ABOUT WEST CENTRAL INDIANA
West Central Indiana is a five-county region made up of Clay, Parke, Sullivan, Vermillion and Vigo counties. These counties collaborate through regional partnerships to strengthen economic growth, improve quality of life and expand opportunities for residents, businesses and communities.
While each county has its own identity and local priorities, the region shares workforce connections, infrastructure systems, economic networks and cultural ties. Regional collaboration allows these communities to pursue initiatives that benefit the entire region.
Learn more about the individual counties making up West Central Indiana:
West Central Indiana is made up of five counties: Clay, Parke, Sullivan, Vermillion and Vigo. These counties work together through regional partnerships to strengthen economic growth, improve quality of life and expand opportunities for residents and businesses.
While each county has its own history, communities and industries, they share workforce networks, infrastructure systems and economic connections that benefit from collaboration. Regional partnerships help these counties align priorities and pursue initiatives that support the long-term success of the entire region.
The West Central Indiana region includes five counties:
Together, these counties form a connected regional economy and community network that supports workforce development, economic growth and regional collaboration.
Regional collaboration allows communities to address shared challenges and pursue opportunities that cross county lines. By aligning leadership, infrastructure investments, workforce development efforts and economic strategies, communities can compete more effectively for investment and growth.
Working together also allows counties to pursue regional initiatives, attract funding opportunities and strengthen partnerships with state and national organizations.
Learn more about the West Central Indiana Partnership's priorities:
Approximately 185,000 residents live across the five counties that make up West Central Indiana.
The region includes a mix of rural communities, small towns and regional centers that together form a diverse and connected economic and social landscape.
Learn more about the West Central Indiana Partnership's efforts to grow population:
West Central Indiana combines strong rural communities, respected higher-education institutions, natural landscapes and historic towns.
The region benefits from a balance of industry, agriculture, education and cultural resources that contribute to both economic strength and quality of life. Parks, rivers, community events and local traditions help define the character of the region and make it a place where people choose to live and work.
Learn more about what West Central Indiana has to offer:
West Central Indiana has a diverse economy supported by several key industries, including:
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Advanced manufacturing
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Agriculture and food production
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Healthcare and medical services
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Education and research
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Energy production
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Transportation and logistics
These industries provide employment opportunities for residents and contribute to the region’s economic resilience and growth.
Learn more:
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Regional Planning & Economic Development
The West Central Indiana Regional Plan is a collaborative strategy developed by regional leaders, organizations and community partners to guide long-term economic growth and community development.
The plan outlines priorities and initiatives designed to strengthen the region’s economy, support workforce development, improve infrastructure and enhance quality of life across all five counties.
Learn more:
The Regional Plan was developed to address shared challenges and opportunities across the five-county region. These challenges include workforce development, housing availability, infrastructure needs and population growth.
By aligning regional priorities and coordinating investments, the plan helps communities work together to build a stronger and more resilient regional economy.
Learn more:
The West Central Indiana Regional Plan focuses on five key priorities that guide regional collaboration and investment:
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Regional collaboration
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Housing and community development
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Infrastructure investment
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Economic development and workforce growth
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Quality of place improvements
These priorities help strengthen communities and support long-term economic opportunity across the region.
Learn more:
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Regional economic development is a collaborative approach in which multiple communities work together to strengthen their shared economy. Instead of competing individually, counties, cities, employers and institutions coordinate their efforts to attract investment, develop talent, improve infrastructure and support business growth.
Working together as a region helps communities achieve outcomes that may be difficult to accomplish independently.
This approach allows communities to:
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compete more effectively for state and federal funding
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attract new employers and industries
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strengthen workforce development efforts
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support entrepreneurship and innovation
Learn more about the Regional Plan.
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The Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) is a statewide program launched by the State of Indiana in 2021 to support regional economic development and quality-of-life improvements.
The program provides significant state funding to regions that work collaboratively to develop long-term economic strategies and investment plans. The initial program dedicated $500 million to regions across Indiana, encouraging communities to pursue projects that attract talent, strengthen economies and improve quality of place.
By encouraging regional collaboration, the READI program helps communities align local priorities with statewide economic development goals.
READI investments often support projects such as:
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housing development
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workforce training facilities
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downtown revitalization
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parks and recreation
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entrepreneurship and innovation hubs
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infrastructure improvements
Resources
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Regional planning helps rural communities address challenges that extend beyond local boundaries. By working together across counties, communities can coordinate investments, share resources and pursue opportunities that strengthen the entire region.
Regional collaboration also allows smaller communities to have a stronger collective voice when advocating for policies and investments that benefit their residents.
For rural areas, regional planning can help:
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improve access to workforce training and higher education
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support housing development and infrastructure improvements
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strengthen healthcare and transportation networks
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attract employers and entrepreneurs
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increase access to state and federal funding
Resources
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Regional partnerships allow communities to align leadership, resources and strategy when pursuing economic development opportunities.
When counties and organizations work together, they are better positioned to:
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compete for state and federal funding
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support large economic development projects
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attract employers and entrepreneurs
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develop workforce training programs
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invest in infrastructure and quality-of-life improvements
Regional collaboration also signals to investors and businesses that communities are working toward shared goals and long-term economic stability.
Organizations such as the West Central Indiana Partnership, Wabash River Regional Development Authority and Thrive West Central help coordinate these efforts and support projects that benefit the entire region.
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Workforce, Housing & Institutions
West Central Indiana offers a wide range of workforce opportunities across several key industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, logistics, energy and education.
The region benefits from a strong network of educational institutions that help prepare students and workers for these industries. These include:
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Indiana State University
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Ivy Tech Community College Terre Haute
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Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
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Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
These institutions support workforce development through degree programs, technical training, research initiatives and partnerships with regional employers.
In addition, workforce programs, apprenticeships and career training initiatives help connect residents with employment opportunities throughout the region. Visit our employers page to learn more.
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Housing development is a key priority for West Central Indiana as the region works to attract new residents, support workforce growth and strengthen local communities.
Regional partners are working to expand housing availability through new residential developments, rehabilitation of existing housing and initiatives designed to support housing for a growing workforce.
Programs such as READI and other regional initiatives help support housing development projects and community improvements across Indiana.
By increasing housing options across the region, communities can better support employers, attract new residents and improve overall quality of life. View our residents page to learn more.
Resources:
Universities and colleges play an important role in strengthening regional economies. In West Central Indiana, higher education institutions support economic development by:
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preparing students for careers in regional industries
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conducting research and innovation
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partnering with employers on workforce training
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supporting entrepreneurship and business development
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attracting students, talent, and investment to the region
Institutions such as Indiana State University and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology contribute significantly to workforce development and innovation across the region.
These partnerships help ensure that local employers have access to skilled workers while supporting long-term economic growth.
Higher Education Institutions:
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