Brookings to Partner with Seymour
Aimed at closing geographic and racial gaps in economic opportunity, the Brookings Institution’s Bass Center for Transformative Placemaking and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) will together work with three Indiana towns—Seymour, Michigan City and Warsaw—over the next year to co-create “community-centered economic inclusion” (CCEI) programs.
The effort is supported by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) and is focused on small cities located in the state of Indiana’s READI program regions. The lead convening organizations representing each Indiana town in the cohort are: Jackson County Industrial Development Corp (Seymour); Economic Development Corporation of Michigan City; and Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation (Warsaw). These organizations will be working closely with other city, community, and regional stakeholders to co-create and implement CCEI efforts in each city.
“We are extremely excited to be selected as a part of this program,” said Jim Plump, Executive Director of Jackson County Industrial Development Corporation. “The value that this study can have on our future efforts is tremendous, and we can’t wait to get into the actual process in the coming months.”
Through this 12-month Learning Lab, Brookings and LISC will offer research, technical assistance, and structured opportunities for the three local teams (“the cohort”) to come together to discuss specific challenges and best practice strategies for advancing community-centered economic inclusion. The individual CCEI agendas created through the Lab will position each Indiana town to effectively engage in the growing sectors of their regional economy to expand local economic opportunity. Importantly, the agendas will also outline strategies to address persistent economic stagnation and inequity by coordinating and concentrating workforce, small business, real estate development, and placemaking efforts.
“This is an amazing opportunity for smaller communities to become the focus of inclusive economic development in the state,” said Vincent Ash, Vice President of Development at the IEDC. “While well-intentioned, many economic development strategies miss integral needs because they’re developed from the top-down. Sourcing from the community will go a long way toward ensuring greater economic growth and equity in communities that need it. Further, I’m looking forward to sharing these community-centered agendas with a national audience to help position Indiana as a leader in inclusive economic development.”
Plump said a 4-person “core team” in Seymour-Jackson County has been assembled and includes Seymour Mayor Matt Nicholson and Dan Davis, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Jackson County, along with Jackie Hill and Plump of JCIDC.
“We are in the process of putting together our advisory team and hope to have that together by the end of the year,” said Plump, adding that anyone interested in being involved should contact his office (812.522.4951).
