Madison named Indiana Community of the Year
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The Indiana Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday announced Madison as its 2024 Community of the Year. The chamber cited the city’s ongoing housing and business sector expansion and revitalized downtown in its selection for the annual award.
Chamber CEO Vanessa Green Sinders said in a news release that Madison is fast becoming a regional hub for business, in addition to serving as an epicenter for recreational and leisure activities.
“What’s happening in Madison is a credit to the public and corporate leadership there and is a feather in the cap of the entire state,” Sinders said. “It’s an honor to put a spotlight on the tremendous progress they’re making with this award.”
The city was chosen by a five-person Indiana Chamber panel, who reviewed nominations made by the communities themselves or outside individuals.
The award follows other recognition the city has received this year, including the being named the No. 1 Small Town in the Midwest by USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards. The city’s Main Street Program also won the Great American Main Street Award from Main Street America, which recognizes communities for their “excellence in comprehensive preservation-based commercial district revitalization.”
Visit Madison Executive Tourism Director Andrew Forrester touted the city’s growing music scene and the success of the revitalized Eagle Cotton Mill, which was transformed into a Fairfield Inn & Suites and was inducted into the Historic Hotels of America program last November.
Madison has really boomed the last decade,” Forrester said. “If you haven’t been here in a while, you would be amazed at the transformation…and we want to tell people all about it.”
The city will receive the award at the chamber’s annual awards program on Nov. 13 at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis.