Community Leadership Enhancement Project ECONOMICDEVELOPMENT Indiana

Community Leadership Enhancement Program ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT A grant from Indiana Rural Regional Partnership Grant from the Indiana Rural Development Council A grant from Indiana Rural Regional Partnership Grant from the Indiana Rural Development Council Grant Recipient Organization: (SWIDC) Southwest Indiana Development Council

SWIDC Southwest Indiana Development Council SWIDC PO Box 953 Evansville, IN Phone: Fax: WEB:

SWIDC: Southwest Indiana Development Council SWIDC is an economic development organization comprised of representatives of fourteen counties in Southwest Indiana

“ Right now, in your community, at this very moment, there is someone who is dreaming about doing something to improve his/her lot. If we could learn how to help that person to transform the dream into meaningful work, we would be halfway to changing the economic fortunes of the entire community.” ---Ernest Sirolli

What is Economic Development?

. There are many possible definitions for economic development The best way to define it is based on your communities needs, challenges, and opportunities

Economic Development Some Definitions to Consider Raising the level of prosperity and material living by increasing the productivity and efficiency of its economy Local availability of products and services desired by residents Broadening the tax base Employment opportunities Increasing physical and human capital Increasing economic standard of living Retail and industrial development

Economic Development PUZZLE

Economic Development Community Leaders Community leadership activities are directly linked to economic development Everyone has a unique definition of economic development

How do we define Economic Development? Take a few minutes to discuss what economic development means to us Let’s create our own definition of economic development

Economic Development is Everybody’s Business Community leaders can enhance economic development by cultivating partnerships Collaboration helps pool our scarce resources

How Economic Development Impacts the Average Joe (or Jane) More $$$ in the Average Joes’ Pocket Increased Employment Opportunities More opportunities to spend money –Homes –Cars –College With a healthy economy everyone has more opportunity to put $$$ in their pocket

How Increased Economic Development Impacts the Local Economy Community officials have a larger revenue stream to build or rebuild infrastructure Make Improvements that the community deems important

Example #1 Singing a Different Song Where is the best place to locate a premier, live national music center?

Example #1 Singing a Different Song You decide – Where is the best place to locate a premier, live national music center?

Example #1 Singing a Different Song Where is the best place to locate a premier, live national music center? Where is the best place to locate a premier, live national music center?

Example #1 Singing a Different Song The Branson, Missouri Story The Branson, Missouri Story

Example #2 Nothing Ever Happens in Lincoln County Minnesota - one of the poorest states in America Lincoln, poorest county in Minnesota Longest running in loosing population from 20,000 to 6,800 Oldest population in the state

Example #2 Look What Happened in Lincoln County 30 new businesses Assisted 127 existing businesses Retained 55 jobs & created 71 jobs from a county with 3,000 workforce

Example #2 Nothing Ever Happens in Lincoln County? Hundreds of tall, graceful wind towers spread across Lincoln County, generating environmentally friendly electricity and bringing economic development and tourism to the county

Example #3 Bricks to Chips General Motors General Electric

Example #3 Bricks to Chips Moving to High Tech –ALCOA built a $300 million plant in Danville –Systrand Presta Engines created 50 new jobs in Danville –Fiberteq – a $50 million joint venture resulted in 70 new jobs for Danville residents

Fast Facts About Your Community Take a few minutes to complete the Fast Facts Questionnaire

How Economic Development works in ADD YOUR LOCATION HERE It starts with....

Projects & Programs in ADD YOUR LOCATION HERE...

Opportunities for Leadership Helping set & communicate the community vision Insuring adequate tools for local economic development Maintaining infrastructure Communicating with legislative representatives & Governor’s office

Resources For leadership help… –Indiana Association of Cities & Towns –Association of Indiana Counties –Indiana Economic Development Corp –Indiana Office of Community & Rural Affairs –Private consultants (municipal finance & law firms) –Stats Indiana

Questions/Comments We would like to thank you for attending the Leadership Enhancement Program

Please take a few minutes to complete the program evaluation!

SWIDC Southwest Indiana Development Council SWIDC PO Box 953 Evansville, IN Phone: Fax: WEB: