State Names 21st Century Talent Regions
Blair Milo is Indiana's Secretary of Career Connections and Talent. (IIB Photo)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowState officials have announced the final two 21st Century Talent Regions, a designation that helps economic developers to attract, develop and connect workforce talent. The two new regions include north central Indiana and Kentuckiana.
The cross-state partnership includes the Indiana counties of Clark, Crawford, Floyd, Harrison, Scott and Washington, along with Jefferson County, Kentucky.
The other region represents Cass, Clinton, Fulton, Howard, Miami and Tipton Counties.
The Office of Career Connections and Talent and the Indiana Economic Development Corp. launched the initiative in 2017 to encourage local governments, businesses, educational institutions, and others to implement plans to increase educational attainment, raise household income and grow the population in a region.
There are now 14 talent regions in Indiana. The state agencies say the regions are self-defined with regard to their geography, including across state lines.
“Regionalism is an essential part of economic growth and prosperity,” said Tony Waterson, Southern Indiana Works executive director. “The bi-state Kentuckiana Region transcends geopolitical lines, and
being designated as a 21st Century Talent Region is one more example of how our region works collaboratively to align strategies and achieve our common economic and talent development goals.”
Earlier this month, Governor Eric Holcomb announced the launch of the Indiana Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative, which is the next generation of the 21st Century Talent Initiative and the Indiana Regional Cities Initiative.
“It has been exciting to see so many local and regional leaders working together to grow talent, foster innovation and improve communities in all corners of the Indiana,” said Secretary of Career Connections and Talent Blair Milo. “The collaborative approach they have taken, building relationships within Hoosier communities and across state lines, has helped them set the foundation for attracting, developing and connecting talent to the region, and we look forward to the opportunities this work will create for all current and future Hoosiers.”