FRENCH LICK, Indiana – Radius Indiana, an eight-county regional partnership for economic and community development, plans for "significant regional growth in 2011," according to R.J. Reynolds, president and CEO.

"As we go forward, we must emphasize the importance of working together," Reynolds said. "It's about job creation, regional business investment and workforce development."

Reynold’s comments were part of Radius Indiana’s first annual meeting earlier this week, attended by 70 mayors, economic development professionals and business leaders here in December 2010. The regional partnership serves Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Orange and Washington counties.

Recounting events in during the past year and outlining expectations for the future, Reynolds said that the regional partnership planned to focus on four key areas of growth in 2011 and the coming years: education (workforce), manufacturing, defense and tourism/hospitality.

Chad Pittman, executive vice president of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC); Steve Ferguson, Chairman of the Board and Executive Vice President, Cook Group Incorporated; and David Terrell, director of the Indiana Office of Rural and Community Development, and deputy chief of staff for Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman, were featured speakers at the annual meeting.

Pittman emphasized the continuing commitment of IEDC to Radius Indiana and the region in his remarks. Pointing out that the $1.3 billion Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) at Crane, Indiana remains a "major economic driver for the region," Pittman said that numerous other opportunities were expected to appear in other regional economic sectors.

"We're committed," he said concerning IEDC continued direct involvement in the region.

The commercial defense sector offers immediate opportunities for growth, and Reynolds said that the regional partnership planned to take a leadership position in helping to convert those opportunities into tangible progress. He noted how the construction of the $6.6 million WestGate Academy in the WestGate @ Crane Technology Park would likely create numerous options and opportunities for growth in the region, both for the defense sector and for workforce development.

The EastGate industrial park in Bedford is also home to defense contractors associated with NSWC Crane, and that facility is nearing capacity, he said. A $111 million investment in expanding the GM Powertrain facility in Bedford was also expected to have long-term benefits for the region at large.

"Pulling all eight counties together as a region" remains one of Radius Indiana's top priorities, Reynolds emphasized.

Shane Blair, a vice president with Radius Indiana, explained how the partnership will continue to pursue "major growth in the defense sector."

During 2010 Radius Indiana moved its main office to Bedford, but maintained an active office on the NSWC Crane base, which is staffed by Blair. The opening of I-69 next to NSWC Crane and the WestGate tech park is expected to create substantial new opportunities, he said.

During 2010 the partnership made some changes to its executive and board leadership, according to Reynolds. The previous co-chair of Radius, David Terrell, announced the new Radius Indiana board leadership positions: Kenneth L. Sendelweck, who is president of the Private Banking and Wealth Management Group for German-American Bank, will serve as chairman for Radius Indiana. Marie-Christine Pence of Duke Energy will serve as vice chair. Tim Kinder, executive director of the Martin County Alliance for Economic Growth, will serve as secretary of the board, and Gene McCracken, executive director of the Lawrence County Economic Growth Council, will serve as treasurer.

Terrell also announced new members of the board’s executive committee for Radius Indiana: Cullen McCarty, president of Smithville Digital; Ron Arnold, executive director of the Daviess County Economic Development Corporation; and Harold Gutzwiller, manager, Economic Development and Key Accounts, of the Hoosier Energy Power Network.

Reynolds said that the board of directors will expand to 40 members in 2011 to increase direct participation from the region.

ABOUT RADIUS INDIANA – Formed in 2009, Radius Indiana is a regional partnership representing eight counties in south central Indiana: Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Orange and Washington. The partnership also serves as a primary point of contact in Indiana for the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane Division. The partnership’s mission is to advance the economy of the South Central Indiana Region by: generating high-quality employment opportunities; diversifying the region’s economic base; and raising the standard of living for residents of the Region. To accomplish the mission of Radius Indiana, the partnership works diligently to develop and support the customized resources businesses need to successfully locate or expand in the South Central Indiana Region. The vision of Radius Indiana is to create a dynamic network of private and public partnerships that works together for the benefit of all. For more information, please visit www.radiusindiana.com.