Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Purdue to Help Two Indiana Regions Bolster Economic Development

  • 09/03/15

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – A team of Purdue University community and regional development professionals will play a key role in advancing the efforts of two groups of Indiana counties that are working to develop regional approaches to growing businesses and creating jobs.

The two regions, consisting of 11 counties in the state, have been selected by U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development to be part of Stronger Economies Together, a nationwide program undertaken in partnership with the regional rural development centers and the nation's land-grant university system.

The two Indiana regions are joining 19 other regional economic-development groups in 11 states selected on a competitive basis to be part of the yearlong program. The expected outcomes include developing a stronger regional mindset, increasing regional collaboration, discovering the region's current and emerging assets, and developing and implementing a high-quality regional economic development plan that aligns with the region's strengths.

Professional staff from the Purdue Center for Regional Development and Purdue Extension will coordinate and provide leadership to the State Resource Team, composed of individuals from state and federal agencies, universities and other organizations with expertise in community and regional development.

"The SET program is another example of how Purdue is strengthening collaborations to build vibrant economies across Indiana," says Jason Henderson, director of Purdue Extension. "It is a prime example of how Purdue expertise can assist communities as they build stronger economies to enhance the quality of life in Indiana."

USDA Rural Development started SET in 2010 to help rural communities and counties work together in strengthening and sustaining the economic vitality of the nation's rural areas. To date, regions involved have secured over $120 million in grants and low-interest loans to support implementation of their regional plans.

The two SET regions in Indiana are:

  • Indiana 15 Regional Planning Commission region, consisting of Crawford, Dubois, Orange, Perry, Pike and Spencer counties in southern Indiana.
  • Regional Economic Development District of Eastern Indiana, consisting of Fayette, Randolph, Rush, Union and Wayne counties.

The program provides each region with a step-by-step process for designing and implementing a practical and viable regional economic development plan, one based on a careful analysis of the region's current and emerging industry clusters, its population and labor force features, and the insights and priorities of local residents.

"Stronger Economies Together represents an exciting opportunity for these regions to work together with Purdue University and the SET State Resource Team to fortify their regional ties and identify their pathway to a vibrant future," says Michael Wilcox, assistant program leader of community development for Purdue Extension.

Featured

  • UNT Dallas Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for $100M STEM Building

    The University of North Texas at Dallas in Dallas, Texas, recently celebrated the opening of its new, $100-million STEM Building, according to local news. The ceremony on Dec. 2 preceded the first day of classes in the facility on Jan. 12, 2026.

  • Massachusetts K–12 District Selects Architect for New Junior High

    Swansea Public Schools in Swansea, Mass., recently announced that it has selected Finegold Alexander Architects to design a new junior high school for the district, according to a news release. The firm will create the Feasibility Study and Schematic Design for Joseph Case Junior High School after a lengthy selection process by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).

  • Upcoming University of Alabama Performing Arts Center Hits Construction Milestone

    The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., recently celebrated the topping out of its new Smith Family Center for Performing Arts, according to a news release. The university is partnering with HPM for program and project management on the facility, which broke ground in 2023 and is scheduled for completion in November 2026.

  • T&T Construction Management Group Completes Pasco High School Expansion

    Pasco High School in Dade City, Fla., recently announced that it has completed an expansion project in partnership with T&T Construction Management Group, Inc., Harvard Jolly Architecture, and Williams Company.