• Toyota Princeton $1.4 billion expansion commended by Knox County Indiana Economic Development

    VINCENNES - The news of a $1.4 billion expansion for an all-new battery electric vehicle to be built at the Toyota Indiana facility in Gibson County was well-received by Knox County Indiana Economic Development (KCIED). “This is excellent news for Princeton and the southwest Indiana region that includes Knox County,” said Chris Pfaff, KCIED CEO, [...]

  • Meeting the Challenges of Rural Economic Development

    This column previously appeared on Inside Indiana Business April 9, 2024 The Site Selection magazine headline recently summed it up: “When Being Small Is a Big Advantage.” Over the past four or so years, rural America has experienced an unexpected and remarkable growth trend. As the magazine noted, “record inflation, remote working, rising big-city crime, [...]

  • Indiana First Region launches Comprehensive Growth Strategy

    Reprinted with permission from the Vincennes Sun-Commercial newspaper March 28, 2024 SOUTHERN INDIANA —  Indiana First Region's READI 2.0 application was submitted to the state Feb. 16. The Indiana First Region, which includes Harrison, Knox, Perry, Pike and Spencer counties, have capitalized on the first round of READI funding by leveraging its $15 million grant to [...]

  • Come for the Eclipse – Stay for the Opportunity

    Opportunity Knox lead story – Looking for a great place to work, live, and play? With multiple thousands of visitors on deck, the upcoming total eclipse in Vincennes offers a unique opportunity for visitors and expatriates to sample the quality of life and economic development prospects, according to Sara Wolfe, director of the Dark Side [...]

  • Why Japan Matters to Indiana

    By Chris Pfaff, CEO of Knox County Economic Development (The following column previously appeared on Inside Indiana Business) Last fall, Knox County officials and I joined Gov. Eric Holcomb and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) for a week-long trade mission in Japan.  Some may ask, why are focused visits like these vital to Indiana [...]

  • Knox Life Announces Community Investment Grant Program

    VINCENNES, Ind. (January 10, 2024) - The Knox Life Community Improvement Team (CIT) announced today the launch of its "Community Investment Initiative," offering grants to eligible organizations and groups within Knox County, Indiana. This initiative aims to support projects that enhance the quality of life, increase community capacity, foster relationships among local organizations, and build [...]

  • Southern Indiana Gateway region advocates for child care regulatory reform

    Reprinted with permission from the Vincennes Sun-Commercial newspaperJanuary 2, 2024The Southern Indiana Gateway (SIG) Region, comprising seven counties including Crawford, Dubois, Knox, Orange, Perry, Pike, and Spencer has joined forces to tackle a pressing workforce issue — childcare.The SIG Region is designated as one of Indiana’s 21st Century Talent Regions, which is committed to attracting, developing, [...]

  • Why Japan matters to Knox County

    Reprinted with permission from the Vincennes Sun-Commercial newspaper November 28, 2023 Earlier this fall, Mayor Joe Yochum, Knox County Commission President Kellie Streeter, and I joined Gov. Eric Holcomb and Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) executives for a trade mission trip to Japan. Some may ask, why are trips like these important to Indiana — and [...]

  • KCIED looks to leverage READI dollars against grant

    Reprinted with permission from the Vincennes Sun-Commercial newspaper December 14, 2023 Local economic development officials continue to formulate a plan they hope will result in the capture of additional READI funds. State officials earlier this year announced that they would dedicate another $500 million to READI 2.0, money to be doled out in April of 2024. [...]

  • Knox County to see $83M bioplastics manufacturing facility

    Reprinted with permission from the Vincennes Sun-Commercial newspaper December 14, 2023 The U.S. 41 Industrial Park will see its first significant investment in nearly a decade after officials with the Pantheon on Friday announced the construction of a processing facility that will repurpose food waste from Knox County’s melon industry into biodegradable plastics. Pantheon officials joined [...]