City spotlight: Vincennes.

Revolutionary War hero George Rogers Clark seized the settlement known as Vincennes from the British in 1779. Today, local officials and business leaders are seizing new opportunities with nearly as much enthusiasm. The driving force is a mixture of partnerships involving city, county, business and education leaders as well as a tremendous economic-development boost from the newly opened Toyota truck plant in nearby Princeton. There also is a renewed interest in tourism and the celebration of Vincennes' rich and deep historical roots.

Calling Vincennes an "epicenter" for economic development, Mayor Howard Hatcher claims there is "more industrial development in a 55-mile radius than any place else in the United States." With pickup trucks rolling off the line at Toyota, the area is also experiencing an economic surge with second- and third-tier Toyota suppliers locating nearby and providing job opportunities for Knox County residents.

"Prior to Toyota's commitment to build here, economic-development growth didn't exist," Hatcher says of the Toyota plant with 1,300 employees. David Kiefer, executive director of the Knox County Chamber of Commerce, notes that these suppliers are "a direct spin-off from Toyota's presence and we expect more to locate here."

The largest employer in Vincennes with more than 1,600 employees and a $40 million annual payroll is Good Samaritan Hospital. Serving an 11-county area, the hospital is considered a regional provider of care for Indiana and Illinois.

Vincennes University's presence in the community is strong and building daily. The second-largest employer in the area with 900 employees, VU boasts a $25 million payroll. Its 5,000 students live both on and off campus, working, commuting and volunteering throughout the county.

"We consider ourselves a bargain in higher education for area students," says Dr. Phillip Summers, president of VU. "A significant number of alumni are employed locally in industry and various professions."

The third-largest employer in Vincennes with nearly 550 employees is Gemtron Corp., manufacturer of cooktop surfaces and shelving for refrigerators and other appliances. Other noteworthy employers in the area include Preferred Home Health, Vincennes Steel Corp. and Vincennes Manufacturing Co., maker of automotive stampings.

Essex Group Inc., which manufactures magnet wire used for electric motors, was an early "guinea pig" in the "Pathways to Growth" workforce development program.

Launched in January through a partnership involving the Knox County Development Corp., Cinergy and other public and private organizations, Pathways to Growth helps identify unemployed workers and channels them to existing positions in the county. Pathways clients may enroll in classes at Vincennes University or Ivy Tech State College to enhance their skills for the jobs they are pursuing, and may pay for the training through payroll deductions once they have begun their new job.

Vincennes remains the center of a farmland community. "Agriculture is very important to the local economy," says Jerry Nelson, at the Purdue Cooperative Extension Office in Knox County. "Knox County was No. 1 in watermelon production, No. 1 in land use for vegetable production, third in soybean production and sixth in Indiana for corn acreage." History, tourism and quality of life go hand-in-hand in Vincennes, says Ellen Harper, executive director for the Vincennes/Knox County Convention and Visitors Bureau. "We have many events in the area annually that bring people from all walks of life. They come because they've heard of our 'Spirit of Vincennes Rendezvous' held each Memorial Day Weekend. They come for the Watermelon Festival, and of course they come for the George Rogers Clark National Historic Park."

The George Rogers Clark National Historic Park was dedicated in 1936 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It honors the Revolutionary War hero whose victory in 1779 sealed America's right to the Northwest Territory. The memorial sports a life-size bronze statue of Clark and murals depicting his military career.

"This is the only Revolutionary War site in the Midwest," says Frank Doughman, chief ranger of the park. "The memorial sees around 150,000 people annually, including 10,000 schoolchildren. This is something everyone in Indiana ought to see, a significant part of early American history."