Northeast Indiana RDA Update
As we approach the end of 2024, it’s worth reflecting on the whirlwind of a year it has been. It was just February of this year that we submitted the READI 2.0 investment strategy to the IEDC. In April, Northeast Indiana became a maximum award winner for that program, securing $45 million in READI 2.0 […]
Affordable, Attainable Housing is Key for Economic Growth
Dear Friends of Northeast Indiana, Our region has long understood the critical role that residential development plays in driving economic growth. But why is this so important? Simply put, affordable and accessible housing is key to attracting and retaining the skilled workforce our community needs. Please mark your calendars for Wednesday, Sept. 11 for the […]
NEI CEO Stéphane Frijia named 2024 Indiana 250 Honoree
Congratulations to our very own Stéphane Frijia on being named a 2024 Indiana 250 Honoree for the second consecutive year for his Civic Leadership in Northeast Indiana. Frijia has been leading the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership (NEI) since October of 2021 and is responsible for leading the economic development strategy for the 11-county region. We also want to […]
A Vision for Growth: Northeast Indiana’s Strategic Plan 2025-2027
Dear Friends and Stakeholders, It is with great enthusiasm that I share with you the highlights from our newly approved Strategic Plan for 2025-2027, a blueprint meticulously crafted to unleash the collective strength and potential of Northeast Indiana. This morning this strategic plan update has received the formal endorsement of our Board of Directors, signifying […]
Ashley Savieo and the Pursuit of Knowledge
Ask Ashley Savieo a question. She’ll think it over, formulate an answer and give you her thoughts. That patient mindset is a learned skill for Savieo, the Director of Economic and Business Development at American Electric Power (AEP). It was something she developed over time, and it was necessary because she wanted to move at […]
NEI Quarterly Business Development Journey
In the dynamic realm of business development, staying ahead of the curve is not just a goal—it’s a necessity. As we embarked on an ambitious journey for FY24, we encountered a few bumps along the road. Two members of our business development team departed NEI to support the launch of Plug and Play Indiana. It […]
Ellen Cutter helps Greater Fort Wayne thrive
In the world of economic development, someone rarely seeks it out as a lane when they start their professional career. Ellen Cutter, the Chief Economic Development Officer at Greater Fort Wayne Inc. (GFW), didn’t necessarily seek it out but was always headed down that path. “My background is in urban planning. And I didn’t know […]
Melanie Kellogg, outsider turned insider in Noble County
Melanie Kellogg isn’t new to Noble County, but that didn’t mean she felt like an insider when she became the Executive Director at Be Noble Inc., Noble County’s local economic development organization. Kellogg worked previously in Noble County, but it wasn’t the experience she thought she would have coming out of college. After graduating […]
Sherri Johnston, a LaGrange County Lifer
Sherri Johnston is LaGrange County through and through. She has spent nearly her entire life in LaGrange County, and currently, is the President and CEO of the LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation (LCEDC). Johnston has been in her position for five years. However, she didn’t jump right into the field of economic development […]
Vanessa Hurtig, the Go-To Person at NEI
If you need to know anything, and I mean anything, about the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership (NEI), Vanessa Hurtig is your go-to person. Hurtig is the Vice President of Administration at NEI and has been with the organization since 2007. She started with NEI as an intern during her last semester at the University of Saint Francis. […]