In reports released today, input collected from 10 counties suggests strong regional collaboration will be necessary to increase the per capita income of Northeast Indiana, which has declined from 95 percent of the national average in the mid-1990s to 80.5 percent in 2007.
The preliminary reports can be found in full detail at www.northeastindianavision.com/reports. The reports contain input received through community outreach meetings conducted in Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells and Whitley counties in Northeast Indiana. Specific findings are reported for each of the Vision 2020 focus area "pillars," including 21st century talent, competitive business climate, entrepreneurship, infrastructure and quality of life.
Nearly 400 participants from county outreach meetings were guided through discussions about what will be gained through the regional implementation of each of the five pillars, each county's assets that can help ensure successful implementation of the vision and the development of additional "must have" strategies the region believes need to be in place to move forward with Vision 2020.
Specific regional collaboration initiatives include community-wide appreciation for lifelong education, enhanced regional planning efforts for transportation and infrastructure investments, and a regional business-friendly tax and regulatory climate.
From becoming the most wired region in the country to creating a leadership network for entrepreneurial coaching, from enhanced economic development incentives to stronger collaboration between colleges and universities, the counties focused on local assets that could lead to regional gains, all tied together with a celebrated regional brand and marketing efforts.
The next phase in the project, topical group sessions organized under each of the pillar topics, is underway. Participants are spending hours digging deeper into the regional suggestions to build potential vision statements and develop game-changing strategies that will provide the region with a map of how to reach the vision goals.
The topical group developments will be taken to the Regional Economic Summit held on June 23 at 6 p.m. at the Grand Wayne Center in Fort Wayne, hosted by Vision 2020 and Northeast Indiana Fund. The summit will give voice to the entire region, as attendees will have the opportunity to vote on key strategies and goals to drive regional economic growth and prosperity. All are invited and encouraged to attend and can RSVP to vision@northeastindiana.org.