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BizVoice/Indiana Chamber – September/October 2016
“Economic development is a
team sport.”
It’s not only a sentiment expressed
by Indiana Humanities president
and CEO Keira Amstutz, but the
powerful philosophy behind the
Regional Cities Initiative.
Amstutz characterizes herself and others
who served on the Strategic Review Committee,
formed by the Indiana Economic Development
Corporation (IEDC), as “listeners” and
“connectors.”
They reviewed proposals, listened to
presentations and shared input during question
and answer sessions.
“What the projects and proposals
centered on was how to improve quality of
place to create talent magnets and improve the
economy,” Amstutz remarks. “Part of what I
found exciting about the process is that it not
only included traditional economic
development voices, but also folks like me
who represent the cultural sector.”
Mark Maassel, president of the Indiana
Energy Association and another member of the
committee, seconds that.
“For any single city – or frankly in many
cases, even single counties – (economic
development) is not going to be as effective as
it could be if you worked on a broader basis.
That’s absolutely one of the keys to this.”
The other, he emphasizes, revolves around
quality of place.
“To me, it’s as simple as connecting
things and people.”
In reviewing the proposals, he and others
considered whether “those things were present
– not just in the planning, but in a sustainable
fashion. Had organizational structures been
built that would allow for the conversations to
continue, for combined decision-making?”
Equally important to Kathy Davis –
systems advisor to Indianapolis Mayor Joe
Hogsett and Indiana’s first female lieutenant
governor (appointed in 2003) – was “readiness.”
“I’m a former budget director,” she
relates, “so I want to invest in efforts that are
ready to go and not only are going to provide a
strong return, but provide it as soon as
possible because the ability to start an
improvement now changes the slope of the
trendline and gets us a better result.
“And then – these are all interconnected
– (we sought) a demonstration that there were
the private and local resources that were going
to come along besides the state’s investment to
Falling Into ‘Place’
Review Committee Members Offer Insights
By Symone C. Skrzycki
Indiana Vision 2025
: Dynamic & Creative Culture
Renovating the Evansville Regional Airport terminal could significantly enhance
passenger service.
The East Bank Village, located in downtown South Bend east
of the St. Joseph River, encompasses two historic housing
districts. It’s within biking distance of South Bend’s Innovation
District and the University of Notre Dame.
The Decatur Downtown Facade Improvement Program was designed to complement
other enhancements, such as streetscaping, parking and a sculpture tour.