State Officials Designate West Central Indiana Region Indiana’s newest 21st Century Talent Region
TERRE HAUTE – Indiana Secretary of Career Connections and Talent Blair Milo joined state and local officials today to announce the West Central Indiana Region Indiana’s seventh 21st Century TalentRegion, a statewide designation awarded to Indiana communities focused on working collaboratively to attract, develop and connect talent.
“It’s been fantastic to watch the West Central 2025 regional team emerge as a statewide leader in strategic, collaborative planning to attract, develop, and connect talent,” said Secretary Milo. “The efforts that have led them to earn a designation as a 21st Century Talent Region will undoubtedly aid the region in achieving its goals to reduce population decline by 2025, increase the region’s industry certificate and degree holders to 60 percent of the population, and raise income levels for all households. I couldn’t be more proud of this team and the results they are already delivering, for not only their six member counties, but for all of Indiana.”
The Office of Career Connections and Talent, with support from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and technical assistance from CivicLab, launched the 21st Century Talent Region initiative to encourage local governments, businesses, educational institutions, nonprofits, and economic and workforce development partners to create and implement plans to increase educational attainment, raise household income and grow the population in a region. By taking a comprehensive, systems approach, participating regions will identify strategic priorities and projects aimed at helping its communities create a better quality of place, develop and skill up its workforce, and connect talented Hoosiers with businesses seeking to fill high-demand, high-wage jobs.
During the event, Secretary Milo and Indiana Destination Development Corporation Secretary & CEO Elaine Bedel presented Kristin Craig, President of Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce, with the official 21st Century Talent Region designation. The West Central Indiana Region, supported by West Central 2025, is a six-county region encompassing Clay, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Vermillion and Vigo Counties.
“On behalf of the six counties represented in the West Central Indiana Region, we are thrilled to be receiving this recognition from the State,” said Craig. “Right now, there are many collaborative efforts taking place in our region that all strive to attract, develop and connect talent. In fact, achieving the 21st Century Talent Region designation was identified as a priority in the See You In Terre Haute 2025 Community Plan released last year. The goals we are collectively tackling are the critical factors in moving our individual counties, as well as a region as a whole forward. This conversation is especially important given the impact of COVID-19. Now, more than ever, it is important for us to consolidate efforts and use every advantage we have to ensure West Central Indiana continues to be a growing, thriving region in the state.”(READ MORE)
TERRE HAUTE – Indiana Secretary of Career Connections and Talent Blair Milo joined state and local officials today to announce the West Central Indiana Region Indiana’s seventh 21st Century TalentRegion, a statewide designation awarded to Indiana communities focused on working collaboratively to attract, develop and connect talent.
“It’s been fantastic to watch the West Central 2025 regional team emerge as a statewide leader in strategic, collaborative planning to attract, develop, and connect talent,” said Secretary Milo. “The efforts that have led them to earn a designation as a 21st Century Talent Region will undoubtedly aid the region in achieving its goals to reduce population decline by 2025, increase the region’s industry certificate and degree holders to 60 percent of the population, and raise income levels for all households. I couldn’t be more proud of this team and the results they are already delivering, for not only their six member counties, but for all of Indiana.”
The Office of Career Connections and Talent, with support from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and technical assistance from CivicLab, launched the 21st Century Talent Region initiative to encourage local governments, businesses, educational institutions, nonprofits, and economic and workforce development partners to create and implement plans to increase educational attainment, raise household income and grow the population in a region. By taking a comprehensive, systems approach, participating regions will identify strategic priorities and projects aimed at helping its communities create a better quality of place, develop and skill up its workforce, and connect talented Hoosiers with businesses seeking to fill high-demand, high-wage jobs.
During the event, Secretary Milo and Indiana Destination Development Corporation Secretary & CEO Elaine Bedel presented Kristin Craig, President of Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce, with the official 21st Century Talent Region designation. The West Central Indiana Region, supported by West Central 2025, is a six-county region encompassing Clay, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Vermillion and Vigo Counties.
“On behalf of the six counties represented in the West Central Indiana Region, we are thrilled to be receiving this recognition from the State,” said Craig. “Right now, there are many collaborative efforts taking place in our region that all strive to attract, develop and connect talent. In fact, achieving the 21st Century Talent Region designation was identified as a priority in the See You In Terre Haute 2025 Community Plan released last year. The goals we are collectively tackling are the critical factors in moving our individual counties, as well as a region as a whole forward. This conversation is especially important given the impact of COVID-19. Now, more than ever, it is important for us to consolidate efforts and use every advantage we have to ensure West Central Indiana continues to be a growing, thriving region in the state.”(READ MORE)
WC2025, WCIEDD Join Forces, Recruit Volunteer
Terre Haute, Ind. – West Central 2025, an initiative of the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce, has partnered with West Central Indiana Economic Development District to bring critical quality-of-life planning to the six-county region. The six county region includes Vigo, Sullivan, Clay, Parke, Vermillion and Putnam.
The partnership will continue the focus of both organizations, along with combining for new goals. Initially the four key areas include: broadband connectivity, tourism, trail development and talent attraction. Volunteers are being sought for teams which will identify key areas of need in each area from a regional perspective. (Read more here)
The partnership will continue the focus of both organizations, along with combining for new goals. Initially the four key areas include: broadband connectivity, tourism, trail development and talent attraction. Volunteers are being sought for teams which will identify key areas of need in each area from a regional perspective. (Read more here)
Why West Central 2025? Checkout our videos!
Guest Blog: Kristin Craig Discusses Partnerships and the Future
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VIGO COUNTY, IND. - “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is a success.”Working together as a region is a directive we often hear, but sometimes find hard to apply. However, when groups of individuals from multiple communities and counties do reach consensus, seek a genuine understanding of each other and create action plans on how to move forward collaboratively, it can be incredibly rewarding.
VIGO COUNTY, IND. - “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is a success.”Working together as a region is a directive we often hear, but sometimes find hard to apply. However, when groups of individuals from multiple communities and counties do reach consensus, seek a genuine understanding of each other and create action plans on how to move forward collaboratively, it can be incredibly rewarding.
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