #237 on lodging during their trip.
- Visitors spending per person amounted to: $22 on food, $51 on activities, $10 on souvenirs and $41 on gasoline.
- 84 percent of visitors very likely to come back and 45 percent of those surveyed had been to Spencer County 2 to 5 times.
The Spencer County Visitors Bureau provides travel information to visitors and media about Spencer County, Indiana, the site of Abraham Lincoln's boyhood home, the world famous Santa Claus Post Office, and the world's first theme park, Holiday World & Splashin' Safari. To request a free Spencer County Visitors Guide, visit www.LegendaryPlaces.org or call 888-444-9252.
Leaders map out plans to draw people back to town
June 16, 2008 issue of The Evansville Courier & Press
By Greg Eckerle, Courier & Press correspondent, 482-3866 or gregeckerle@insightbb.com
The leaders of Ferdinand's recently launched Indiana Home Town Competitiveness program - designed to entice people back to the community - now have a list of ways to achieve that goal.
Seventy-five people met recently to brainstorm ways to get people - particularly younger people who left to attend college or other post-secondary education - to move back to Ferdinand.
Among the most popular ideas offered were starting an entrepreneurship program for adults interested in becoming business owners, developing leadership training, and educating people on the job opportunities that may be available.
The entrepreneurship program could include mentoring, business templates, how to arrange financing, how to market businesses and how to identify a business niche. As suggested by those at the meeting, the program could be offered through the Ferdinand Chamber of Commerce, the Dubois County Area Development Corporation, by a business coach or another vehicle.
Leadership training also could focus on networking, mentoring, coaching and encouragement, and would help prepare an diverse group for future leadership roles.
Other ideas offered included initiatives to get youth more involved in the community, educating people on the benefits of investing in Ferdinand, and educating young people on available jobs and business opportunities in southeastern Dubois County.
A local group will present a report to the state's Indiana Home Town Competitiveness group later this month on what options the community wants to try.
Ferdinand is one of nine Indiana communities - and the only one in Southwestern Indiana - participating in the statewide pilot program to promote the growth of small towns. Indiana is the first state to offer financial support for a statewide approach.
At the recent meeting, Ferdinand leaders presented key findings from several surveys and assessments compiled over the past two months.
The findings revealed, among other things, that people didn't know how to start a business; students would return if there were job opportunities; and youth wanted a sit-down restaurant, movie theater and more entertainment options.
"We're using the Home Town Competitiveness program as a tool to keep our recently approved 10-year comprehensive plan moving forward," said Town Council Presiden Ken Sicard. "The public's input through this program is making the roadway more clear."
HTC Opportunity Retreat explores possibilities for town's future
June 11, 2008 issue of The Ferdinand News
By Lisa Hoppenjans
Ferdinand - Last Wednesday (6/4/08), about 75 people attended an "Opportunity Retreat" at the Ferdinand Community Center to see how things are going - and what comes next - since the HomeTown Competitiveness kick-off party at the Forest Park gym in April.
The crowd also dispelled any thoughts team members might have had that the first group came to the gym for the free food. This time, it was embroidered, top-of-the-line T-shirts.
Since the kick-off party in April, four teams, making up the four "pillars" of the community have been busy assessing needs, wants, possibilities and goals.
Ferdinand is one of only three towns statewide selected to participate in the Hometown Competitiveness program (HTC), a "come back/give back approach to rural community building." The Indiana HTC resource team involves six partners: Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA), Ball State University's Building Better Communities, Indiana Grant Makers Alliance, Indiana Rural Development Council, Purdue University's Center for Regional Development/Extension Service and USDA - Rural Development.
Last Wednesday's retreat was among the final steps in the assessment process, a last chance to receive public input before submitting findings to the state and deciding which "opportunities" to actively pursue.
Each of the four pillar teams had identified, by way of community surveys, five "opportunities" to further the town's goals for that area. After presenting their findings, members of the community in attendance were invited to ask questions and make suggestions.
Some comments were surprising, some suggestions brilliant.
In the leadership area, after reviewing surveys, the team settled on five "first cut" opportunities to inspire more citizens to assume leadership roles in the community, including:
- Consider how leadership might be developed (is it training, networking, mentoring, coaching or encouraging, etc.) South include a diverse group (gender, age, experience, other) of people preparing for future leadership roles.
- Work to attract youth back to the community after they complete college; some could be great leaders.
- Find the areas that individuals/people are passionate about/interested in and encourage them to be actively involved.
- Identify and work with the 25 people, out of the 80 surveyed, who would consider running for public office.
- Form a Leadership Council for people to meet, share and network. Include leaders of highly successful organizations to find out what's working for them.
After team leader Kin Sicard's presentation, facilitator Sue Ellspermann opened the floor for questions. Jim Hagedorn referenced the third opportunity when he asked, "How do you develop that passion?" A female attendee quickly added, "How do you sustain it?" After more discussion regarding how to encourage people to accept leadership positions, Rob Hamilton asked, "Do you know why people are reluctant to lead?" That question was quickly added to the list of opportunities. No survey questions had addressed the question of why.
In the entrepreneurship area, opportunities were identified as:
- Offer an entrepreneurship class or program for teens teaching them how and helping them experience starting their own business.
- Offer an entrepreneurship program for adults interested in becoming entrepreneurs, including such areas as mentoring, templates, how to get financing, how to market a business and how to find a niche. This could be offered through the Chamber, the Dubois County Area Development Corporation (DCADC), via a business coach or some other vehicle.
- Work with VUJC and other higher education organizations to provide entrepreneurship and agricultural business education.
- Exploit Ferdinand's broadband, interstate location and work ethic as a competitive advantage.
- Persuade existing businesses to offer "internships" and/or help for new entrepreneurs.
Suggestions include using/promoting a "team" entrepreneurial approach, doing something to attract entrepreneurs to Ferdinand and approaching local, successful companies to get ideas for businesses that would fit here.
When Jim Mehling suggested a great idea for new businesses might be to provide support services for local, established businesses, Kathy Tretter wanted to know, why stop at Ferdinand?
"Do people realize there's an opportunity to serve more than just Ferdinand?" she asked, citing population in Spencer County and other areas along I-64.
Debbie Johnson was impresses by the number of young people who said they would like to start their own business, but didn't know how . . . which segued neatly into discussions of the next pillar - Youth,
Youth team leader Rob Hamilton expressed a belief that the youth pillar is the most important of the four.
In terms of youth being the town's future, he may be right.
Surveys were more extensive than in other area, perhaps because Forest Park teachers distributed surveys to grads 9-12. A total of 290 surveys were submitted from the high school. In addition, of the 125 surveys completed on the town's website, 50 were from students.
Responses from surveys sent to young adults, ages 18 to 25, were a bit disappointing; only 11 returned the survey. Opportunities were identified as:
- Educate young people on available job and business opportunities in Southeast Dubois and the surrounding area. (Examples - tour showing professional jobs at Best Home Furnishings, not focused on the assembly line. Bring in speakers for in-demand professions.)
- Encourage development of activities that support the interests of youth, particularly considering sit-down restaurant, entertainment and shopping options.
- Increase the voice of youth in community decision-making such as encouraging youth initiatives, considering youth advisory boards for the parks department and library and educating youth on how local government works (i.e. hold mock town meetings.)
- Ensure people considering moving to Dubois County get information about Southeast Dubois as one option (not just Jasper) through DCADC, Dubois County Tourism, Chambers, etc.
- Continue to gather information from young adults to better understand their interests and concerns.
Not surprising, the youth question and answer period generated much discussion. Some suggestions included:
- Manufacturing businesses should let youth know the professional jobs open/available in manufacturing.
* This comment came as a result of one survey that indicated only one percent of those responding would consider a job in manufacturing.
Why? Because most could not see beyond the assembly line.
- Educate youth about the amount of diversity in the county.
- Have business teachers point out professional/managerial jobs in the area.
- Work with youth and adults who have come back, encouraging to lead projects and be out and about in the community.
- Show how government roles function in the community.
- Have our community at job fairs and have activities to let young adults know we want them back.
* Surveys indicated that many young people's reason for returning to their hometown was that "somebody asked me to." In most cases, the person asking them to return steering them toward job opportunities.
- What are we doing to help the 10% staying here, not going to college?
- Provide an opportunity in creative arts.
- Have more for kids activities to do such as Huntingburg's "Teen Outback".
- Provide some type of cultural development activity.
The good news? the feedback from surveys matched up - there was no disconnect between the surveys completed by students versus the surveys completed by adults.
The bad news? Although many young people would like to raise their families in Ferdinand, they perceive a lack of job opportunities, an intolerance for different perspectives and a lack of diversity.
And, while adults may not share those views, "Perspective is reality," team leader Rob Hamilton pointed out.
The team facing the greatest challenge is, perhaps, the wealth transfer pillar. Most people don't consider themselves "wealthy," although 96.5% of those surveyed reported charitable giving at least annually.
So none of the identified opportunities use the work "wealth." The include:
- Partnering with professional advisors (accountants, attorneys, brokers, insurance agents, clergy, etc.) who serve as a resource for people in the community regarding local giving.
- Getting a buy-in commitment from funeral home directors to help educate people, be a referral source and to have Ferdinand Community Endowment brochures and memorial envelopes available.
- Using HTC as a catalyst to drive growth of charitable giving/giving back to the community, including the Ferdinand Endowment.
- Educating people in the community on the mechanics and importance of charitable giving, as well as the benefits of investing in the community.
- Showing people how easy it can be to create a permanent legacy for the community.
First and foremost among the team's findings was, "People will likely not see wealth transfer applying to them. We need to come up with a name with which more people can connect."
Legacy seems to be run-away favorite, according to team leader Beth McManaway.
So, the goal of educating people about how to leave a lasting legacy may reach more of Ferdinand's residents.
The community has a tradition of charitable giving. Greater than 90% of those surveyed believed wealth transfer was important to attracting young people to the community, energizing young entrepreneurs and mobilizing local leaders.
Jim Hagedorn, who was instrumental in establishing the Ferdinand Community Endowment, pointed out the benefit in that form of charitable giving. "You don't have to regenerate funds year after year," he explained. Bob Grewe, DCADC president, added that matching challenges are sometimes available from large endowments, such as the Lilly Foundation, in which the large endowment will match funds raised within a specific time period.
Next steps
Okay. So this latest community get-together featured not only snacks, but T-shirts.
What's next? A report of the pillar teams' findings will be submitted to the state by June 30 (the report will also be posted on the town's web site at that time).
Then, in August, Phase 2 - Strategy Development - will commence.
Pillar teams will meet to decide which opportunities to pursue and how to achieve those goals.
The Strategy Development phase will last through December.
"I see this as a tool Ferdinand will use to keep the Comprehensive Plan and the Vision Group moving along," said town council president Ken Sicard.
USI Economists Offer Opinions from I-69 Report
May 15, 2008 issue of the Local and Business section of the Evansville Courier & Press
By Garret Mathews; Courier & Press staff writer, 464-7527 or mathewsg@courierpress.com
Petersburg, Indiana - The "big punchline behind this meeting," economists Dr. Sudesh Mujumdar announced Wednesday night before sharing the results of an Interstate 69 community development study, "is to say towns that rapidly make infrastructure investment even before the major highway construction are the ones that see the biggest gains."
About 40 people came to the Pike County Courthouse to hear two economists from the University of Southern Indiana present findings from the yearlong study designed to guide planning efforts to take advantage of the growth potential of the proposed interstate and minimize adverse consequences.
"Successful communities have avoided the adversarial situations of creating an us versus them competition," said Dr. Tim Schibik. "That wastes energy. Cooperation is the key."
Focusing on towns along the corridor - The study focused on the corridor communities of Oakland City, Petersburg and Washington.
The economists researched interstates across the country and decided on three that most closely match the population densities of the non-metro counties in Southern Indiana.
They were Interstate 68 in Garrett County, MD., Interstate 16 in Twiggs County, GA, and Interstate 27 in Hale County, TX.
"Some towns experienced negative growth for 15 years after the interstate came through," Mujumdar said. "We took a look at what they did wrong so you can try not to repeat those mistakes."
The new highway through Garrett County shortened the driving time to the Baltimore area by about an hour.
"The people of that community really weren't prepared for what happened," Schibik said.
"They couldn't think outside the box. They couldn't see their mountain location as a vacation option for big-city people. Eventually there were specialty shops and restaurants and the area prospered.
All aspects need to be involved - "My advice from that," Schibik continued, "would be to acquire the land near the interchange and control this land usage through zoning. Improve the school systems. Get involved with workforce development."
Both men noted that Interstate 69 has opponents in this are.
"We proceeded with our research by taking I-69 as a given," Schibik said. "We're not pro or con one way of the other."
Benefits for all communities - Before the presentation, Mujumdar said the new road's impact on Oakland City "would be to make it easier to get to Evansville. The bigger city could siphon some jobs. The upside would be that perhaps Oakland City could become a bedroom community for Evansville."
Mujumdar said current I-69 plans call for the highway to bypass Petersburg.
"There's no exit on the drawing boards," he said. "The Route 57 traffic would be drained to I-69. The best answer for Petersburg would be to make it a destination town . . . to adopt some kind of Main Street program that would be unique enough to make people want to come."
Washington, which is on course to have an exit, already has moved toward building an industrial park, Mujumdar noted.
"One of the biggest mistakes that could happen would be to do nothing until the road is built," Schibik said.
The project was funded by the Pike County Economic Growth Council and county commissioners, the Duke Energy Foundation, the city of Washington and the Daviess County Economic Development Corporation.
Coordination for the study came from the USI Center for Applied Research.
Health Grant Lauded
Evansville linked to Statewide info
January 29, 2008 issue of the Local Business of the Evansville Courier & Press
By Gavin Lesnick
Courier & Press staff writer, 464-7449 or lesnickg@courierpress.com
USI-Center for Applied Research, College of Nursing and Health and Tri-State Business Group on Health co-facilitated a $1.3 million federal grant will align Evansville with a growing number of statewide communities that share patient information among health care providers through a secure, web-based application.
The Medicaid transformation grant, which was announced Monday at a news conference featuring prominent local and state health care leaders, ultimately will provide better quality and safety of care while also saving costs to Medicaid patients, people will private insurance and those without any insurance, officials said.
The grant will be used over two years to link Evansville's health care providers with the growing statewide health information exchange, an electronic portal that can deliver lab results, reports, medication histories, treatment histories and more in a standard, electronic format.
Representatives from the Indiana Health Information Exchange worked with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration to determine the money would go to Evansville, which was selected in part because of its significant population of Medicaid patients, private pay patients and area providers.
The program's potential benefits are enormous, said Dr. J. Marc Overhage, CEO of the state health exchange.
"If this afternoon I ended up having to go to the emergency department at one of your fine hospitals here, the physician would have to rely on what I could tell them about my health care and what had happened," he said. "As we make progress with this project, they wouldn't have to ask all of those questions. They would have access to information . . . critical to delivering high-quality, safe and efficient care."
That standardization and increased speed and accessibility should improve quality and safety of care while also eliminating unnecessary costs, said Dr. Jeff Wells, Indiana Medicaid Director.
Representatives from local heal care facilities - St. Mary's Medical Center, Deaconess Hospital and the Welborn Clinic - also praised the funding as a step toward better care locally and statewide.
Dr. Donald Lurye, Welborn Clinic's chief medical officer, said the exchange will help facilities place increased emphasis on the flow of information, an area which he said needs attention.
"We create (information), we transmit it, we use it, but we don't have the access to it that we need," he said, comparing the information exchange in medicine to the more complex focus it receives from banks, travel and retail establishments.
The Vanderburgh County Health Department - and, by extension, the residents here - also stand to benefit, said Gary Heck, it chief operating officer.
"We'll be able to go out and start following up on disease cases before we would have known we even had them to begin with," when the exchange is functional here, he said. "That's going to make everybody just that much healthier."
The network Evansville will join consists of 33 hospitals, 7,200 physicians and 2,445 practices statewide.
The program here is unique, though, because it is among the first to specifically align the exchange effort with Medicaid goals. It could even contribute to defining state and national policies on health care exchanges down the road, Dr. Overhage said.
Tourism Growing in Spencer County
January 27, 2008 issue of the Local Business of the Evansville Courier & Press
By Lydia X. McCoy
Courier & Press staff writer, 464-7431 or mccoyl@courierpress.com
Tourism is on the rise in Spencer County and officials couldn't be happier about it.
A recent economic impact study found that on average visitors stayed 2.8 nights and that most visited Holiday World & Splashin' Safari.
"This was very good news," said Melissa Miller, executive director of the Spencer County Visitors Bureau. "This is a bright spot here and some encouraging news for our area."
Some of the additional highlights of the survey included:
Individual visitors spent $10.07 on apparel and souvenirs; $36.08 on lodging; $21.63 on food and $51.41 on activities.
80.70 percent of visitors were very pleased with their trip, and 45.02 percent made two to five visits.
On average, visitors stayed 2.8 nights - one night longer than the state average.
"This is a strong indication that our tourism will continue to grow," Miller said. "That's thanks to those on the front lines of our industry. We're bending over backward, and our guests are having a great time. We're becoming a destination where people want to come and spend three or four days."
The survey, which had just more than 600 people participate, was a joint project of the Spencer County Visitors Bureau, Holiday World & Splashin' Safari and the University of Southern Indiana's school of business. The results are only the first half of the study, which will survey businesses next, Miller said.
"We want to help grow the tourism industry here," she said. "This is still ongoing . . . we want to get a full picture of the impact."
USI Researchers Partnering with Crane
November 3, 2007 issue of the Business section of the Evansville Courier & Press
By Mark Wilson
Courier & Press staff writer, 464-7417 or wilsonm@courierpress.com
Research generated by faculty and students from the University of Southern Indiana may someday find its way into equipment and weapons used by the military or other technology products.
The university and Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center on Friday signed an agreement to partner together on research and education opportunities.
The agreement puts USI in company with schools such as Purdue University and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, both of which also partner with Crane, said Brian Thomas, an official with Crane's technology engagement office.
The education partnership covers the university's Pott College of Science and Engineering and College of Business.
It will be overseen by the university's Center for Applied Research and Crane's Office of Technology Transfer.
Located in Martin County, Crane is the third largest Navy installation in the country. It employs more than 1,500 scientists, engineers and technicians.
The center provides support for developing, putting into use and maintaining a large and complex array of military systems, involving everything from small arms and ammunition to electronic warfare and information systems.
The agreement will provide an important outlet for university faculty to interact with other scientists in the same fields and support the college's focus on applied research, said Scott Gordon, dean of Pott College of Science and Engineering.
"The focus both institutions have on applied research will not only benefit the region but open doors to new learning opportunities for students in Southwest Indiana. This is a win-win for all parties involved," he said.
Janna Foxx, a member of Crane's board of directors, said such partnerships help the center improve its research and efficiency.
University and Crane officials said the partnership could have benefits outside the military as technology spins off into the private sector.
"The military does not want to have products to support that only have a military purpose," Foxx said.
Gordon agreed said the partnership fits with the college's intention of finding ways to use faculty and student research in ways that can benefit economic development.
Taking Care of Business: Center Helps Connect Information Seekers with Researchers
October 2007 issue of Evansville Business Journal
By Bill Medley
EBJ staff writer, 464-7519 or
medleyb@ebj.bizAlcoa needed help looking for ways to dispose of coal combustion by-products from its power generating facilities in Warrick County.
Meanwhile, a group of Southern Indiana mayors and community leaders wanted empirical research to help measure the impact of a proposed Interstate 69 route through their communities.
Both Alcoa and the mayors turned to the Center for Applied Research and Economic Development (CARED) at the University of Southern Indiana for answers. The center, founded in early 2006, serves as the initial contact point for businesses, government agencies, nonprofits and other groups who want to use the research capabilities of USI's faculty and students to help solve problems.
With more than 600 full and part-time faculty members, each with his or her own area of expertise, finding the right person can seem to be a daunting task, said Sue Ellspermann, director of CARED.
"Even if you thought you had a project, where would you have gone?" Ellspermann said. "Our role is to determine what faculty members can help solve those problems."
The idea for CARED was sparked by a task force appointed in 2000 by USI President Ray Hoops to explore how the university can better meet the needs of the community. The center was one of several goals established by the task force.
"We had wanted to do a project to involve more faculty in applied research, to use our expertise to solve practical problems," said Ed Jones, associate vice president of academic affairs and dean of USI's extended services. "This is something we saw as a community need."
That need has become clear in CARED's first year, when the center responded to more than 80 requests from businesses and other organizations seeking help with some kind of research project.
The projects have included studies exploring ways for Alcoa to store and dispose of coal byproducts from the Warrick County plant's electrical generation operations. USI faculty members and geologist Paul Doss has been working with the aluminum producer to find an environmentally safe solution.
In another project, chemistry professors Mark Krahling and Ken Walsh are working with a startup firm called e-Biofuels in Central Indiana to test the company's products, which include alternative fuels such as soy diesel.
Ellspermann said the company, which counts a USI graduate among its owners, approached other universities for help, but did not find a very responsive climate until contacting CARED.
In addition to helping e-Biofuels test its products, the partnership is helping the faculty members develop their research interests outside of the classroom, Ellspermann said.
The research overseen by CARED isn't limited to the so-called "hard" sciences. Faculty members in the liberal arts are also joining the effort.
In another project, economics professors Tim Schibik and Sudesh Mujumdar have been working with the mayors of Petersburg, Oakland City and Washington, Indiana, on an economic impact study to measure the potential effect of new interstate construction of these cities.
Schibik and Mujumdar are studying other communities' experiences with new interstates as a way to identify how areas deal with similar major infrastructure projects.
Soon, researchers are also expected to measure the impact of 300 homes built by Evansville's Habitat for Humanity on families, neighborhoods and the city. The study will involve an interdisciplinary approach, including researchers from the fields of sociology, education and business, Ellspermann said.
As the center's director, Ellspermann fields the initial inquiry from organizations who have research needs. She then "pre-scopes" the project and later meets with the department chairs and deans to explore how the university can help. After a project proposal is worked out, the center and the organization develop a contract describing the work needed.
The center then acts as the project manager, ensuring the research is being completed on time.
CARED was funded last year through a Small Business Administration grant to develop entrepreneurial initiatives. The Indiana General Assembly has since made funding available for the center's operations for the near future.
Organizers see additional growth on CARED's horizon. Jones envisions further classroom involvement, with students helping conduct additional research work and working as interns on projects as needed.
The center will also remain focused on meeting the needs of Southwest Indiana, but CARED is also looking to expand its impact in Western Kentucky and Southern Illinois, Ellspermann said. The center has already worked with the Henderson Chamber of Commerce on a research project south of the Ohio River.
One of the advantages of CARED's research is that it comes from an unbiased source, Ellspermann said.
"We're not trying to sell anything," she said. "We don't have an agenda. If we can't help, we will work to find someone who can."
"As the University grows, and we get more resources, you will see growth," Jones added. "The University needs to become more involved in a broad range of activities in the community."
"We see outreach as being central to our mission."
USI says "We want to collaborate"
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
By Bill Medley
Courier and Press Staff Writer, 464-7519 or
medleyb@courierpress.comAfter undertaking projects for clients including Alcoa and the Evansville Parks Department in its first year, the Center for Applied Research and Economic Development at the University of Southern Indiana is expanding its reach.
Since opening last January, the Center--known as CARED---has, among other projects, provided a snapshot of who uses the Pigeon Creek Greenway Passage and helped officials at Alcoa Warrick Operations study the effect of coal by-products on the environment.
"We are open for business to do those kinds of applied research and consulting projects," CARED Director Susan Ellspermann told the Rotary Club of Evansville Tuesday. "We want to collaborate."
The center's goal is to help businesses, economic development organizations, governments and others tap the university's resources, Ellspermann said. In 2006, CARED focused on Southwest Indiana, but it is looking at partnering with others in Western Kentucky and Southern Illinois.
In one partnership coordinated by the center, two USI chemistry professors are helping a Central Indiana entrepreneur develop and test a new bio-fuel product.
"You might consider us a virtual lab for them," Ellspermann said. "The flip side is, our faculty is developing some real expertise."
In another recently announced project, USI economist Tim Schibik and Sudesh Mujumdar are analyzing the potential impact Interstate 69 would have on the cities of Oakland City, Petersburg and Washington, Ind.
Ellspermann said the professors will look at how other communities of similar sizes reacted when a new interstate was built nearby.
Such studies will help "make sure those communities can plan their own success," Ellspermann said.
USI to conduct I-69 impact study
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Princeton Daily Clarion Staff writer
OAKLAND CITY-Mayor Hugh Wirth, along with mayors of Washington and Petersburg, announced a partnership with the University of Southern Indiana to initiate a study designed to help the three communities find the best way to deal with, and respond to, the upcoming Interstate 69 extension project through the area.
Wirth, David Abel, mayor of Washington, and Jon Craig, mayor of Petersburg, led the effort to partner with USI's Center for Applied Research and Economic Development, which will develop the study. The about $9,300 cost to complete the study will be split three ways between the communities, with Oakland City's estimated $3,100 portion of the study funded through a contribution from the Duke Energy Foundation.
As part of the process, the practices of other U.S. communities located adjacent to new construction of interstate routes will be studied to hopefully help avoid potential mistakes and learn the best practices to help the three communities make good decisions during the I-69 project.
The USI College of Business will study the economic results of those comparable communities and then identify the best decisions, mistakes made and other findings they may have made.
Wirth said it is the hope of city officials that once the findings of the study are developed, they will help Oakland City residents better cope with the impacts of the impending project.
"We feel that this will help Oakland City better understand the expected economics and community impact of the new Interstate 69, as well as the best practices and strategies other communities employed to create the strongest economic and quality of life improvements in the communities located along new I-69 in Southwestern Indiana," Wirth said.
The information gathered through the study will support subsequent planning work by Southwestern Indiana's I-69 corridor communities helping maximize the positive community impact of the new construction highway, according to a press release from USI's Center for Applied Research and Economic Development. Tim Schibik, USI professor of economics, and Sudesh Mujumdar, USI assistant professor of economics, will lead the study.
The study results will be shared with local communities during the fall of 2007.
USI’s Center for Applied Research and Economic Development involves students and faculty in research
Monday, February 12, 2007
USI Staff Writer
Many Pigeon Creek Greenway Passage trail users surveyed by University of Southern Indiana student Jennifer Nolan during a recent usage study of the Evansville trail talked about how they were looking forward to completion of additional segments so they could walk farther without getting off the path.
Michael Patzer, a finance and economics major, felt that gathering data about the recreational pathway would help move it forward. “I have an interest in it, having lived in Evansville,” he said. Patzer has used the pathway for walking and biking.
Nolan and Patzer were two of 42 students, most of them from an economics class in statistics, who were recruited in fall semester to conduct a study initiated by the USI Center for Applied Research and Economic Development (CARED) in partnership with the Greenway Passage advisory board, chaired by Shirley James.
The USI students completed a manual count of individuals on the path and surveyed users about frequency of trail use, repeat use, time spent on the trail, the kind of activity for which they used the trail, how they got there, where they came from, and their satisfaction level. Students also documented demographic information including race, gender, age, income level, and education. Students in USI’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) program analyzed the data and prepared a summary of the findings. (See list of key findings below.)
James said, “We needed this to have a real feel for how we are going to plan trails in the future. It showed us that the Greenway is being used more than we thought. I thought we had picked a week of the year that normally has nice weather, but it rained every day. We were in a state of wonderment that over 2,000 people used the trail during that week despite the weather conditions.”
James said the usage report was “nicely done.” She expects it to be instrumental in securing future funding for additional segments of the Greenway. She said, “We needed these statistics to show there is interest in the trail — even when it's raining.”
The summary report includes recommendations about accessibility, parking, trash, security, and other issues for consideration by the advisory board. Following approval of the report by the Evansville Parks Board, James planned to distribute copies of the summary to community and state leaders to increase awareness of the impact of the Greenway Passage.
The advisory board has been congratulated by Steve Morris, streams and trails section chief for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, for accomplishing the study. Officials with other trail associations, Including the B&O Trail Association in central Indiana, have requested copies of the summary.
USI students collected the data October 11-17. Working in pairs, they completed the count and surveys at specific intercept points in Garvin Park and on the Evansville riverfront portions of the trail.
When all phases are complete, the Greenway Passage recreational trail is designed to encircle Vanderburgh County. Presently, the Greenway includes a completed section starting at the canoe launch at the north end of Heidelbach Avenue. This section follows along the levee and proceeds under Diamond Avenue to connect on the north side of Garvin Park with another completed section that continues under First Avenue and ends at Uhlhorn Street. Another section is complete along the downtown riverfront.
Over the long term the trail is designed to connect with the University of Southern Indiana campus. Ultimately, the passage will connect to a nationwide system of trails known as the American Discovery Trail.
MPA student Linda Bailey ’04, who completed requirements for an undergraduate degree in psychology in spring 2006, wrote most of the report prepared for the Greenway Passage Committee and the Evansville Parks Board. MPA student Michelle White also worked on the report.
In addition to writing the summary, Bailey worked one four-hour shift during the data-collection period to get a better sense of the trail and its users. She presented a report summarizing the study results at a meeting of the Evansville Parks Board.
“It was overwhelmingly positive,” Bailey said of user response to the Greenway. “I was out there only for a four-hour period, but during that time we had no negative comments. That was what was most impressive about it.”
Bailey said out-of-town visitors coming down the Riverfront portion of the trail from Casino Aztar had praise for the Greenway. “Either they didn't have one in their area and wanted it, or they did have one and enjoyed it there,” she said.
Dr. Sue Ellspermann, director of CARED, served as project director for the Greenway study.
Dr. Uisoon Kwon, USI instructor in political science, was research director for the study, the first scientific and systematic effort to ascertain usage of the Greenway.
“This eventually would help to finish remaining parts of the Greenway by providing useful information to policy makers in Evansville city government or even policy makers in the State of Indiana,” he said.
Markay L. Doane, CARED senior project assistant, said students involved in data collection were paid. Their compensation was the only cost incurred by the Greenway Passage advisory board and the Evansville Parks Board for the study. Students who collected the data received $7 an hour for their work and spent a cumulative 317 hours on the project. They worked in four-hour shifts from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. on the collection days.
Dr. Mary Ann Shifflet, USI instructor in economics, said students got to know each other better while collecting the data and worked together effectively.
They attended a mandatory training session to familiarize themselves with protocols for sampling and questioning to ensure the survey data would be conducted with a minimum margin of error. Students also completed online training regarding the use of human subjects in research.
Kwon said the survey gave undergraduate students an opportunity to learn about the process of survey research. They also learned about the sampling process and how to avoid errors in the data collection process not only by participating in the special training but also by engaging in the real survey.
Patzer said he learned that he had to stick to a script when asking questions rather than posing them in his own words in order to ensure reliable data.
“Many students were taking a research method class and learned how to treat a set of individual-level data with various techniques of quantitative analysis. However, most of them probably did not know how those individual -level data sets are prepared and gathered at first hand,” Kwon said.
Bailey said the Greenway is a good thing for Evansville. She welcomed the research study as an opportunity to put her interest in research and statistics to work in the community.
“When you go out on the Greenway, you feel good. Using it makes you healthier. It elevates your mood,” she said. “I got into this project, and it made me feel that I’m a part of something.”
Pigeon Creek Greenway Usage Study
Key Findings
•During the week of the data collection, 1,880 trail users were counted at the Riverfront intercept point and 374 at the Garvin Park intercept point.
• Trail users were predominately male.
• Walking was the prevalent activity. At the Riverfront location, 79 percent of users walked on the trail; 59 percent walked on the trail at Garvin Park.•Usage peaked at the Riverfront location between noon and 1 p.m. on weekdays and between 2 p.m. - 3-p.m. on weekends; Garvin Park usage was “somewhat consistent” throughout the week.
• From 50 percent to 60 percent of the trail users reported using the trail three or more times each week.
• Most users (70 percent at the Riverfront and 89 percent at Garvin Park) reported arriving at the trails from their home; most users arrived by automobile.
• More trail users were in the 46-65 age group than in other single age group Forty-one percent of users at the riverfront and 42 percent at Garvin Park were in the 46-65 age group.
• Trail users surveyed at the riverfront location rated their satisfaction with the trail as “very satisfied” 86 percent of the time; trail users surveyed at Garvin Park rated their satisfaction level as “very satisfied” 53 percent of the time. Neither location received a “not satisfied at all” rating from trail users.
• Ninety-four percent of trail users indicated they would return to the trail. The remaining six percent of users were out-of-town visitors.
Source: Pigeon Creek Greenway Usage Study Summary Report
Read this article as it appeared in USI News
Students survey Greenway use, learn about social entrepreneurship
By Betty Vawter
University of Southern Indiana Senior Editor 853-6590 or bvawter@usi.edu
Vol. 26, Winter 2007Two project begun in partnership with USI's Center for Applied Research and Economic Development (CARED) in the fall put students in touch with the Evansville Community.
Students in a statistics class taught by Dr. Mary Ann Shifflet helped gather data regarding use of Evansville's Pigeon Creek Greenway Passage. The data will be used by the Greenway's advisory board and the city's Parks Board when applying for grants to fund expansion of the greenway.
The students completed a manual count of users on specific areas of the passage and also interviewed users. The students were compensated for their work in collecting the data.
In partnership with Evansville ARC, students in Dr. Marie Bussing-Burks' microeconomics class completed a project to learn about the special challenges of operating a nonprofit organization. The project included a tour of ARC Industries and the organization's Child Life Center and Adult Day Care. Evansville ARC provides services to children and adults with disabilities.
Deidra Conner '87, president, and Andy Cosgrove, vice president of operations, made a classroom presentation.
"We told the students more about what we do and what some of our challenges are," Conner said. "Our budget coming from state and other public sources continues to shrink. We are serving more people with more significant disabilities with less budget. We felt this was a great opportunity to educate this group of young citizens about the value of people with disabilities and how important it is to give individuals with disabilities opportunities to be successful."
After learning about Evansville ARC, students completed a paper on social entrepreneurship. One option for their topic was to recommend proprietary products, similar to the Diaper 911 one-time changing kit, that ARC Industries could market.
Mark Kurvach developed a suggestion for a kit with products to prevent insect bites or relieve discomfort after a bit.
"Due to the growing concern in the United States about the West Nile Virus, the kit has the potential to be a great success, especially among Americans camping or traveling to parts of the work where malaria is a clear and present threat to their health," he said.
Dr. Susan J. Ellspermann is director of CARED.
Future of Ferdinand: The vision takes shape
By Kathy Tretter
Ferdinand News staff writer
Wednesday, January 10, 2007FERDINAND-David Terrell is truly and utterly excited.
Who?
Terrell is executive director of the Indiana Office of Community and Rural affairs, and off-shoot of the former Indiana Department of Commerce. The state agency focuses on--what else?--rural communities and their development.
Terrell's excitement stemmed from a visit to Ferdinand last Friday at the invitation of Dr. Sue Ellspermann from the University of Southern Indiana.
The seed for Terrell's visit, however, had been planted several months earlier, when the town council and Chamber of Commerce hosted a joint Vision Session to determine the course of Ferdinand's future.
About 60 business and educational leaders were invited to the first session. Others were added at a second session, at which point five committees were formed, each with several specific goals. Dr. Ellspermann served as facilitator for both sessions, as well as the follow up meeting last Friday.
This session provided the five committees --or teams-- with an opportunity to share their progress and hear feedback.
It was this exploration of how Ferdinand is actively shaping its' vision for the future that truly impressed Terrell.
The five team topics and their chairs include Population (co-chaired by Frank Gessner and Ed Roos); New Business Growth (headed by Stan Foster); Community Development (led by Roger Corley); Tourism (with Alvin Hoppenjans at the helm); and Brain Gain (chaired by Bob Johnson).
Back in September, each committee, with the help of the entire group, set 10 year goals with benchmark dates. The teams then took those goals to small group meetings or joint email sessions and began to determine how to turn ideas into reality.
Noticeable last Friday was the interconnectedness of the committees. For instance, both the Population Growth and New Business Growth teams need land to carry out their goals.
Meanwhile Tourism and New Business Growth teams both see the addition of retail establishments and restaurants as an integral part of their vision.
The need to extend the vision beyond Ferdinand's corporate boundaries was also a revelation. The Population team decided to work with the county and township to help develop potential building sites.
There was good news on the land front, at least where homes are concerned. According to Plan Commission secretary Don Foerster, David Hoffman, owner of Sunrise Estates, wishes to subdivide a wooded lot in the 200 block area of Alabama Street for a small, eight-home subdivision. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Wednesday, January 24 at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.
Meanwhile, every team had filed a preliminary report prior to Friday's session and all promised to continue with their quests. All the teams would welcome new members. If interested in a specific committee, give the team leader a call.
All residents are asked to attend the special community meeting planned for January 24.
"I am convinced," noted Terrell, "if you don't have the vision thing you ain't got it!" He added, "You have to slog away because it does ebb and flow." But, he believes, Ferdinand has got it and is getting it right.
10 Year Goals
Population Growth Community Development Brain Gain Tourism Business Growth Ñ 500 new homes in the Ferdinand area resulting in Ñ Population growth of 1,000-1,500 in Ferdinand and
Ñ Encouragement of additional population growth in Southeast Dubois School Corporation and North Spencer County.Ñ A healthcare annex with extended hours and emergency room services synergistic with the senior care facilities
Ñ A thriving YMCA andÑ Support and collaboration with the Sisters of St. Benedict Monastery and community.
Ñ An additional 25% of college students returning to Ferdinand:
-Half returning as new college graduates to high skill/high wage jobs in the Ferdinand area and
-Half returning within 15 years of college graduation to join local companies and as entrepreneurs.Ñ Capture the business of 40% of the county's tourists and triple tourism -related income to the town of Ferdinand and Ñ Partner with the Monastery and Holiday World on tourism opportunities.
Ñ 25% of new businesses locally owned Ñ At least one additional full service family restaurant
Ñ A new or revitalized shopping/retail district providing an outlet for local products and services and serving Ferdinand area residents' purchasing needs
Ñ At least on new business in each business section
Ñ Diversification of manufacturing and
Ñ Encouragement of infrastructure businesses.
Leaders to explore 'business clusters'
From staff reports
Courier & Press staff writer
Saturday, December 2, 2006Economic developers, entrepreneurs, and leaders at chambers, universities and entrepreneurial support organizations will come together Tuesday in Huntingburg, Ind., to explore the region's "business clusters" - groups of interrelated industries - that already exist and are emerging in Southwest Indiana.
Christine Nolan, senior associate of Purdue University's new Center for Regional Development, will provide county and region wide business cluster analysis data showing the number of establishments, employment, growth rates, average salaries and other variables of the specific business clusters. Nolan is currently working with the Economic Growth Region 8 -- the Bloomington Region -- on a similar project. This information will allow counties, partnering counties and the region to identify attraction and entrepreneurial opportunities such as service providers needed to help clusters flourish and assist new business development.
Christine Nolan, senior associate of Purdue University’s new Center for Regional Development, reviews southwest Indiana's business Clusters and Entrepreneurial Opportunities. The afternoon session will be facilitated by Sue Ellspermann and Larry Bohleber from the University of Southern Indiana allowing participants to identify specific entrepreneurial opportunities and develop action plans related to those opportunities.
Christine Nolan, senior associate of Purdue University's new Center for Regional Development, will provide county and region wide business cluster analysis data showing the number of establishments, employment, growth rates, average salaries and other variables of the specific business clusters.
Nolan is currently working with the Economic Growth Region 8 -- the Bloomington Region -- on a similar project. This information will allow counties, partnering counties and the region to identify attraction and entrepreneurial opportunities such as service providers needed to help clusters flourish and assist new business development.
The afternoon session will be facilitated by Sue Ellspermann and Larry Bohleber from the University of Southern Indiana allowing participants to identify specific entrepreneurial opportunities and develop action plans related to those opportunities.
The workshop is underwritten with a grant from Indiana's Office of Community and Rural Affairs and co-hosted by Dubois County Area Development Corporation, OFS and the University of Southern Indiana. There is no charge to attend. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at OFS Headquarters in Huntingburg, Ind.
Entrepreneurs and others interested in attending may contact Sue Ellspermann at 812-461-5407.
Read original article as it appears in the Evansville Courier & Press
Tri-County YMCA Partners with USI
Ferdinand News Staff writer
Wednesday, October 25, 2006The Tri-County YMCA, serving Perry, Spencer and Dubois Counties, announces a partnership with the University of Southern Indiana’s Research Division for the completion of a marketing research study. The Tri-County YMCA will conduct research to ensure proper alignment of the organization’s programs, services and facilities.
All residents living in Perry, Spencer and Dubois Counties are asked to participate in the survey now through November 26. County residents will find the online survey at www.triy.org.
When asked about the importance of the marketing research and survey results, Tri-County YMCA Board President John Knust commented, “The Board of Directors, staff and employees of the YMCA are very interested in continuing the momentum and growth the Y has enjoyed these past two years. With the input of the people throughout our service area, we will ensure the Y’s programs, services and facilities are properly aligned to meet growing needs. Therefore, it is extremely important that the community provide feedback by completing the survey.”
Roger Corley, CEO and Executive Director of the Tri-County YMCA also remarked about the growth and momentum the YMCA is enjoying. “We are honored to have served over 2,000 people thus far throughout our service area. With USI’s marketing research project assistance, we will uncover additional opportunities to serve, learn more about what specifically is needed, and then determine the best options to fill those needs. We are very excited about hearing everyone's feedback.”
The Tri-County YMCA’s online survey is at www.triy.org. Everyone in the tri-county area is asked to complete the survey between now and November
Posted 10/31/06
Each semester we have 10-15 CIS seniors who are available to complete FREE computer application projects within area businesses and nonprofits. These projects may range from software development and integration to web development. Projects will commence January, 2007 and must be completed by May 1, 2007. Dr. Marv Albin, Professor of Computer Information Systems, will be advising the course.
This is an excellent opportunity to gain assistance on a project, work with a nearly-graduating CIS student and support USI.
To participate, please submit your company contact person's contact information and a 1-2 sentence description of your project to Sue Ellspermann at sellperma@usi.edu or by phone at 461-5407
Students Survey Greenway Popularity
By MARK WILSON
wilsonm@courierpress.com
Courier & Press staff writer 464-7417 or
Monday, October 23, 2006Even in last week's cold and rain, people were out walking and biking on the Pigeon Creek Greenway Passage trail.
Just ask the students from the University of Southern Indiana who counted and surveyed them for a study the Greenway committee is hoping will help secure future grants and bolster state and local government support for the project.
"I went to check on the students one of the days, and I actually saw a lot of people on the riverfront. It was pouring rain and bitter cold, so that was encouraging. I think if we bring user data to them, they will see how important the Greenway has become. I think we can bring that to the City Council and County Council and make an impression," said Shirley James, Greenway Committee chairwoman.
Pairs of students traded shifts along the already finished sections of the trail, including Garvin Park and the Evansville riverfront. The project eventually will include a 42-mile trail around the city that connects to various parks through a series of subsidiary trails.
USI students, Jessica Schmitt and Brandon Wood, interview Pigeon Creek Greenway Passage user at Garvin Park in Evansville.
"I was out there on a couple of bad (weather) days. There were people still out there. Always at lunchtime, there were a bunch of people from the offices using the riverfront trail," said Matthew Pryzmus, a political science major.
"Everybody I spoke to seemed like they enjoyed it and wanted to expand it."
While not all of the participating students knew a lot about the Greenway going into the project, Pryzmus said he didn't need to be convinced of the trail's worth.
"I used to live Downtown, so I used to use it. Not a lot of people have something like what they are trying to achieve with this," he said.
Fellow political science student Beth Winkleman said she counted 193 people on the riverfront section of the Greenway between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on a Saturday.
"What really got me the most was how often the people who live here go down there and use it," she said.
Winkleman also said she encountered people visiting from other towns who were pleasantly surprised that Evansville had the Greenway trail and that until she did the survey, she was unaware that other communities such as Indianapolis have similar trails.
"I have to thank them for a very excellent job. The sad part of it was the weather was so bad. We picked the first part of October because usually it is so pretty," James said.
The students asked trail users such questions as where they came from immediately before using the trail; how long they use it and how frequently; how they got to it; whether they had used it before; and if they were satisfied with it.
They also documented the users' race, income, education, employment status and sex.
The information will be analyzed for a report by Uisoon Kwon, a professor of research methods in public administration, and his graduate students.
The report will be ready to present to the Evansville Parks Board in November.Samuel Gabreselassie, student at University of Southern Indiana, collects information from Pigeon Creek Greenway Passage users at the Riverfront.
Read Original Article as it Appeared in Evansville Courier & Press
Faculty in the factory: Educators tour businesses to find out what companies look for when hiring.
By BILL MEDLEY
Courier & Press staff writer 464-7519 or medleyb@courierpress.com
Friday, August 11, 2006College graduates seeking a high-tech, high-paying job shouldn't discount the semester they spent counting change behind the counter of a dry cleaning business.
The key to a successful career after college is learning how to transfer those retail skills to any position, Mead Johnson officials told a group of college faculty and staff members Thursday.
The group representing Ivy Tech, the University of Evansville, the University of Southern Indiana and Vincennes University toured several Evansville businesses, including Mead Johnson, in an attempt to find out what those companies were looking for from college graduates. The group representing Ivy Tech, the University of Evansville, the University of Southern Indiana and Vincennes University toured several Evansville businesses, including Mead Johnson, in an attempt to find out what those companies were looking for from college graduates.
One thing the companies are looking for is a diverse background from job candidates. Faculty and staff from USI, UE, Ivy Tech and VU converge on a
motor coach and spend the day traveling to four local businesses
where a CEO provided a welcome and overview followed by a tour
of each facility."A 4.0 is great, but someone who maybe doesn't have a 4.0, but has a more diverse background, that's great too," said Julie Katigan, associate director of human resources at Mead Johnson.
Katigan, who works with people from Austria and the Netherlands at the company's Evansville office, urged the professors and faculty members to "encourage stude3nts to get as many transferable skills as possible" through study abroad and other programs.
Mead Johnson, which is part of Bristol Myers, seeks out recent graduates who have overseas experience and high-level of technical skills. Katigan said such a strategy works well for the company, which uses employees' experiences as a window into the consumer world.
"As a global company, we make and sell products in the Netherlands," Katigan said. "We need that customer insight."
At Berry Plastics, company officials said they also value diversity, as international perspectives become more important in a global economy.
Marcia Jochem of Berry's human resources department, said the firm employs many highly-qualified area college graduates, but the company would like to see a more diverse pool to draw from locally.
"We need help from you," Jochem said.
On Berry's "wish list" for area colleges, Jochem said, is the potential development of a packaging engineering program, such as those found at some higher education institutions in Michigan.
In addition to providing ideas to better prepare students, community tours such as Thursday's, "give me a chance to see how our institution is viewed by the community," said Roberta Hoebeke, assistant professor of nursing at the University of Southern Indiana.
"They really do need people with diverse backgrounds," she said of the companies.
Sandy Bailey, chair of Ivy Tech's business administration program, uses such tours to glean ideas to take back to the classroom.
"It's good to know what companies are looking for," she said.
"The challenge is finding ways to relate what they're doing in the real world to the classroom."
Read Original Article as it Appeared in Evansville Courier & Press
Institutional Research assists in efforts to improve downtown Evansville
By WENDY KNIPE BREDHOLD
University of Southern Indiana staff writer 461-5259 or wkbredhold@usi.edu
Tuesday, August 1, 2006USI's Office of Institutional Research and Assessment recently completed a survey designed to determine the child care needs of downtown Evansville employees, and is currently at work on another survey concerning downtown traffic patterns for Downtown Evansville Inc.
The Web-based child care survey was distributed through the Human Resources department of seven employers: Fifth Third Bank, The Evansville Courier Company, Old National Bank, St. Mary's, Southwest Indiana Mental Health Center, Casino Aztar, and Vectren. Employees were sent a link to the survey and 737 responded.
Katherine A. Draughon, director of Institutional Research and Assessment, said the survey found that the greatest need among downtown employees was for infant care, followed by child care for 2 to 5-year-olds. Approximately 50 percent of respondents said they prefer that day care be close to work rather than home.
Amy Casavant, diversity and work life specialist for Old National Bancorp, said, "Katherine Draughon and Institutional Research associate Joe Wingo were a great team to partner with on this project. They were able to add valuable insight and recommendations regarding the survey, and I could always depend on a quick response to any questions throughout the process."
The traffic survey for Downtown Evansville Inc. will help to determine public opinion about traffic flow in downtown Evansville.
"This survey is going to get the feedback to find out what the community wants in their downtown," said Mick Conati, director of Downtown Evansville Inc. "Once we receive the results, we will present them to the downtown implementation committee, who will in turn put together a recommendation based on the master plan."
The public will access the survey online through Downtown Evansville, Inc.'s Web site in August. "This partnership validates the survey. Downtown Evansville Inc. is a not-for-profit organization, so we don't have the resources to do the projects such as this without outside support," Conati said.
Susan Ellspermann, director of USI's Center for Applied Research and Development, met with Conati at the Chamber of Commerce 2006 Inter-City Leadership visit to Lexington, Kentucky, in May. She facilitated the partnership between Downtown Evansville Inc. and the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment.
"Institutional Research, through its community survey work, has exemplified how USI staff can have an important impact on our community and region," she said. "We know USI has tremendous intellectual capital residing on this campus. As we leverage this 'brainpower' to assist organizations and businesses in our region, USI will be an even greater force accelerating healthy economic and community development in southwestern Indiana.
USI News and Information Services will make the link to the survey available through the USI Web site when the survey "goes live."
Read Original Article as it Appeared in USI News
College assists USI Center for Applied Research and Economic Development to boost region
By BETTY VAWTER
University of Southern Indiana Senior Editor 853-6590 or bvawter@usi.edu
Summer 2006Through the University of Southern Indiana's new Center for Applied Research and Economic Development (CARED), faculty and students in the College of Business are engaging in research, consulting, and other projects to help grow the southwestern Indiana region. Two of the first projects are in Dubois and Spencer counties.
In Dubois County, an individual seeking to locate a business in the area can access up-to-date regional economic data online thanks to a joint project of CARED, the College of Business, and the Dubois County Area Development Corporation.
And in Spencer County, Tom Utter, executive director of the Lincolnland Economic Development Corporation in Rockport, believes no adjective is good enough to describe an entrepreneur's idea for an agri-tourism business. The College of Business, in cooperation with CARED, is providing expertise to help the developer make decisions about the potential business and interest investors.
Utter said his organization in Spencer County began cooperating with the state administration in its efforts to find innovative entrepreneurial agricultural economic development opportunities. Out of the county's local action committee meeting came an idea from Alan Meunier, who proposed an agri-tourism business that could offer such features as experimental crop demonstrations, a petting zoo, shopping for unique gifts on a working farm, and farm-fresh produce from regional growers. Meunier and his wife own Quality Craft Construction, Inc. in Dale, Indiana.
Dr. Beth Mott-Stenerson, assistant professor of marketing, has conducted research to help determine the better of two proposed locations and the appropriate markets for advertising. She also has prepared a communication piece to help potential investors visualize the project. She traveled to Spencer County to visit the proposed sites and talk with Meunier.
Dr. Sue Ellspermann, founding director of the Center for Applied Research and Economic Development, has been listening to the center's constituency, meeting with business and community leaders from the nine southwestern Indiana counties who have formed a Regional Advisory Committee.
Ellspermann owned and operated an independent consulting firm in Evansville for 20 years before joining USI in January. During the first quarter
