Chris Pfaff

Meeting the challenges of rural economic development

The Site Selection magazine headline recently summed it up: “When Being Small Is a Big Advantage.” Over the past four or so years, rural America has experienced an unexpected and remarkable growth trend. As the magazine noted, “record inflation, remote working, rising big-city crime, and lifestyle changes are prompting Americans to relocate from large urban cores.”... Read More

Why Japan matters to Indiana

Last fall, Knox County officials and I joined Gov. Eric Holcomb and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) for a week-long trade mission in Japan.  Some may ask, why are focused visits like these vital to Indiana - and particularly southern Indiana? Here’s a key fact: Indiana has the highest concentration of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the United States from Japanese companies. What does that mean?... Read More