February 18, 2005
Purdue serves as key educational and economic partner
By Martin C. Jischke
President, Purdue University
Evansville's well-deserved designation as an "All-American City" by the National Civic League speaks volumes about this city's educational and economic vitality and promises an even brighter future.
I had the pleasure of spending a day in Evansville recently, and I came away deeply impressed by the energy of the citizens, the strength of the corporate sector, and the city's growing status as a regional economic and cultural center. Evansville is a solid anchor for southwestern Indiana.
One economic sector with great potential for Evansville is the high-tech transportation, distribution and logistics industry – or TDL – which is a natural strength for the Crossroads of America. TDL creates jobs and supports other key sectors, including advanced manufacturing, information technology and the life sciences. This trillion-dollar annual industry is a key to the economic development of the 21st century.
At Purdue University, we asked what we could do in Evansville and other key Indiana cities to advance this important economic sector. Our answer is a new Center for Competitive Global Logistics. Last fall, jointly with the Ports of Indiana, Purdue sponsored the Second Indiana 21st Century Logistics Summit. This has become the flagship meeting for the state's entire TDL community, uniting the public, private and academic sectors.
Purdue also provides an economic boost by working with individual companies to employ the latest technology and gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. One example is Purdue's partnership with George Koch Sons through the 21st Century Research and Technology Fund. George Koch Sons is one of the nation's leading designers and manufacturers of curing ovens. By designing a more efficient curing oven, this 21st Century Research Fund partnership will reduce company costs, increase competitiveness and benefit other Indiana companies that use the ovens.
Purdue's Technical Assistance Program also works with companies in implementing state-of-the art technologies and solving technical problems. TAP currently is working with Anchor Industries to determine the wind resistance of a mesh material used in tents. This will help Anchor remain competitive in the marketplace.
Like the University of Southern Indiana and the University of Evansville, Purdue also has a strong interest in offering educational opportunities to the Evansville community. Several Purdue Cooperative Extension Service programs focus on education and economic development. For Evansville students who would like to pursue higher education at Purdue but have unique obstacles standing in their way, a full scholarship is available. This scholarship, called the Purdue Opportunity Award, will support an entering Purdue student each year from Vanderburgh County. A gift from the Evansville-based Vectren Corporate Foundation helps support the scholarship.
As Indiana's land-grant university, Purdue embraces its obligation to serve the citizens of Indiana, especially in the key areas of education and economic development. Purdue looks forward to working with Evansville to build new opportunities in a city that is a leading example of an All-American city at the Crossroads of America.
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