South Central Indiana Economic Development (SCIED) representatives recently participated in the 2022 SelectUSA Investment Summit held in Washington, D.C., June 26-28.

Hosted by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo, the SelectUSA Investment Summit is the highest-profile event in the United States dedicated to promoting foreign direct investment (FDI) into the U.S.  Speakers at the summit included U.S. Cabinet members, executives from U.S. and global companies, and governors from featured states, including Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb.

In addition to attending Summit sessions, private meetings were held with several international companies considering or seeking a new U.S. location.  The meetings were held in pursuit of SCIED’s focus on welcoming FDI to the region.

“The companies we met with are looking for access to customers, availability of skilled workers, and favorable business costs,” said Jim Plump, Executive Director of the Jackson County Industrial Development Corporation and SCIED member.  “These are all traits that our South Central Indiana Economic Development region has to offer companies, especially to firms in our targeted industries.”

SCIED partnered with the Transatlantic Business Investment Council (TBIC) to arrange meetings with European companies, and a private event hosted by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) also provided an opportunity to engage with executives from Japan.

“The South Central Indiana region is home to more than 50 Japanese companies, 20 European companies, and other firms from around the globe who collectively employ over 25,000 persons in our region,” said Jason Hester, President of Greater Columbus (Indiana) EDC and SCIED member.  “With so many international companies choosing to invest and grow in our region, we’re eager to support FDI attraction and expansion projects.”

U.S. Government representatives joining Secretary Raimondo at SelectUSA included Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, and Small Business Administration Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman.  A pre-recorded message from U.S. President Joe Biden was also delivered.

“The SelectUSA Investment Summit is the perfect venue to show the world that the United States is open for business,” said Secretary Raimondo in a released statement. “For 10 years and counting, the U.S. has ranked as the top destination for global companies to invest, thanks to a highly skilled workforce and business environment underpinned by values of freedom, equity, and fair competition.”

About South Central Indiana Economic Development

The South Central Indiana Economic Development (SCIED) group is a regional partnership of economic development officials, local governments, electric utilities, and other partners within a ten-county region located primarily along I-65, I-64, and I-74 between nearby Indianapolis, Louisville, and Cincinnati.  The region seeks to grow and attract investments in multiple sectors, and SCIED member representatives are available to provide specialized knowledge and assistance for companies and site selection consultants with guidance on state & local incentives, real estate, workforce data, taxes, utility rate estimates, and more. More information at www.SouthCentralIndiana.com.

About Select USA Summit

The SelectUSA Investment Summit is the largest event dedicated to promoting foreign direct investment (FDI) in the United States. The summit plays a vital role in attracting and facilitating business investment and job creation in the United States by raising awareness about a wide range of investment opportunities and enabling direct connections between foreign investors and U.S. economic development organizations (EDOs). More information at www.SelectUSAsummit.us .