New Develop Indy Exec Outlines Plans
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe outgoing town manager of Speedway will soon turn his attention on attracting talent and high-wage jobs to Indianapolis. Ian Nicolini will become a vice president with Develop Indy, rounding out the organization’s economic development team. Nicolini says he will focus on leveraging existing assets, including the city’s central location and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, to attract high-wage jobs in industries including life sciences, information technology and motorsports. Nicolini has overseen around $100 million in economic development projects in Speedway.
Nicolini began as Speedway town manager in May 2014. Previously, he spent six years as town manager of Cedar Lake in Lake County. He will begin in his new position next month.
He steps into the job at a time that Develop Indy says the overall economy of the state’s largest city is "on the upswing." In January, the organization said Indy attracted 21 expansion or relocation projects in the first seven months of the year, representing nearly 3,000 pledged or retained jobs. Many of those jobs are tied to the tech sector, which is an industry that often pays higher than the state average.
Speedway’s Main Street revitalization recently earned the top honor at the Indy Chamber’s annual Monumental Awards gala. The ongoing effort includes upgrades to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, multiple racing team headquarters and growing businesses like Big Woods Brewing Co.