New Boone EDC CEO Champions Community-Centered Economic Development
Andrea Kern is the newly appointed CEO of the Boone County Economic Development Corporation (Boone EDC) and is using her experience and knowledge to be a driving force of leadership and encouragement for economic growth benefiting the Boone County community.
Boone EDC is fundamental in establishing a culture that supports small business and workforce development with the purpose of enhancing the quality of life in Boone County. Boone EDC is a resource of innovation, support and experience, assisting with collaborations and opportunities for economic accomplishment.
“My path to Boone EDC was shaped by years of helping more than 100 towns and cities statewide achieve their community and economic development goals,” Kern says. “I had the privilege of working alongside the Heart of Lebanon and Main Street Zionsville, where I was able to work directly with these important Boone County community organizations and saw firsthand that there was something special about Boone County.”
Kern sees the potential of Boone County and acknowledges this growing community as a perfect place to utilize her principle of connecting local vision with the right resources to tackle challenges like housing and childcare head-on.
Kern has a vast amount of knowledge and experience, is an innovator and visionary, and understands the power of creating relationships of trust and partnership, which made her the perfect candidate for her position with Boone EDC.
“I coached boards and executive directors on setting vision, building capacity and innovating — experience that translates directly to leading a nonprofit today,” she says. “I also designed programs like PreservINg Main Street and the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program, equipping local leaders with new tools to thrive. Together, these experiences taught me not only how to cast an innovative vision, but how to build the trust and partnerships needed to bring that vision to life.”
Under Kern’s leadership, Boone EDC is working tirelessly to create opportunities within the community, which include addressing housing affordability, strengthening childcare access, encouraging small business development and being an instrumental resource for existing employers.
“My goal is to expand how we define economic development,” Kern adds. “For Boone EDC, the future is about more than attracting jobs — it’s about making sure those jobs are sustainable for families and communities first. We’re positioning Boone EDC as a holistic partner for prosperity, one that is willing to wrestle with hard problems so that the benefits of growth are shared by everyone.”
Already, Boone EDC is building momentum.
“It has truly been a banner year for the EDC, and I couldn’t be more excited about what lies ahead,” Kern says.
So far, Boone EDC has added a director of strategy and innovation to establish partnerships and initiatives focused on housing and childcare, including the Boone County Early Learning Coalition. The organization has endorsed business expansions that bring new jobs, including Ring Container Technologies’ $77M expansion and Caterpillar’s $60M warehouse investment in Lebanon, which will create nearly 700 new jobs. Boone EDC is also a resource for small businesses through technical assistance and financial support.
But Kern also acknowledges how Boone EDC is reestablishing economic development in Boone County to benefit the lives of the people in the community. Kern explains how Boone EDC is “reframing economic development in Boone County as something deeply human — about the teacher who wants to live in the community she serves, or the parent who shouldn’t have to choose between work and reliable childcare,” saying this will define their long-term success.
To learn more about Boone County Economic Development Corporation, visit betterinboone.org.
