Michigan City, Seymour, Warsaw adopt new economic development plans
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Three Indiana cities on Tuesday announced long-term economic development plans funded by the Indiana Economic Development Corp.
The planning will allow the cities — Michigan City, Seymour and Warsaw — to tap into funding from the state’s recently expanded READI initiative, which received another $500 million allocation this spring.
The three community plans were developed out of year-long learning labs bringing local residents, government officials and industry leaders together with national representatives from the Brookings Institution and the Local Initiatives Support Corp.
The plans were created with a focus on finding ways to bridge gaps in health, wealth and opportunity, according to the IEDC.
“As we think about increasing the vibrancy of our regions and advancing quality of life and quality of place across Indiana, we want to ensure that all communities – regardless of size or resources – have the opportunity to grow and better position themselves for long-term success,” Indiana’s new secretary of commerce David Rosenberg said in a news release.
Michigan City’s development plan is called Vibrant Michigan City: Economic Prosperity for All and focuses on increasing access to banking, grocery stores and public parks within the west, east and mid-town sections of the city.
City officials joined developers last week as they broke ground on a $280 million mixed-use development that includes two hotels, as well as residential and retail space, in a new Michigan City Transit Oriented Development District taking advantage of the South Shore Line’s ongoing $649 million Double Track project.
“By working through this process as a community, we have sparked a sense of collaboration that is vital to putting the Vibrant Michigan City agenda items into action,” Economic Development Corp. Michigan City Executive Director Clarence L. Hulse said in the news release.
Seymour’s development agenda, called Burkart Opportunity Zone: An Inclusive Economic Development Agenda for Seymour, focuses on growing career pathways, promoting small business and welcoming new immigrants.
The plan also outlines plans for an expanded trail system, more housing, and creation of a new parks plan among other recreation and social opportunities.
Warsaw’s strategic plan is called Critical Corridor Connections: An Inclusive Economic Development Agenda for Warsaw and focuses on addressing economic stagnation and inequity. Specifically the plan includes projects to revive Warsaw’s downtown, increase public access to recreation areas and revitalize industrial heritage sites.
READI, or the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative, has awarded $500 million to 17 regions covering all 92 counties in its first iteration. Gov. Eric Holcomb launched READI 2.0 earlier this month.