Upcoming SWIDC meetings and member events:

LEDC & Spencer Chamber to Present Business Seminar Octobe 29th
USDA Rural Development, Small Business Development Center of SW Indiana and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation Representatives will be available to present information about programs and assistance avialable to help buinesses weather this tough economic times 6pm Wednesday, October 29th. For more information, call Megan at 812-649-2119 or Barbie at 812-649-2186. Download the pdf invitation here.

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SW Agriculture Economic Summit Planned For November 12th
Farmers and agribusinesses are invited to hear about the growing trends in agriculture, new livestock programs, conservation and marketing. The Southwest Indiana Agriculture Economic Development Summit will be held November 12 in Huntingburg. Participants can also learn about the 2007 Farm Bill, Indiana's hardwoods industry and new partnerships coming to the Southwest Region.

Trends in agriculture coupled with up-to-date information give a competitive edge and highlight opportunities for economic growth to local businesses operators. To present areas of opportunity for Indiana’s Southwest region and provide a current assessment of Indiana agriculture, the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), Dubois County Area Development Corporation, Dubois Rural Electrical Cooperative and Purdue University will host the Southwest Indiana Agriculture Economic Development Summit on Wed., Nov. 12 in Huntingburg.

“This summit will offer information in growing trends and new programs in livestock, conservation and marketing,” said Acting Agriculture Director Ken Klemme. “Farmers and agribusinesses will also hear an overview on the 2007 Farm Bill, get an update of Indiana’s hardwoods industry and learn about new partnerships coming to the Southwest Region.”

Southwest Indiana Agriculture Economic Development Summit will be held at the Huntington Events Center, 110 E. 14th Street in Huntingburg, Ind. on Wed., Nov. 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Eastern). Speakers will include representatives from ISDA, Purdue University, Indiana Health Industry Forum and Farm Bureau.

To register for the Southwest Indiana Agriculture Economic Development Summit, email bgrewe@dcadc.org or call (812) 482-9650. The registration deadline is Nov. 5. For more detailed information visit ISDA’s Web site at www.in.gov/isda and look under “Features” or call at 317-232-8770.

The 2008 Regional Economic Summit will feature nationally-recognized business experts and economists who will discuss the current economic climate and realities facing a 26-county region and our nation, as well as outline the steps necessary for prosperity, wealth creation and economic vitality in the 21st Century.

President of the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank James Bullard will serve as the keynote speaker. Bullard will discuss his view of the current economic environment.

For registration information about the 2008 Regional Economic Summit log onto www.regionaleconomicsummit.com or call 812-463-6102. You may also email Saundra Hadley, event coordinator, at saundra@planningforever.com or 812.455.6836 or Lori Stamm, event administrator, at lstamm@regency-prop.com.

Chambers Partner to Launch Trip to China
Business groups in southern Indiana are planning a trip to China. The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana says it will be the first chamber trip from Indiana to the Asian nation. Groups from the Henderson area, Spencer and Warrick counties are expected to take part.

For even more information about the Chamber Trip to China, please visit www.ccswin.com or contact Laurel Meny, director of marketing, at 812.425.8147 or via e-mail at lmeny@ccswin.com.

Dear SWIDC Members, Participants in Our Leadership Enhancement Seminars and Other Interested parties:

The Southwest Indiana Development Council (SWIDC) received funding to develop and deliver a Community Leadership Enhancement Project from the Indiana Rural Development Council. During the implementation phase of this project, the Indiana Rural Development Council was changed to the Southern Indiana Development Commission.

The pilot phase of the project included conducting the Community Leadership Enhancement Program in four counties. The program was then revised and tailored to the remaining counties in SWIDC which subsequently presented the program.

Dr. Nancy Kovanic of Isaac Paul & Associates, Inc, 1100 W. Lloyd Expressway, Suite 311, Evansville, IN, 47708, was the project consultant. Dr. Kovanic worked in conjunction with the SWIDC executive committee to develop, deliver, and evaluate the program.

Now that the project has been completed, SWIDC is making the Power Point presentations, background information on the project, Leadership Training Guide and Detailed Training Guide available for download.

If you are interested in reviewing the project, or conducting seminars based on the project materials, we recommend you download the overview documents first. These will aid you in determining how the individual Power Point presentations may best be be utilized by your organization.

The overview documents are provided as both Micrsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat documents for ease of viewing. They are:

• Background Information - SWIDC Community Leadership Enhancement Project (click to download Word Document) (click to download PDF)
• SWIDC Community Leadership Enhancement Project - Trainer’s Guide Overview (click to download Word Document) (click to download PDF)
• Detailed Instructions for Training Modules (click to download Word Document) (click to download PDF)

Training Module PowerPoint Presentations - These are designed to be easily modified. Right click on the Program # to download a PowerPoint presentation.

• Program #1: Basic Economic Development
• Program #2: Community Leadership
• Program #3: SWIDC Marketing Your Community
• Program #4: SWIDC Economic Development Toolbox
• Program #5: Leadership Quotes

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