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Explore Evansville: 2024 State of the Tourism Industry

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Explore Evansville: 2024 State of the Tourism Industry

BY STAFF

SEPTEMBER 06, 2024

Evansville, IN – September 6, 2024 – The Rotary Club of Evansville recently hosted Alexis Berggren, President & CEO of Explore Evansville, who presented an insightful overview of the state of the tourism industry in the region. The presentation underscored the critical role that Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) play in economic development and highlighted key trends, challenges, and successes within the tourism sector. The Importance of Tourism

Tourism remains a vital contributor to the economic vitality of Vanderburgh County and beyond. In 2023, travelers spent an astounding $1.3 trillion across the United States, supporting over 15.4 million jobs. Locally, tourism generated $503 million in 2022, supporting 10,293 jobs, making it the fifth-largest industry in Vanderburgh County. Without this sector, households in Vanderburgh County would face an additional tax burden of $1,149 annually. Tourism Trends and Challenges

The industry is currently facing unprecedented challenges. Despite the recovery from the pandemic, there are still more job openings than available workers, with Vanderburgh County leisure and hospitality sectors trailing behind 2019 levels by approximately 1,000 employees. Generational shifts in travel preferences are also reshaping the landscape. Boomers continue to favor traditional travel methods, while Gen Z travelers prioritize unique, authentic experiences and have an increasingly short attention span for advertising.

Local Tourism Investments Since 1995, Explore Evansville has invested over $46 million in local tourism infrastructure, with notable projects including Goebel Sports Complex, Mesker Park Zoo, and the Deaconess Aquatic Center. These investments, largely funded by visitor spending, not only enhance the tourism landscape but also reduce the tax burden on residents by covering costs that would otherwise fall on the community.

Tourism Performance and Economic Impact In the first six months of 2024, Explore Evansville played a pivotal role in helping to sell or service 62 events, generating nearly 150,000 visitors and over $30.5 million in economic impact. The sales team has already booked 42,289 room nights for future events, representing a 22% increase over 2023 and an estimated economic impact of $23.37 million.

Looking Ahead. The future of Evansville’s tourism industry is poised for continued growth, with plans to expand the Evansville Sports Complex and explore new tourism opportunities at regional parks. Upcoming events in 2025, including the United Pentecostal Church Indiana Youth Convention, International Jugglers’ Association, and the Professional Pickleball Association, promise to bring significant economic benefits to the area.A Community Effort

Berggren emphasized the importance of community collaboration, stating, “Our role goes beyond just promoting Evansville—we are dedicated to building a stronger community by driving economic growth and creating experiences that benefit both our residents and visitors alike.” With a dedicated team, a supportive board of commissioners, and collaborative local partnerships, Explore Evansville is committed to sustaining and growing the region’s tourism industry.

For more information on Explore Evansville and upcoming events, visit www.exploreevansville.com or contact the office at (812) 421-2200.

 

 

As Lugar is honored with a new statue, documentary students remember his civility

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  • By Colleen Steffen, TheStatehouseFile.com Sept, 6, 2024
Former U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar sits in Franklin College’s Branigin Room on April 30, 2018. The Indiana politician watched the premiere of a documentary depicting his life and career, “Richard Lugar: Reason’s Quiet Warrior.”

Photo by Erica Irish, TheStatehouseFile.com.

In April 2018, almost a year to the day before he died, former U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Indiana, visited the campus of Franklin College to watch an hour-long documentary about his life.

“Richard Lugar: Reason’s Quiet Warrior” had been created by students from the Pulliam School of Journalism, and after airing on WFYI, it would go on to be nominated for a regional Emmy. Through interviews with friends, family, colleagues and the man himself, it painted a portrait of the Eagle Scout, lifelong Rotarian, school-board commissioner, Indianapolis mayor and U.S. senator as unassuming, dignified to the point of formality, ambitious, but with an enduringly idealistic vision of public service.

“Donald Trump took office in 2016, and we were really starting to see that shift, such a shift into division,” says Shelby Thomas, then Shelby Mullis, a Franklin College sophomore on the documentary team. “To talk to somebody who was all about bipartisanship, who made so many changes and had such a big impact …

“To be able to talk to him—it was so interesting.”

Lugar soon will be honored with a new statue to stand in the center of Richard G. Lugar Plaza, the two-acre space between East Washington Street and the City-County Building in downtown Indianapolis. Its unveiling happens 10 a.m. Tuesday, several blocks away at Bicentennial Unity Plaza, on Pennsylvania Street at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will deliver remarks.

For Thomas, the timing of this latest memorial is also appropriate, just months before a bitterly partisan presidential election. She wracked her brain to think of something contentious Lugar might have said during her several trips to Washington, D.C., to help interview him and could not.

“I don’t remember his comments about the political climate of that time, but I think it’s because he was not one who … he was not one to shame,” she said. “Whatever he said was very tame if he said anything at all.”

While Lugar is remembered as the two-term Indy mayor who envisioned Unigov, as Indiana’s longest serving congressman and as one of the men behind the Nunn-Lugar program to reduce nuclear weapons, the young journalists who briefly worked with him—while also working at the Indiana Statehouse with TheStatehouseFile.com—were struck by his tone.

Then Franklin College freshman Erica Irish served as a transcriptionist and researcher on the documentary, listening to all the team’s recorded interviews with Lugar and even hunting down his writings from his high-school newspaper—spending a long time with his words.

“To me, Lugar most exemplified the power of communication in building consensus,” she says. “He spoke at many points in his life about the necessity of staying in the room with—and listening to—the people who disagree with you. We can’t write each other off simply because of policy disagreements. Without disagreement and debate, policy will never serve everyone.”

Clayton Taylor of WFYI and John Krull, director of Franklin College’s Pulliam School of Journalism and publisher of The Statehouse File, served as co-executive producers of the documentary. Krull also was writer and narrator. Joel Cramer, J.D., a Franklin professor of journalism, was field producer for the 11-student team.

“’Reason’s Quiet Warrior’ presented several gifts,” says Krull. “The first, of course, was that it provided on video a complete telling of Richard Lugar’s story. But the greater gift was the impact it made on the students who worked on it. In addition to enhancing their skills, it gave them a much broader understanding of the ways the world works.”

After Franklin graduation and a stint in daily newspapers, Thomas landed in the office of Gov. Eric J. Holcomb as deputy director for drug prevention, treatment and enforcement.

“I think obviously The Statehouse File was my introduction to government and politics. Prior, I could tell you who the governor was … But it wasn’t until The Statehouse File—it really taught me the basics,” Thomas said. “But it was these really personal experiences I got that solidified my interest in public service.

“To be able to hear from Lugar himself all of those times we interviewed him, it just really solidified—that’s the type of public servant you want be.”

Colleen Steffen is executive editor of TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students. She worked as a newspaper reporter and editor for more than 13 years and is now in her 10th year teaching college journalists.

Gov. Holcomb makes trip to Ukraine to meet with Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy

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Gov. Holcomb makes trip to Ukraine to meet with Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Holcomb is first U.S. governor to visit since Russian invasion of Ukraine

KYIV, Ukraine – Governor Eric J. Holcomb is in Kyiv today to focus on subnational diplomacy that will positively impact future economic, academic and cultural two way partnerships between Indiana and Ukraine. This trip will mark the first time a U.S. governor has traveled to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

“Indiana’s reach far extends beyond our state borders. Where others may hesitate, Hoosiers step up, especially for friends in need,” Gov. Holcomb said. “Ukrainians have long been known to be resilient, courageous and innovative. By strengthening our global connections, even during the most challenging of times, our people and their communities can mutually grow and ultimately prosper.”

Gov. Holcomb and a small delegation traveled from Milan to Kyiv and arrived in Ukraine on the morning of Thursday, Sept. 5. During the one day visit, the governor will be joined by Dr. Svitlana Ramer, the Honorary Consul of Ukraine, and meet with with U.S. and Ukrainian government officials to discuss Indiana’s state role in maintaining overseas economic, academic and cultural relationships.

Gov. Holcomb will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss how Indiana can strengthen its support of Ukraine now and into the future, including continuing our critical agricultural and life science support. Pres. Zelenskyy will also witness an MOU signing between Indiana and the Zhytomyr Oblast, a province in Ukraine.

The governor will meet with the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, where they will discuss a better way to build local communities far beyond our state and national borders.

While in Kyiv, Gov. Holcomb will also meet with U.S. Ambassador Bridget A. Brink to show his unwavering support for her ongoing efforts in Ukraine.

Lastly, the governor will visit the Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine to honor those who have lost their lives in Ukraine’s fight against Russia.

This marks Gov. Holcomb’s 25th international economic development trip as governor and his first trip to Ukraine. The cost of the governor’s travel is being paid through private donations to the Indiana Economic Development Foundation.

INDIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL CANDIDATE DESTINY WELLS ENDORSES MCCORMICK/GOODIN ETHICS PLAN

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INDIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL CANDIDATE DESTINY WELLS ENDORSES MCCORMICK/GOODIN ETHICS PLAN

INDIANAPOLIS—Today, Indiana Attorney General Candidate Destiny Wells endorsed the McCormick/Goodin Commonsense Ethics Plan.

“Indiana state government has consistently lagged in transparency and accountability grades by government watchdogs for decades,” stated Destiny Wells. “It is beyond time Indiana does more for Hoosiers working in state and local governments—and it’s beyond time Hoosiers’ trust is restored, especially since our current Attorney General Todd Rokita is a walking ethics scandal himself. Jennifer McCormick’s transformative ethics plan will do more to restore trust than Hoosiers have seen in generations.”

 

Volleyball home for Dunn Hospitality Tournament

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 Aces play three matches on Friday and Saturday

 EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Following the season-opening Puerto Rico Clasico, the University of Evansville volleyball team opens its home slate this weekend with the Dunn Hospitality Tournament.  UE will face Chicago State, Samford, and Miami Ohio.  All three matches will be carried on ESPN+.

Opening Weekend

– Evansville opened the season at the Puerto Rico Clasico in a homecoming for multiple players and coaches within the UE program

– After dropping a 3-0 match to Akron, the Purple Aces regrouped to defeat the University of Puerto Rico – Rio Piedras by a 3-1 final

– In the finale, UE dropped a 3-0 decision to Providence; the Aces held a 24-20 lead in the opening frame before the Friars rallied

Big Start

– Giulia Cardona registered 30 kills in the win over UPR-Rio Piedras and completed the first weekend of action with 5.00 kills/set

– Her average ranks second in the MVC

– Cardona’s defense was strong in the Puerto Rico Clasico as her 3.20 digs/frame led the way for UE

– Cardona picked up right where she left off from last season where she led the nation in kills (5.34/set) and points (6.14/set)

– The 2023 MVC Player of the Year was the first All-American in program history, earning AVCA All-American Honorable Mention honors

– She was the AVCA Division I National Player of the Week on Oct. 17, 2023 and garnered four MVC Player of the Week honors in her junior campaign

– With 593 kills in 2023, Cardona reset her single-season program record

Homecoming

– Melanie Feliciano enjoyed a solid start to the season in a return home for the Puerto Rico Clasico

– In three matches, Feliciano averaged 3.00 kills and 2.90 digs per set, both second on the team

– After recording 11 kills against Akron, Feliciano posted 12 in the win over UPR-Rio Piedras

– Last season, she was second for UE and 5th in the MVC with 3.64 kills per set while ranking 28th in the league with her average of 2.42 digs

– She wrapped up the 2023 season on a high note, setting her season mark of 31 kills in the win at Indiana State

Strong Opener

– Angelica Maltes Gonzalez set career highs in kills (13) and attempts (27) in the season opener versus Akron

– The performance eclipsed her previous high of seven kills and 23 attempts from last season against Southern Illinois

– Gonzalez added five kills in the final two matches of the weekend and holds an average of 2.56 per set

– She added 11 digs, four block assists and two aces in the trip to Puerto Rico

Scouting the Opposition

– Chicago State marks UE’s first opponent of the weekend and sit at 0-2 with losses at Bowling Green and Cincinnati in their first weekend of play

– Patrycja Lagida holds the team lead with 3.00 kills per game

– Samford heads to Evansville with a 2-0 mark including a 5-set win over Mississippi State last Friday

– The Bulldogs, who were picked second in the Southern Conference Preseason Poll, are led by Kaleigh Meritt’s 4.00 kills per set

– On Saturday, the Aces complete the tournament versus Miami Ohio

– The RedHawks are 3-0 with wins over Lamar, Gardner-Webb and Norfolk State

– Raegan Lantz paces MU with her average of 3.57 kills

USI Romain College of Business to provide students with neuromarketing technology experience

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This Fall, the University of Southern Indiana Romain College of Business will introduce students to one of the newest market-leading skills—neuromarketing. USI has partnered with iMotions, an IT company specializing in human research software, to utilize a platform called EduLabs to ensure business students have access to state-of-the-art technology that can be utilized both in and beyond the classroom.

The EduLabs software is a web-based platform accessible to any student with a laptop and a webcam and allows them to participate in research and projects with eye-tracking and facial analysis technology without having to be in a lab setting. According to iMotions, USI’s Romain College of Business is one of the first in the world to pilot this high-level technology to all undergraduate business students within the University.

“Romain College of Business graduates will have first-hand experience with cutting-edge technology that most other business school graduates will not have. This experience will improve how they evaluate opportunities to apply new technologies in business and expand their thinking of how people respond to business decisions,” said Dr. Chad Milewicz, USI Professor of Marketing and Chair of the Economics and Marketing Department. “Whether it is evaluating and recommending how information is presented, how promotions are designed or how a physical space or a product is designed, our graduates will have insights that other business graduates are far less likely to have developed.”

The EduLabs technology was first introduced in Milewicz’s Marketing Management class during the 2024 Spring Semester, where students had the opportunity to do their own neuromarketing research project. Jacob Rusk, who graduated in Spring 2024 with a degree in marketing, believes having access to the technology and his experience in neuromarketing helped him feel more confident entering the job field post-graduation.

“Using the eye tracking technology was one of my favorite experiences as a student at USI. I believe that eye tracking is one of the best tools available to marketers for gaining insight into the customer experience,” said Rusk. “I’m confident that having worked with the eye tracking technology at the Romain College of Business makes me a great asset to any marketing team.”

Starting this Fall, the EduLabs platform will be used in the Introduction to Marketing course. This class will be taken by all Romain College of Business students with most taking it the second semester of their freshman year, giving them an early introduction to neuromarketing. Graduate students will also use the technology in the Marketing Strategies course in the MBA program. Milewicz says the goal is to hopefully have the program reach 1,000 students.

“Gaining first-hand experience applying eye-tracking, emotion analysis and facial expression analysis gives our students a market-leading skill they can take into any career they pursue,” said Milewicz. “Learning what eye-tracking, emotion analysis and facial expression analysis is and how it can be applied in business is something that will distinguish a USI business graduate from all other business graduates.”

The Romain College also uses iMotions tools in its Biometrix Discovery Lab—state-of-the-art equipment that includes eye-tracking glasses and software to analyze screen-based eye-tracking, facial expression analysis and electrodermal activity.

“The knowledge and skills I acquired have been important in my career. As a Marketing Insights Analyst for First Financial Bank, I apply these lessons daily to analyze consumer behavior, identify patterns and uncover trends,” said Courtney Bourne, a 2023 marketing grad who had experience working in the lab during her time with USI’s American Marketing Association chapter. “This experience has enhanced my technical skills and my ability to translate data into actionable business strategies, significantly contributing to my professional growth.”

Dr. Sudesh Mujumdar, Dean of the Romain College of Business, says the partnership with iMotions has been invaluable in helping the College actualize a key piece of its value proposition. “Leveraging technology in unique ways to build market-leading competencies in our students in a personalized, co-created learning environment.”

Board of School Trustees of the EVSC Meeting

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The Board of School Trustees of the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation will meet for the regularly scheduled Board meeting Monday, September 9, 2024 at 5:30 PM in the Board Room of the EVSC Administration Building located at 951 Walnut Street, Evansville, IN. Board meetings can also be observed by tuning to EVSC’s radio station, 90.7 WPSR or live streamed online at https://www.wpsrhd.com/.

As previously advertised, the Board of School Trustees will also hold a Public Hearing to take public testimony from Vanderburgh County residents regarding the following: School Budget for Year 2025, 2025-2027 Capital Projects Fund Plan, and 2025-2029 Bus Replacement Plan.

Prior to the regularly scheduled Board meeting, three members of the Board, along with district administrators, will hold a Town Hall beginning at 5:00 PM. This Town Hall is for Vanderburgh County residents to speak directly with Board members in attendance about issues involving EVSC schools. The Town Hall will be held in the Technology and Innovation Center located at 951 Walnut Street, Evansville, IN. Members of the public who would like to attend the Town Hall should register by completing the Town Hall Registration Form located on our website at district.evscschools.com.

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

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EPD

 

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

FOOTNOTE: EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.

EREP BUDGET

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Evansville Regional Economic Partnership staff members struggled this week to answer questions from a county commissioner and attorney concerning details in an audit provided to the county.

EREP staff provided information about efforts to attract new residents and its riverfront redevelopment plan at the regular Vanderburgh County Commissioners meeting. After the presentation, Commissioner Cheryl Musgrave asked about attracting new jobs.

 “One of the key reasons why the commission contracts with EREP is to recruit new business and support existing business, of course, but my question is has any business located in the county in the last 12 months?”

E-Rep Economic Development Director Patrick Hickey responded, “Twelve months, not that I’m aware”

Musgrave also inquired about the public’s access to E=REP meetings. The three staff members present looked behind them to Chief Economic Development Officer Josh Armstrong, who was sitting in the audience.

Armstrong stood and said, “E-REP meetings are not open to the public.”

Though it receives hundreds of thousands of taxpayers’ dollars and helps allocate millions in state money, E-REP is a private corporation not subject to disclosure laws like a government agency.

Armstrong remained silent as attorney David Jones inquired about a recent audit provided to the country as a condition of the funding it provides EREP. His line of questioning concerned ownership of the property at 420 Main Street, where E-REP is spearheading a mixed-use development using millions of state and City of Evansville dollars.

Jones asked about the nature of the investment.

Program manager Colten Pipenger responded: “I am not 100 percent positive on the official terminology from a financial standpoint, I’ll have our finance team get back with you but EREP through the Downtown Evansville Community Development Corporation played a part in the Fifth and Main redevelopment.”

LINK OF THE VANDERBURGH  COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING ARE POSTED BELOW

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LINK OF THE E-REPS 2023 FINANCIAL AUDIT POSTED BELOW

EREP 2023 Audit Report_Final

CCO AWARDS

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