Aim Hometown Innovations E-Magazine, Issue 1

HOMETOWN

INNOVATIONS I S S U E #1

Achieving Synergy

Municipal leaders launch collaborative work spaces 1

In This Issue COV E R S TO RY

Fusion 54 PAGE 8

Mascots' new digs PAGE 4

Market Street Park PAGE 6

Hometown Innovator: Goodnight PAGE 11

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LABORATORIES OF INNOVATION

Investing in people and place

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hen looking at Indiana’s competitors through most lenses, our business climate is extremely attractive. Past and present policymakers have worked diligently in recent decades to gain this economic favor, and few will argue their success.

However - it’s time to quickly pivot to a new kind of investment – one that prioritizes people and place.

Today’s economy isn’t driven solely by businesses looking Matt Greller, for tax breaks and CEO of Aim incentives.

While those are important tools, they aren’t the catalyst for development they once were. Today, companies place a premium on finding locations and expanding within locations that give them the best advantage when attracting a talented and readied workforce. Indiana has been making great strides, but we have some disadvantages in this new peoplefocused, placemaking economy.

Our state is not growing in population at a pace that will allow us to thrive like our competition.

Indiana’s population is growing at a near stagnate rate of 2.7%, while the rest of the country is averaging growth of 5.8%. And when you start dissecting the population growth at a micro level by comparing our municipalities with their competitors in other states, the numbers get even worse. Growing our population is absolutely critical to our state’s success. If we aren’t retaining our talent and bringing in new talent, the jobs and investment we need simply won’t come.

Another Achilles heel for Hoosiers is the funding we make available for investment in our cities and towns.

During the competition to lure Amazon to Indiana, we learned that compared to our competitors, Indiana annually invests nearly $8 Billion less in its municipalities than our contemporaries.

What our competitors are doing with those dollars is exploiting other

disadvantages we face here in Indiana.

They are using their revenue edge to invest in quality of place projects that make their economic engines more attractive to the workers necessary to be a force in today’s economy. And, they are working collaboratively as regions – lifting each other up and capitalizing on their strengths.

The proof is in the numbers. When comparing similar regions across our state with like competitors, Indiana’s regions consistently fall short in areas of wages, job growth, degrees in higher education, entrepreneurship, population growth, and more.

In Indiana we are in-tune with placemaking and we are employing it more and more. We have also embraced regionalism, and we have some success to show for it. We just don’t have the tools to deploy these strategies in a systemic way that will make the kinds of differences needed to reverse the undeniably dangerous population trend.

In order to reverse course, a gamechanging plan is decidedly critical.

Our solution is called Investment Hubs. Should the necessary legislation be adopted, Investment Hubs would allow local governments to formalize themselves as regions under a specified framework. This framework would give them the ability to collaborate and raise revenues for transformational projects within the regions, and give the regional participants much needed funds with which to operate their units in a manner they deem necessary.

It is too early in terms of knowing what the proposal’s prognosis is inside the Statehouse. There is much interest in our data-driven strategy and an even greater interest in ensuring Indiana maintains our well-cultivated economic development edge.

Investment Hubs is an aggressive, big-thinking proposal and we are not shy about its intentions. We need bold leaders willing to take the leap necessary to reverse the trajectory we are on and embrace a new course.

Investment Hubs isn’t a panacea, but it is a strong way forward.

A HOOSIER MOMENT "As an adult and now a parent, I have a newfound love for my little hometown. I love that you pretty much know everyone and that when someone needs help there is always someone there to lend a helping hand. I love Vevay's traffic -- or lack there of! I love our one stoplight town that makes getting around when you are running late a breeze. I love all of our small shops, from our cute little coffee shops to our little theater that plays old movies. Our views of the Ohio River at the winery are a pretty great thing, too!"

- Steff Whaley on living in Vevay "Both West Lafayette and Lafayette are great, diverse cities that are full of opportunity.

The college town atmosphere because of having Purdue University in our backyard means there’s always something to do and allows for a supportive, inclusive community that is full of students, young professionals and families.

The focus on education and opportunities for all ages and walks of life is a major draw for the area and makes living here enjoyable for everyone."

- Abbey Nickel on living in West Lafayette

Listen to full interview here.

The Rural Connection For Dale, town leaders hope a new broadband program will serve as a game changer for a rural community that’s struggled with access to highspeed, reliable internet.

A lack of access has had far-reaching effects – from schools where some students receive Chromebooks but can’t connect to the internet at home to even Town Hall where ClerkTreasurer Cindy Morrison recalls being cut off half way through filing online reports to the state.

“We need something dependable, not only do we need this technology for our community members and the students at the high school," Morrison said, "but we need it for economic development to bring business to our area."

That’s why Dale applied to the state to be among the first recipients of a new broadband readiness planning grant. The program, which is in its pilot stage, is providing $50,000 to five different communities to begin sketching out their broadband needs.

The purpose of the planning grant is for the recipient to get an understanding of broadband and what it looks like in the community, so they can create a vision of what they want for the future.

“It’s to educate those main stakeholders in the community about what broadband is so they can have the conversations with providers and residents and anyone interested with it about where they are and where they are going,” said Eric Ogle, CDBG Director for the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs.

As the state was digging into the issue, Ogle said it became very apparent that stakeholders define broadband needs in different ways.

Often, communities and broadband providers talk a different language when it comes to the service. Many times, a community may have access to broadband, but adoptions rates are so low providers aren’t interested. Or they might have high-speed fiber lines or fixed wireless service but didn’t realize it until they were figuring out an area’s infrastructure.

The outcomes of the planning grant will depend on the community’s needs.

Some communities may find they have the infrastructure but need higher adoptions rates. Some may find they need the infrastructure. But all plans will end with one or two action steps that a community can immediately do to operationalize the plan. One important step, Ogle said, is becoming broadband ready and streamlining the permit process to make the regulatory environment more attractive.

As for Dale, Morrison anticipates its challenges are rooted in hurdles not uncommon to rural communities across the state. It’s very expensive for providers to install fiber, and there aren't as many customers in a rural area.

“It is a brand new pilot program that we are going to be learning and getting educated at the same time with everyone else," Morrison said. "We are just so grateful to Gov. Holcomb, Lt. Gov. Crouch, along with OCRA."

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NEW HALL OF FAME PROVIDES ONE - OF -A- KIND QUIRKS

Mascots come to Whiting

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hiting is a city that’s made a name for itself by embracing its one-of-a-kind quirks.

Every summer, thousands of twirling babushkas and revelers fill the streets of downtown for a festival in honor of the city’s favorite dumpling – the pierogi.

Now, the city is once again embracing the unconventional. This time with a museum. But not any run-of-the-mill museum.

In December, the city celebrated the opening of its new Mascot Hall of Fame.

The interactive children’s museum is a space dedicated to commemorating the best of the best of sporting mascots.

The museum - packed full of colorful and zany exhibits, like the “Department of Phuzzical Education” where kiddos can shoot hoops while their parents enjoy their own penalty box with comfy chairs - is an experience one can only find in Whiting. The museum, Whiting Mayor Joe Stahura said, is expected to serve as a tourism draw for the Northwest Indiana community on the shores of Lake Michigan.

“Our strategy from the start was to put tourism-related amenities in our community, so that we can attract people outside of our community to support our business district,” Stahura said.

As they searched for the right fit, Whiting leaders stumbled across an idea that Stahura said “was so crazy” he knew it would work for the city. His staff found a website touting a Mascot Hall of Fame, started by the man behind the original Phillie Phanatic, the fuzzy, green bird who is the official mascot of the Philadelphia Phillies.

“Mascots are wacky. They’re fun.

Pierogi Fest is wacky. They’re fun,” Stahura said. “It’s the perfect marriage.”

Every year the Hall of Fame’s founder would gather thousands of people in Downtown Philadelphia to hold an induction ceremony for mascots.

Stahura’s team partnered with the founder to turn his idea into a fullblown museum.

“We used to joke internally, ‘Hey maybe someday someone will call us and say build the Mascot Hall of Fame here,’ and that’s what happened,” said David Raymond, the former mascot who founded the Mascot Hall of Fame.

“When people say, ‘Why Whiting’ the first thing I say is they had the vision to call us. They felt it fit the brand of their city.”

To carry out the vision, the city used the local economic development tool of tax-increment financing to construct the building.

“If it wasn’t for TIF, it never would have occurred,” Stahura said. “(The museum) is going to play an enormous

and community, Raymond said.

Along with the official Hall of Fame, the museum features interactive exhibits that focus on S.T.E.A.M (science, technology, engineering, art and math) education. On a recent weekday, Stahura, clad in a polka dot blazer, walked around the museum greeting school groups working their way through the “Science of Silliness Lab” and the “Department of Furry

When people say, 'Why Whiting' the first thing I say is they had the vision to call us.

— David Raymond, former mascot who founded the Mascot Hall of Fame role in downtown growth…People just like to see what’s going on in Whiting.

People are coming here because we are doing things differently. This building has caused an amazing amount of stir.”

The plan is to induct mascots into the Hall of Fame each year. Currently, there are 20 mascots from college and professional sports teams who have earned the honor. Among the first inductees were the San Diego Chicken, Phoenix Gorilla and the Phillie Phanatic. The mascots broke ground for the field by not merely being a fun photo opportunity, but by actually becoming involved in the game and serving as entertainment. New inductees are chosen for the role they play within their sporting organization

Arts.”

As mayor of the city that’s now all things mascots, Stahura said he probably shouldn’t pick his favorite one.

But if he had to pick, it would be Reggie, the mascot of the Mascot Hall of Fame.

“He’s the purple party dude,” Stahura said. “Reggie is our guy.”

IF YOU GO What Mascot Hall of Fame, or MHOF Where 1851 Front St., Whiting Website mascothalloffame.com

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HUNTINGBURG CELEBRATES NEW COMMUNITY SPACE

A new park in Downtown Huntingburg is expected to serve as the city’s central gathering space for generations to come.

Local and state leaders gathered at Market Street Park in October to celebrate the completion of the project. The multi-functional space includes pergolas, pavilions and an event lawn. But the benefits of the new urban park go beyond bricks and mortar, project leaders said at its ceremonial opening.

“Progressive communities around the world have focused on creating unique outdoor spaces that help define their culture,” said Ron Taylor with TSW Design Group, which worked on the project.

That notion, Taylor said, rings true in smaller Hoosier communities where the courthouse square often serves as

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the heart of a city or town.

“Residents and community leaders here understood the need for a central gathering space in the community and understood what a downtown park would mean for Huntingburg,” he said. “This park will now become the signature gathering space in Huntingburg.

Its design is unique – the result of a collaborative design process with community residents and leaders. There is no place like Market Street Park in the world.”

Market Street Park, which will host a multitude of city festivals, farmers markets and other events, is the signature piece of Huntingburg’s Stellar Communities designation.

In 2014, the city earned the distinction from the state, and through the program, received an influx of funding for community

development projects. The park connects the historic downtown shopping district with the community’s iconic Old Town Hall.

Other Stellar projects include an expansion of workforce housing, trails and street reconstructions.

Huntingburg Mayor Denny Spinner told the large crowd gathered for the opening that the park is dedicated to the city’s residents and all who will come and enjoy the space for years to come.

“This is Huntingburg’s park.

Everything you see someone from Huntingburg has had input on to make this thing happen,” Spinner said. “I could not be more proud to stand in this community space and share it with you today.

Huntingburg is a city like no other.

Every time I talk I have to say that, and I say it because I mean it.

Huntingburg is a city like no other, and this place is just the latest example of what Huntingburg can do and what Huntingburg is all about.”

The Market Street Park event served as the final stop to the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affair’s Downtown Development Week. Across the state, communities came together to celebrate the unique role their urban core’s play in their cities and towns.

The park is a result of incredible collaboration and partnership, said Maureen Hayden, director of intergovernmental affairs for Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch.

“This new park,” Hayden said, “is a cornerstone piece of the continued development of the city.”

THE PARKLANDS OPENS IN JASPER Jasper is now home to a scenic 75-acre urban park through a project that transformed a former golf course into a premier nature destination.

Jasper celebrated the opening of The Parklands in July. Features of the project include: two miles of trails, a walking signature bridge, three ponds and approximately 25 acres of woodlands made possible by benefactors and the Indiana Bicentennial Nature Trust.

City leaders anticipate The Parklands will become a regional destination. The project also enjoys strong community support, with nearly $2.5 million or a third of the project’s total coming from donated funds, grants or in-kind contributions.

Following the city’s purchase of the golf course in 2013, Jasper Mayor Terry Seitz created a citizen advisory team to determine the land’s future. That resulted in the

concept of a “managed meadows,” which would keep much of the grounds in a natural state while limiting structures.

The park also features: two waterfalls, a wetlands area, an indoor public event space called The Pavilion, a splash pad, exercise pods, an adventure play area, a tree fort, a musical playground and a connecting path that will eventually link to Jasper’s multi-use trail.

INNOVATION

Investing in the future with Fusion 54 8

Crawfordsville Mayor Todd Barton set out with an innovative vision – fusing together the different growth entities serving the city and housing them under one roof.

Today, that vision is a reality with the opening of Fusion 54.

The building houses business, leadership, downtown development and education officials – all working to make Crawfordsville and the greater Montgomery County area a vibrant place to live and do business.

And the city isn’t alone. Across the state, mayors and town leaders have launched projects to bring collaborative spaces that pair municipal functions with the greater community. In Rushville, City Hall will soon share a building with a movie theater and Ivy Tech Community College location. In Zionsville, town leaders launched a project to combine municipal offices with the local chamber of commerce, senior services and an expansion of a popular entrepreneurial center.

“We came to the realization that we had a lot of really good entities, non-profits for example, out in our community trying to do good things, but they were kind of siloed off,” Barton said of the Fusion 54 project. “They were all in different places and trying to go in their own direction. There wasn’t a lot of coordination and cooperation between those entities. We really had this thought of bringing them together and increasing that cooperation.”

So, Fusion 54 was born.

The city leveraged taxincrement financing dollars to renovate a building on a prime corner of downtown. Currently, Visit Montgomery County, Montgomery County Leadership Academy, Crawfordsville Main Street, Wabash College and the Craw fordsv ille-Montgomer y County Chamber of Commerce all have offices in the building.

The facility also hosts the F54 Co-

Working Studio.

Ultimately, Fusion 54 is an investment in the city’s future, Barton said. The project aims to change the way Crawfordsville shapes its workforce by bringing together emerging talent and key community leaders. The building also features an experimental theater to foster creativity.

Already, the project has created a huge ripple effect, by serving as a physical reminder that the community is united, said Rick Hernandez, executive director of the Crawfordsville-Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce.

It’s bringing entities together and metaphorically tearing down walls, so they can better collaborate.

“It seems like everyone is getting on board, on the same train to go to the same destination,” Hernandez said.

The synergy and partnerships forged at Fusion 54 sets the space apart.

“We all have passion for the community and making it the best it can be,” said Lynn

Ringis, executive director of the Montgomery County Leadership Academy. “It’s bigger than the city. I think our mayor has been instrumental in making this a countywide project. It almost feels like instead of having Crawfordsville and all these little towns, it feels like Montgomery County is becoming one big community, which give us a bigger resource pool and more talent.”

And word is getting out on the project.

Fusion 54 is getting a lot of use, Barton said, averaging 50 to 70 events a month.

For municipal leaders exploring similar projects, Barton says time and patience is important.

Bringing diverse entities together isn’t always an easy process, he said, especially if they’re established at their current location.

“You really have to challenge them and your community to raise the bar,” he said, “and go to the next level.”

We all have passion for the community and making it the best it can be. It's bigger than the city.

— Lynn Ringis, Montgomery County Leadership Academy

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ZIONSVILLE

'One-stop-shop' in Zionsville For Zionsville, housing community groups and town offices in one building has practical benefits.

When town leaders began the process of designing a new town hall, they didn’t want to be in the position of having to add on to the building in a short amount of time. The decision was made to build additional space to accommodate a growing community.

Town offices, the fire department headquarters, Zionsville Chamber of Commerce and an extension of Boone County Senior Services have space in the building. Currently, a portion of the space is being built out for zWORKS. The co-working and entrepreneurial center is

putting graduate space for three companies inside of the new Town Hall. Those companies have expanded beyond traditional coworking space and are growing rapidly but can’t commit to long-term leases.

Another big perk - the combined space creates efficiencies for current and prospective businesses, Zionsville Mayor Tim Haak said.

“Particularly with our chamber, we have a lot of overlap on what we do dealing with local businesses that it’s kind of a one-stop-shop for people who come into town – especially a future business or a current local business,” Haak said.

RUSHVILLE

'Things are happening in Downtown Rushville' A mixed-use development is currently underway in Rushville that will pair city offices with a unique set of neighbors.

The City Center project is transforming a former Masonic lodge into Rushville’s new City Hall.

Municipal offices will occupy the second floor of the building, while the first floor will feature an Ivy Tech Community College satellite location and first-run movie theater that can seat up to 185 people.

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The project allows City Hall to serve as an incubator for amenities the community needs, Rushville Mayor Mike Pavey said. And the City Center project is a key piece of Downtown Rushville that’s undergone a transformation through the state’s Stellar Communities program.

“It’s a big monumental marquee that says things are happening in Downtown Rushville,” said Brian Sheehan, the city’s special projects director.

HOOSIER INNOVATORS

Looking inward at the city's core to lead transformative efforts Aim CEO Matt Greller sat down with Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight to discuss the city’s progress for the Aim Hometown Innovations Podcast.

MG: You took office about January of 2008, and it was not the greatest of economic times. When a lot of mayors were still looking outward at greenfield development, and still trying to lure that next big factory you made a conscience decision to look inward and really look at the downtown, building place as a means of economic development.

GG: Our dependent

city still

is very on the

automotive industr y.

It’s a little m o r e diversified than it was at the time.

Greg Goodnight, So, when Kokomo Mayor the Great Recession started we were not in the position to really weather that storm. We didn’t have ample amount of reserves within the city coffers, unemployment was over 20 percent, so we really had to make a transformation in how we operated locally.

We were not living within our means. We weren’t focusing on the right things. Even with all those

challenges I told people the biggest challenge we faced economically was we had 9,000 people that drove into Howard County every day for employment and chose to live elsewhere. And that was even a bigger challenge than some of the challenges facing the automotive industry and the Great Recession. When we started trying to make changes that’s what we focused on – what would make this a better place for us to live.

And so, we did a lot of things.

We had to find some better savings. One of the things was taking out traffic lights so all in one summer we took out 23 traffic signal in Downtown Kokomo, pulled

them out of the ground.

There are savings in energy costs, routine maintenance costs...took out all the parking meters and we put in handicapped accessible and pedestrian bump outs at all the intersections.

We installed nicer looking more pedestrian lower level decorative street lamps and really wanted to focus on the older part of our city our core, we put in programs for façade improvements... and making sure we have right housing for people regardless of their situation.

Listen to full interview here.

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Revitalization of historic industry Washington is celebrating the opening of a new facility that is revitalizing a long-time historic industry in the city.

City and state leaders came together in August to commemorate the opening of Eagle Railcar Services. The company is establishing a 150,000-square-foot railcar repair and maintenance facility at the site of a former long-time rail yard. Already, the firm has created more than 100 new jobs.

The project is placing Washington and the company in a “strategic position for growth,” Washington Mayor Joe Wellman said.

“We are appreciative that the team of the (Indiana Economic Development Corp.), the Daviess County Economic Development Corp., and the city of Washington are able to work together to produce a competitive situation to attract companies like Eagle Railcar and encourage investment and commitment to the region,” Wellman said.

Among the incentives, the project utilizes conditional tax credits from the Industrial Recovery Tax Credit (DINO) program. The program is designed to spur investment in former industrial sites, such as Eagle Railcar’s improvements in Washington. The railroad industry plays a large part in Washington’s heritage and put the

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city on the map, Wellman said. In the 1800s, city officials were instrumental in bringing a rail yard to the site that is now home to Eagle Railcar. Operations hit their heyday in the 1920s with 1,300 employees, and the industry served as an economic engine for the city, Wellman explained to those in attendance at the ribbon cutting.

However, with changes to the rail industry over the years, the once

paired with a pro-growth business climate and skilled workforce makes Indiana the perfect location for Eagle Railcar Services’ fifth railcar facility,” Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch said. “We are excited to welcome the company to Indiana, the Crossroads of America, and we will continue to work together to ensure they have the talent and tools needed to grow and succeed in Washington.”

... we are sure that Eagle Railcar will be that rejuvenated economic engine ...

— Joe Wellman, Washington Mayor vibrant rail yard had begun to decline.

Eagle Railcar’s investment represented a game changer.

“We are sure that Eagle Railcar will be that rejuvenated economic engine for us,” he said.

The Washington project is Eagle Railcar’s first facility in Indiana. The company, which is based in Texas, invested more than $18 million toward the completion of the facility, which was built on a site that required significant demolitions and renovations.

“Our top-ranked infrastructure

The project comes on the heels of Washington securing another new company. The city has been a frontrunner in developing infrastructure near the newlyexpanded portion of Interstate 69 to attract new businesses. And it’s paying off. Earlier this year, the city celebrated a $4.6 million project by M&C Tech Indiana, which represents the first Japanese-owned company to locate to Washington and Daviess County.

EMBRACING SMART TECHNOLOGY Future residents of Evansville’s newest housing development will reside within a “living laboratory” for smart energy technology.

The Post House, which represents a $40 million mixed-use development in Downtown Evansville and Southwest Indiana’s largest Regional Cities project, will feature one-of-a-kind apartment units. And residents can opt for those units to serve as a testing ground for a series of emerging technologies, thanks to a partnership with Vectren.

“We are creating an environment where people can live inside the Internet of Things and test various aspects of technology,” said Greg Wathen, president and CEO of the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana. Wathen was among the Southwest Indiana leaders who secured Regional Cities funding.

The funding is aimed toward projects that attract talent and people to a region. In addition to state funding, the project also is benefitting from a key local economic development tool – tax-increment financing.

The Post House will help bring vibrancy to living in Downtown Evansville, said Robbie Sears, vice president of energy solutions and planning for Vectren. The project is being developed on the remaining property adjacent to the historic Greyhound Bus Station, which is now home to the Bru Burger restaurant.

“This is really going to bring a brand-new look and feel to that

downtown area,” Sears said. “We think it’s really going to be important to add technology in there that are nice features for customers, but also a great opportunity for us to participate and learn more about the future.”

Solar technology will line the roofs of the development. Those solar panels will feed into the grid and also will facilitate a pilot project. Vectren will install in about 20 apartments residential battery storage units.

During storms, the units will keep a portion of the apartment up and running, even during electrical outages.

Apartments also will come equipped with Nest thermostats, so residents can manage heating and cooling remotely from their smartphones.

What makes the project unique is that residents will be able to control most of the smart technology through a single mobile app. For instance, LED lighting will come with smart switches, so residents can control turning them on and off remotely. Some electrical panels will feature electric usage monitors, so residents can see in real time the appliances using energy. The panels are designed to help residents better understand their electrical usage – and ways they could save. The units also will come equipped with ultraefficient heating and cooling systems and other smart home automation features.

“The Post House will serve as a design standard for future housing developments,” Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke said. “With the ability

to accommodate new technology and systems as well as adapt products and services based on real-time use, the Post House will help to position Evansville and Southwest Indiana as a leader in adaptive energy research.”

The benefits of the Post House will extend beyond its residents. The developer plans to install street-side electrical vehicle charging stations for public use as part of the design. Vectren, as the utility partner on the project, will work with apartment residents to understand the customer experience of the products as they test them for broader use. The company also will run a showcase in a commercial space within the Post House that the public can access to learn more about battery storage units and other technologies featured in the apartments.

“The hope is to have learning there to take into more properties and potentially single-family homes as a way to manage energy and to really improve the life of the customer as well,” Sears said.

“We really wanted this facility downtown, and we think it’s very transformative for the downtown to be more millennial focused and offer a new modern dwelling,” he said. “We really wanted to take the opportunity because we will have all the medical students with the downtown IU school.

We will have people in there that are probably more tech savvy and looking toward the future.”

NEW PARK MAKES A BIG SPLASH Daleville recently opened a new $4.2 million park, which features a splash pad.

That exciting amenity drew more than 25,000 visitors last summer, Clerk-Treasurer Amy Roberts said. The park also features an amphitheater and playgrounds and is coupled with an infusion of grant funding for streetscape improvements and gateway signage.

“We are just trying to draw people into our downtown,” Roberts said, “and encourage more people to come to downtown. The park was a big part of it. That drew a lot of people in, and it’s had a wonderful response.”

The community came together to envision the park amenity, as well as a strategy to invigorate downtown. The result: Daleville will enjoy a “reborn hometown atmosphere,” which will bring the community together for years to come, Roberts said.

Daleville is an example of growth and investment rural

Indiana communities can see if a plan is in place, Roberts said.

“It is possible. It doesn’t matter your size. Things are possible if you really have the desire,” Roberts said. “It doesn’t matter how small you are, you can still have a big vision.”

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Aim Wednesday, March 20, 2019 Legislative The Crane Bay Dinner Sponsored by Vectren

6:30 p.m.

About the event

For the third year running, we'll gather at The Crane Bay in Indianapolis for an outstanding evening of celebrating everything our partnership with lawmakers has given the State of Indiana: quality places that attract top talent, vibrant arts and culture hubs, unique towns that epitomize what it means to be a Hoosier, and so much more.

551 W. by Merrill Street Sponsored Vectren

Indianapolis, IN 46225 Wednesday, March 20, 2019 6:30 p.m.

RSVP to Ashley Spurgeon at aspurgeon@aimindiana.org or Sponsored by Vectren, the Aim Legislative Dinner will (317) x232.

The237-6200 Crane Bay include featured remarks from Gracy Olmstead. Gracy is a Online registration available for Aim Members at aimindiana.org. regular contributor to The American Conservative and The 551 W. Merrill Street Week. She was a 2015 Robert Novak Journalism Fellow Indianapolis, IN 46225 Registration is complimentary for Aim Municipal Members and Legislators. and is currently writing a book about the Idaho farming community where she grew up. Her work has appeared The registration fee for Aim Corporate Partners is $199.

RSVP to Ashley Spurgeon at in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Weekly Standard, and others.

Hotel accommodations The Westin Indianapolis (800) 228-3000, Rate: $139 plus tax Registrations must be made by Tuesday, February 26 to receive the group rate.

Questions Please call the Aim office at (317) 237-6200 x223

aspurgeon@aimindiana.org or (317) 237-6200 x232.

*All members of the Indiana General Online registration available for Aim Assembly are invited to this event. members at aimindiana.org.

Registration is complimentary for Aim Municipal Members and Legislators. The registration fee for Aim Corporate Partners is $199.

Located in Indianapolis, the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns, also known as IACT, is a 125-year-old organization serving the advocacy, education and communications needs of Indiana’s city and town leaders. IACT operates as Aim.

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125 W. Market Street, Suite 100 Indianapolis, IN 46204 317-237-6200 | info@aimindiana.org