The Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville is reporting what it describes as a record 2011. The organization says it helped 10 companies with their decisions to locate or expand in the Evansville area. GAGE also says it has helped secure commitments for nearly 1,000 jobs over the next five years.

he Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville (GAGE) released today, its 2011 Annual Report to the Community.

The Growth Alliance began 2011 with new areas of strategic focus, a reallocation of resources, and specific performance objectives. GAGE focused on their mission of bringing jobs and revenue growth to Evansville and Vanderburgh County and met or exceeded those objectives by focusing on attraction, retention, and expansion of businesses that can drive long-term sustainable economic growth; as well as on new business incubation and technology commercialization.

In addition to the economic and community development accomplishments outlined in the Annual Report, GAGE developed a Business Licensing and Permitting Guide and a variety of promotional materials used to attract and retain businesses and workers in Evansville and Vanderburgh County. New this year, the Growth Alliance implemented economic impact modeling to accurately evaluate projects. GAGE also conducted multiple entrepreneur workshops and obtained Shovel Ready Certification for another local property.

GAGE President Debbie Dewey says, “We look forward to more success in 2012. We will continue to drive a City Branding effort, operate as the One Stop Resource for Business in Greater Evansville, and participate in establishing a technology corridor vision for the region.”

The Growth Alliance would like to send a special thanks to their volunteer Board Members, investors and sponsors, and partnering organizations for making their efforts possible.

A downloadable version of the 2011 GAGE Annual Report is available on the GAGE website, www.evansvillegage.com.

The Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville is a non-for-profit 501c(3) that was created in early 2007 because government and business representatives were searching for a comprehensive focused approach for economic development. The Growth Alliance provides support for strategic programs that enhance the overall economic vitality of the area.

Mission: to drive and support economic development activities for the City of Evansville and Vanderburgh County, Indiana aimed at: attracting and creating new jobs and new revenue dollars, retaining existing jobs and revenue dollars, effectively allocating available resources and recognizing the priorities of basic industries in driving sustainable growth.

• GAGE assisted 10 companies with their decision to locate or expand in the City of Evansville or Vanderburgh County in 2011: Sugar Steel, Mead Johnson & Company, SS&C Technologies, Rotary Corporation, Windstream Technologies, Berry Plastics Corporation, Global Blade Technology, Vantage Oncology, Heartland Pump, Uniseal, Inc.

• Number of jobs GAGE will have added to Evansville/Vanderburgh County over the next five years: 973

• The 5 year Economic Impact of the new jobs added in Evansville/Vanderburgh County: $967.4 Million (source: Economic Impact Model)

• Innovation Pointe, the high-tech business incubator managed by the Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville is 83% occupied.

• The Growth Alliance engaged six (6) regional businesses in activities to explore federal lab resources that may be a benefit to their products or processes. As a result, to date, one new product idea and a joint technology development effort is being evaluated.

• GAGE assisted twenty-eight (28) businesses through the Downtown Design process.

• A walking map of Downtown Evansville is complete and available on the GAGE website, www.evansvillegage.com

• The Business Licensing and Brochure Guide created by GAGE is available on the GAGE website, http://www.evansvillegage.com/gage-reports/

• The Growth Alliance obtained Shovel Ready Certification for another local property.

Source: Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville http://://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=51881