From the President
From the President
Lance Allison
President and CEO
Welcome ! I am pleased to be a part of the One Southern Indiana team and working with such an amazing organization . It has been a whirlwind few months , getting to know the people and places of Southern Indiana . Thank you to everyone for the hospitality shown to me over the last few months ! I am excited to start focusing on upcoming goals and to celebrate the previous year ’ s accomplishments .
Economic development continues to grow . This past year , we celebrated fourteen new projects ( five expansions and nine attractions ) to the area . These expansions and attractions represented over $ 1.9 billion in new investment and a first for 1si ; over $ 1 billion investment dollars in one fiscal year . The average hourly wage was $ 25.97 . This brings our total number of announcements to 227 since our inception in 2006 .
Our Small Business Navigator Program continues to grow , with new and recurring clients looking to house their small business in Southern Indiana . The ONE Fund is coming into its third year with some major changes , including increasing the loan maximum amount to $ 30,000 , tying the interest rate to the U . S . Prime Rate , and streamlining loan documentation . These changes are strategic to ensure we are meeting the financial needs of our community and the continued success of the ONE Fund .
While this year ’ s session was short , we continued to focus on advocacy efforts by prioritizing concerns into four categories ; infrastructure , childcare / eldercare , training availability for those of all abilities , and increased funding for our essential workers . While these were the focus of our efforts , we continued to monitor policies and issues that could have arisen during the session . Updates were relayed to members in a weekly Advocacy email .
Within our business resources team , we had a successful year full of events , programs , and workshops . Over the last year , we hosted over 200 events , including roundtables , workshops , groups and signature events . Our team continues to look at ways to elevate our events and make them beneficial to our members . Additionally , we continued to offer exclusive benefits , such as marketing , savings programs , and sponsorships .
My goals for the 2024 – 2025 year include :
--
Enhancing business resources and engagement , including providing valuable tools , training , and networking opportunities .
--
Spearhead initiatives that not only address current challenges but also position our community for future success .
--
Strategic partnerships with local agencies and organizations to foster a unified approach to economic growth .
I want to close by thanking the 1si team . These last five months have shown me the work ethic and more of the 1si team . They are a great group of individuals who genuinely care for the Southern Indiana region and continue to drive engagement and growth across the region . I am honored to be a part of this team and look forward to what is to come with them .
At 1si , we grow business . Let us help you grow yours .
Sincerely ,
Lance Allison , CEE , IOM President and CEO
ONE SOUTHERN INDIANA 2023-24 YEAR IN REVIEW 3