River Ridge Board Appoints New Business Development Director

Jeffersonville, IN (June 28, 2022) – During its monthly meeting, the River Ridge Development Authority (RRDA) announced the addition of Josh Staten as its new director of business development. Staten will begin on July 11^th and will spearhead marketing, business development, and community and economic development coordination with RRDA’s partners.

Staten’s key responsibilities include:

• Responding to RFPs for potential projects;
• Coordinating site visits with potential investors, site selectors and commercial real estate partners;
• Administering the overall marketing program for River Ridge;
• Coordinating with state, regional and local economic development partners;
• Representing River Ridge in community and economic development organizations.

Prior to joining RRDA, Staten served in a similar capacity as the economic development and redevelopment director for the City of New Albany, IN. In this role, Staten was responsible for developing and implementing strategies to attract and retain new business and resident, working closely with government officials, lawmakers, private industry, community leaders, the general public and a whole host of stakeholders to facilitate a business friendly atmosphere within the city.

Jerry Acy, executive director of River Ridge, expressed confidence in Staten, saying “It’s an exciting time for River Ridge, and we are equally as excited to have Josh help us grow and build an even brighter future for River Ridge, the Louisville-Southern Indiana region and entire State of Indiana.” Acy added, “Josh’s extensive experience, education and unique ability of working across sectors to bring people together will be critical as we look to expand upon our long history of expanding opportunities for our communities.”

Staten’s professional background also includes work as planner for Collier County Government in Florida, and he previously served as a commissioner on New Albany’s City Plan Commission from 2015 to 2017. Staten earned a bachelor’s degree in Public Affairs from the Indiana University O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs and master’s degrees in Urban Planning and Public Administration from the University of Louisville. He holds certificates from the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute and the Management and Strategy Institute and is a member of Leadership Southern Indiana’s Discover Class of 2019.

In addition to announcing its new staff member, the RRDA board received reports on the continued high level of interest from developers and companies seeking new homes for major operations and businesses within the River Ridge Commerce Center. River Ridge also has an ongoing search for a chief director of business development and external affairs.

Since its establishment two decades ago, the River Ridge Commerce Center has become a source of major economic growth for the Louisville-Southern Indiana region. Home to over 70 companies, with more than 10,400 on-site workers, the 6,000-acre Commerce Center estimated that it produced a record-breaking total of $2.6 billion in economic output in 2021 and supported more than 18,000 regional jobs.