Nancy Burns, and Debbie Campbell of the Mt. Vernon Chamber
Nancy Burns, Executive Vice President, Mt. Vernon Area Chamber of Commerce, took the reins of the chamber in 1982, which at that time, covered only Mt. Vernon. This Bostonian native immediately felt right at home in Posey County.
Burns is one of only two remaining original members of SWIDC. At first, everyone was turf protective, but soon realized that all of the counties would benefit from a group effort.
What began as just five counties are now eleven, and all have shared in the prosperity of new industry.
Posey County has been seriously considered by a number of major corporations. BASF and Scott Paper Company are among those companies. Probably her biggest personal disappointment was ConAgra, which announced it would build a $225 million soybean processing facility with 200 employees. Litigation and falling soybean prices put the project on hold indefinitely.
Undaunted by this experience, Burns forged ahead and in 2000, GAF announced construction of a $20 million facility with 50 employees.
John Deaton of Countrymark Co-op has worked with Nancy for 3 years.“From the beginning, I recognized that Nancy was very important in the county’s economic development efforts,” he says. “She is extraordinarily energetic and champions every effort the county makes. She is a true catalyst. Nancy forces the county to focus on the most difficult issues we all must deal with to keep this area growing in the right direction, such as the new bypass.”
Mt. Vernon is also home to Southwind Maritime Centre, one of Indiana’s three ports. The strategic location provides easy access, not only to the Ohio Valley, but also to Mobile, Alabama, via the Tennessee - Tombigbee Waterway, and to New Orleans, Louisiana, via the Mississippi River system. It's a perfect location for companies using total intermodal transportation.
Posey County is bordered to the south by the Ohio River and Interstate 64 to the north. Poseyville, located on 1-64, is primed and ready for growth. For those companies supplying just-in-time parts to Toyota, Poseyville is just 20 minutes away.
Nestled in the center of Posey County is New Harmony; first a spiritual sanctuary that later became a haven for international scientists, scholars, and educators who sought equality in communal living.
Today, New Harmony stands as a blend of two dreamers. Visitors from all over the world come in search of the utopia inspired by George Rapp and the spirit of intellectual and social equality, which was Robert Owen's legacy.
Posey County’s proximity to a major metropolitan area is also a plus. For those, like Burns, who enjoy the tranquility of a smaller community, but appreciate the arts, philharmonic and theatre, its the best of both worlds.
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Posey County at a Glance
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| Established in 1814 |  |
| Area - 408.5 sq. miles | |
| Population - 29,372 | |
| County Seat - Mt. Vernon | |
| Unemployment Rate (July, 2001) - 3.1 % |
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| County Labor Force (July, 2001) -13,770 |
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| Regional Labor Force (July, 2001) - 213,188 |
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For more information on Posey County, contact:
Nancy Burns 812-838-3639
chamber@poseynet.com
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