Daviess County EDC leader to step down

The Daviess County Economic Development Corp. is on the hunt for a new leader. The organization announced Tuesday that Executive Director Bryant Niehoff will be stepping down to become the new CEO of the Uplands Science and Technology Foundation.

Niehoff has led the DCEDC since 2018. Eric Lane, board chairman for the EDC and CEO of First Federal Savings Bank of Washington, will serve as interim executive director until a permanent successor is named.

The USTF is a nonprofit research foundation that was established in 2021 to support the WestGate@Crane Technology Park in Odon. Niehoff has served on the foundation’s board of directors since its inception.

The foundation said in his new role, Niehoff will have a significant focus on building momentum generated by the semiconductor campus at the technology park that will see a total of $385 million in investment. Officials broke ground on the project last November.

“Bryant Niehoff has quickly established himself within our region and state as a leading economic development professional who brings significant expertise in land planning and placemaking, a natural ability to bring stakeholders together, and an intimate familiarity with WestGate and USTF,” USTF Board Chair Tina Peterson said in a news release.

Niehoff said he was “perfectly happy” in his role with the DCEDC, but the new opportunity was too good to pass up.

“I wouldn’t be truthful if I didn’t say it was a challenging and emotional decision,” he said. “But I am very excited to be able to help WestGate and the Uplands region realize their potential through the growth of the park as a nationally recognized innovation community.”

Niehoff will begin his new role May 1.