The new economic partnership promotes regional economic development and vitality through catalytic leadership, collaborative planning, and coordinated investment. The new economic partnership is formed through the combination of three organizations on April 1, 2021 including the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana, Southwest Indiana Chamber and Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville. There are more exciting details to come on the official merger date of April 1, 2021.

Over the past 15 years, the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana, Southwest Indiana Chamber and Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville have worked tirelessly – often arm-in-arm and shoulder-to-shoulder – to advance the interests of the region’s businesses and fuel economic and community growth. As leaders of these organizations came together, along with other area civic and business leaders, they established a bold vision for the future growth and prosperity of Southwest Indiana. They also arrived at an important consensus: We can be even stronger and more effective together.  From that realization, the idea of the new economic partnership was born.

While each legacy organization that is joining the new economic partnership enjoyed a proud tradition of accomplishment, we know we can better serve our region by collaborating and unifying essential economic development functions into a single structure. In a very competitive environment for talent and opportunity, all of us who care about the Evansville region must be working together. We believe this new model will significantly advance our region’s capacity to promote the strengths of the region and will provide increased opportunities for measurable success.   

The new economic partnership advances regional prosperity and global relevance by building on the trusted relationships and legacy of its predecessor organizations. Under this model, the merged organizations will carry forward important areas of impact including business attraction and retention, public policy, community development, entrepreneurship, talent attraction and regional planning strategy.

The new economic partnership is a public-private partnership funded by contributions from investors in the public sector and private business as well as earned revenue from events and property management. We are working closely with those investors in the legacy organizations as we transition to the new structure. And, we are looking to increase opportunities for businesses of all sizes to play a role in helping to shape the economy of this region. We are fully committed to ensuring more opportunities for members and investors to engage in advancing inclusive growth in the Evansville region.

This merger will operate regionally to advance prosperity for the entire region including Gibson, Posey, Vanderburgh and Warrick Counties.