Nominations are now open for The 2023 Indiana Uplands Regional Innovation Awards, which recognize deserving people, organizations, and projects that have made meaningful improvements to education, workforce, economic development and quality of place within the 11 counties of the Uplands region, according to a press release sent out last month.
The awards are through Regional Opportunity Initiatives, Inc. (ROI), a nonprofit organization with a mission to advance economic and community prosperity in the 11 counties of the Indiana Uplands.
Brown, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Orange, Owen and Washington counties make up the Uplands region.
According to the release, ROI is growing potential and possibility in the Uplands through a focus on advanced industry sectors, regionalism, transformative school and workforce redesign, and placemaking strategies.
Awardees will be recognized during the ROI Annual Report to the Region, which will be held Thursday, April 13 at the French Lick Resort Event Center.
“The awards highlight the amazing people and groups working to make the Indiana Uplands a terrific place to work, live, learn and play,” the release said.
Any member of the public may nominate an individual, entity, or effort for one or more of the awards listed below.
Nominations must be completed by Thursday, March 16. Registration for this year’s annual report will be available soon, according to the release.
The award categories and descriptions, as listed in the release, are as follows:
The Becky Skillman Regional Leadership Award recognizes an individual or organization that has shown uncommon dedication to bringing the Indiana Uplands region together in pursuit of regional success and prosperity. An individual person or an organization may be nominated.
The Collaboration Award recognizes two or more organizations that have worked collaboratively to advance prosperity for residents of the Uplands region through education, economic, or quality of place efforts. Two or more organizations working collaboratively are eligible. ROI asks that when submitting a nomination, to include a point of contact for each member of the collaboration.
The Diversity Innovation Award will honor individuals or organizations that have implemented innovative strategies for attracting and/or retaining diversity in the regional workforce. An individual person or an organization may be nominated.
The Employer Innovation Award recognizes an Indiana Uplands employer who seeks creative solutions to talent and workforce development challenges, supports the success of regional key sectors, and exemplifies meaningful partnerships with K-12 schools, postsecondary institutions, and/or other employers. An organization from the industry sector may be nominated. The nominee must be located or have a meaningful effort based within the 11 counties of the Indiana Uplands.
The Quality of Place Attraction Award recognizes a community, organization, or group that has coalesced around a project or program that welcomes both residents and visitors to enjoy the arts, cultural, and natural beauty found only in the Indiana Uplands. Projects within the Uplands are eligible for nomination. ROI asks that when submitting a nomination, to include one point of contact for the project as a whole.
The Quality of Place Innovation Award recognizes projects and meaningful community improvements that enhance the Indiana Uplands as an inventive, industrious, and friendly place to live, work, and play. Projects within the Uplands are eligible. ROI asks that when submitting a nomination, to include one point of contact for the project as a whole.
The STEM Innovation Award recognizes a program or organization that has made meaningful and novel contributions to STEM education or training in the Indiana Uplands. Organizations, specific programs and collaborative projects may be nominated.
The Talent Innovation Award recognizes an entity that has designed and deployed an innovative strategy for improving our regional workforce through training, skill advancement, or talent attraction to the Indiana Uplands. Organizations from industry, education, or the nonprofit sector may be nominated. The nominee must be located or have a meaningful effort based within the 11 counties of the Indiana Uplands.
Submit all nominations at docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdex2na1xgdsyesDZu-c5fbbMe6vwT61r5za7URZacn1hm2Lg/viewform.
