TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — The West Central Indiana Partnership (WCIP) proudly congratulates Greg Gibson on his recent appointment to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) Board of Directors by Governor Mike Braun. Gibson’s appointment marks a historic moment for West Central Indiana, representing one of the first times—if not the first—our region has had a direct seat at the table on this critical statewide board.

Gibson, a Terre Haute native and business leader with a decades-long track record of successful development, public service, and philanthropy, brings unmatched private-sector experience and regional insight to the IEDC. His appointment reflects a growing recognition at the state level of the economic potential and strategic importance of West Central Indiana.

“It’s great to see a leader like Greg recognized as a strategic thought leader for our state—and even more meaningful that he’s from right here in West Central Indiana,” said Josh Alsip, Vice President of Regional Engagement at WCIP. “His voice at the IEDC is not only a win for our region, but a win for Indiana’s future economic growth.”

Gibson’s expansive portfolio includes ventures in real estate, hospitality, gaming, trucking, and coal, as well as transformative projects across Terre Haute—from downtown revitalization to development along the Highway 46 corridor. His deep-rooted civic leadership is reflected in his long-time service on the Rose-Hulman Board of Trustees, First Financial Bank Board, and various state-level commissions.

Jon Ford, Board President of the Wabash River Redevelopment Authority, praised the appointment, stating, “We’re looking forward to working with Greg in this new capacity. He’s an elite business player in Indiana, and West Central Indiana is lucky to have him. I’m glad to see Governor Braun recognizing what Greg brings to the table—not just locally, but for the entire state.”

Greg Gibson’s appointment signals a new era of inclusion and representation for the Wabash Valley in statewide economic planning and investment. The West Central Indiana Partnership looks forward to collaborating with Gibson as the region continues its momentum in development, innovation, and regional prosperity.

Terre Haute, Ind. - ​The Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Jessica Crawford has been named Vice President of Strategic Marketing for the West Central Indiana Partnership. Crawford comes to the role with nearly a decade of marketing experience with a focus in digital marketing.

The West Central Indiana Partnership consists of five counties with over 180,000 residents: Clay, Parke, Sullivan, Vermillion and Vigo. Modeled after other successful regional partnerships in the state, the WCIP’s goal is to help move the region forward by creating an action-oriented network of individuals who advance opportunities together. The regional partnership is operated through the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce.

The new VP of Strategic Marketing position will oversee and direct regional marketing under the WCIP and help align all other related brands. Crawford will be responsible for increasing brand awareness through the development and implementation of a cohesive marketing plan that encompasses all brands under the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, she will work with partners throughout the region to adopt and implement branding strategies that are compatible with the larger regional vision.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jess as our new Vice President of Strategic Marketing. Her expertise will help to drive innovation and growth for our members and the West Central Indiana region,”  said Kristin Craig, President/CEO of the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce. “Jess will bring fresh energy and strategic leadership to our marketing efforts, helping us to expand our reach and deepen our impact.”

Crawford lives in Terre Haute with her husband, Cam, and their daughter, Elizabeth. She enjoys reading and crafting in her spare time.

Terre Haute, Ind. - The Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Josh Alsip has been named Vice President of Regional Engagement for the West Central Indiana Partnership. Alsip previously served as the Chamber’s Director of Community Engagement, a role he started in 2021. 

The West Central Indiana Partnership consists of five counties with over 180,000 residents: Clay, Parke, Sullivan, Vermillion and Vigo. Modeled after other successful regional partnerships in the state, the WCIP’s goal is to help move the region forward by creating an action-oriented network of individuals who advance opportunities together. The regional partnership is operated through the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce.

The new VP of Regional Engagement position will engage partners throughout West Central Indiana to help spur partnerships, planning, and coordination. Alsip will lead the implementation of the recently announced Grow Up IN West Central Indiana Strategic Child Plan. Additionally, he will begin planning for regional programming that will be spearheaded by the West Central Indiana Partnership in the future. 

The West Central Indiana Partnership has also begun the hiring process for a Vice President of Strategic Marketing. The VP of Strategic Marketing will oversee and direct regional marketing under the WCIP, and help align all other related brands. 

This position will design, implement and monitor marketing strategies. The ideal candidate is experienced, with proven end-to-end project management as well as digital marketing and paid advertising campaigns. 

Alsip’s promotion has opened up another opportunity for a qualified applicant to join the Chamber team as the Director of Development. This position will be responsible for working with the internal team and current stakeholders to identify prospective businesses and strategically connect those businesses to the work of the Chamber. This will include securing them as Chamber members, securing sponsorships for events, initiatives and projects, as well as involving them in the See You In Terre Haute Community Plan.

More details on both open positions can be found at terrehautechamber.com/careers.

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TERRE HAUTE, IND. – This morning, local regional partners and stakeholders gathered to celebrate the launch of the Grow Up IN West Central Indiana strategic plan, a collaborative effort aimed at enhancing early childhood education and child care across the region. Funded by the Lilly Endowment, Inc.'s College and Community Collaboration grant, the initiative was led by Indiana State University and Ivy Tech Terre Haute, with significant involvement from the West Central Indiana Partnership under the Chamber, which will oversee its implementation.

​The press conference highlighted the Plan's successful completion and its mission to bolster employers, families, and child care providers in the counties of Clay, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Vermillion, and Vigo. The plan sets a strategic path forward for early learning and childhood development in the region.

"This strategic plan represents a significant step forward for our community. By focusing on early childhood education and support, we are laying a strong foundation for the future success of our children and our region as a whole", stated Nancy Rogers, Vice President for University
Engagement at Indiana State University.

The launch event showcased the Plan’s key recommendations, which include:

• Centralizing resources, information, and communication channels for families seeking child care options.
• Developing a grant/scholarship program to mitigate the financial burden of child care expenses for families with low to moderate income levels.
• Providing support to families of children with special needs.
• Recruiting, retaining, and promoting a high-quality child care and education workforce.
• Creating a marketing campaign to promote the value of early childhood education and child care professionals.
• Convening a task force to advocate for changes to public policy and statewide initiatives.

Lea Anne Crooks, Chancellor of Ivy Tech Terre Haute, added, "The collaboration and commitment seen throughout this planning process have been truly inspiring. This plan will not only support families and educators but also create a thriving environment for our workforce and
community at large."

To read the plan and learn more please click here.