From the President
From the President
Lance Allison, CCE, IOM
President & CEO
As we begin a new year at 1si, we take a moment to acknowledge our success throughout the 2024-2025 year, and the individuals that have had a hand in advancing our vision for the region.
Southern Indiana is on the cusp of transformational growth. Recent announcements totaling more than 4,000 new jobs and over $ 2.5 billion in capital investments are not just numbers on a page, they are real signs of a region on the rise. Just in our last fiscal year of July 1, 2024, to June 30th, 2025, we have had a total of 8 projects announced. Of which are 6 expansion projects and 2 attraction projects, representing over $ 579M in new investment.
We look forward to continuing our impact on regional attraction and expansion by bolstering our economic brand with initiatives such as Livability Magazine and the Fouridor. The Fouridor is a statement about who we are and what we offer. Derived from the word“ corridor,” it emphasizes our four R’ s: River, Rail, Roads, and Runways. These aren’ t just infrastructure assets, they represent a logistics and transportation network that gives our region a competitive edge unlike any other.
The future of Southern Indiana hinges on continued strategic investments not only locally, but also across the state. We must keep pushing for infrastructure upgrades, workforce development, site readiness, and policies that support both large-scale industry and small businesses that make our communities unique. That’ s how we ensure our recent wins aren’ t fleeting— but become the foundation for a more resilient economy.
Our two small business loan programs, the One Fund & Caesars Foundation of Floyd County, provide essential capital to help businesses grow, create jobs, and strengthen the regional economy. By offering flexible financing solutions, these programs empower entrepreneurs to expand operations, invest in new equipment, or stabilize cash flow during critical growth phases. Our Small Business Services counseled 628 potential and existing businesses with 82 of those being first time connections with 1si. This service is free to any business whether they are a member or not.
Over the last year, we hosted over 175 events, including roundtables, workshops, groups and signature events. We have improved efforts to understand what members want from our events and programs by implementing surveys and systemizing feedback. The responses serve as a guide to strengthen programming and partnerships to intentionally provide events that are constructive for our members.
My goals for the 2025 – 2026 year include:
Enhance Membership Growth and Engagement Strengthen the chamber by growing membership and increasing member involvement across all sectors of the business community.
Advance Regional Economic Development Expand the organization’ s impact by supporting business attraction, retention, and expansion efforts throughout the region.
Align and Elevate Organizational Branding Create a unified and consistent brand identity that clearly represents both the chamber and economic development divisions.
Southern Indiana is ready. We are ready to lead, ready to partner, and ready to make the most of this unprecedented moment in our region’ s history. The future will be shaped by those who choose to act boldly— and we intend to be among them.
This is our time, Let’ s build it- together. Sincerely,
Lance Allison, CEE, IOM President & CEO
ONE SOUTHERN INDIANA 2024-25 YEAR IN REVIEW 3