By Chris Pfaff, CEO, Knox County Indiana Economic Development

Rural communities don’t often dominate economic headlines, but they should. Rural America contributes more than $2 trillion annually to the nation’s economy, and research continues to show that rural residents often experience stronger economic mobility than people in many urban areas.

Here in Knox County, that story is real—and growing. One of the most powerful drivers of our future economy is entrepreneurship. Many established businesses in our county once were small start-ups, building their companies and making their way toward success. Today, as evidenced by local startups and participants in our Knox County CEO high school program, we have an exciting new generation of entrepreneurial activity coming to the fore.

Why entrepreneurship matters here

Knox County has long been defined by hard work, resourcefulness, and industries rooted in agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, and education. Those strengths position our communities to compete—especially as we continue to support next generation local entrepreneurs.

As major analysts like McKinsey have recently pointed out, rural areas of Indiana like Knox County hold some clear strategic advantages: lower operating costs, a pace of life that attracts new residents, access to major markets like Evansville, Indianapolis, and Louisville, and a workforce known for reliability. But success today also depends on access to capital, technical expertise, and networks that historically clustered around major cities.

To help address these issues, Governor Mike Braun’s administration recently launched the Indiana Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (OE&I), led by entrepreneur Brian Schutt. The goal of the new office is simple but profound: work to make Indiana the best state in America to start and grow a business—whether you’re building a software startup or a Main Street retail shop in downtown Vincennes.

What this means for Knox County

OE&I is designed to expand statewide access to tools rural founders have long needed. Some of these programs are established and some are rolling out. Here’s what is potentially on deck for our local entrepreneurs:

  • Direct Access to Funding:
    The Indiana Innovation Voucher offers up to $50,000 in non-dilutive funding for research, prototyping, or product testing. A Knox County entrepreneur developing an ag-technology device or a new manufacturing process can now partner with Purdue, IU, or other Indiana research institutions—something previously out of reach for many rural founders.
  • Statewide Networks, Brought Local:
    Through partnerships with accelerators, venture groups, industry experts, and technical assistance providers, OE&I can help connect rural business owners to expertise once found primarily in large urban centers like Indianapolis or Chicago.
  • Programs That Prioritize Rural Communities:
    Many OE&I initiatives are planned to specifically support Main Street businesses, small manufacturers, and farm-related ventures—the backbone of Knox County’s economy.

Knox County’s unique strengths

The Knox County region already features several of the assets that drive rural entrepreneurship:

  • The Pantheon in downtown Vincennes is a nationally recognized coworking and innovation hub. It supports start-ups, remote workers, small businesses, and students—making it one of the strongest rural entrepreneurial centers in the state.
  • Vincennes University (VU) and Ivy Tech continue to train the workforce that keeps local industries and companies competitive. VU offers several training and educational programs that can help refine and boost entrepreneurial ideas, as well as lay the groundwork for growth.
  • With OE&I’s statewide partnerships, VU and Ivy Tech can become even stronger launchpads for new business creation, especially in high-demand areas like advanced manufacturing, healthcare, supply-chain logistics, and digital technology.
  • Agriculture and manufacturing, two pillars of Knox County’s economy, are fertile ground for innovation. Whether it’s AgTech, food processing, automation, or new supplier networks, the opportunity for local entrepreneurs is significant. We are already seeing this in start-ups like TerraForce.
  • Have a great idea or concept for a new business? Tap local resources to explore business options and plan potential development. This includes The Pantheon in Vincennes, but you can also research online resources at the Indiana Small Business Development Center (https://www.isbdc.org). Also, check out the online resources of the new Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at https://elevateventures.com/indiana-office-of-entrepreneurship-and-innovation/

Why not start now?

Rural economic development isn’t about copying urban strategies—it’s about building on local strengths. Indiana is putting new tools on the table. Knox County has the talent, the institutions, and the determination to make the most of them.

A significant portion of the next chapter of our successful economic story can be written by the entrepreneurs who choose to build their futures here. Let’s work together to make sure Knox County gives them every reason to do exactly that.

This article also appeared in the Nov. 29, 2025 edition of the Vincennes Sun-Commercial. https://www.suncommercial.com/