A refreshed
Michigan City Strategic Action Plan plots key points to forge toward continuous
economic development and socioeconomic opportunities and innovations.
The
Economic Development Corporation Michigan City, Michigan City Mayor Angie
Nelson Deuitch and business and community leaders worked closely with the
Ascendant Global Consulting team to update the Strategic Plan for a groundwork
to pave the way to 2040.
“Our vision
is rooted in our city’s history and current path while not shying away from the
challenges and issues our community members face,” said EDCMC Executive
Director Clarence L. Hulse. “The framework is based on months of interviews,
discussions, roundtables, surveys, analysis and connections with a
cross-section of our community and businesses – all with an eye toward
collaboration and unity.”
“The ideas
are aggressive and visionary as any strategic plan needs to be in order to
truly trigger the growth we are envisioning,” added Michigan City Mayor Angie
Nelson Deuitch. “The city’s leadership team is committed to a long-term
productive collaboration as we take on implementing this long-term plan for
action.”
The
Strategic Action Plan is built on the base created by the Ascendant team that
pinpoints five pillars: economic inclusion, workforce development, placemaking,
storytelling and economic modernization.
“By having
arenas to focus on with outlined steps, we are striving to create workable
paths for all of these important goals,” said EDCMC Board President Bill
Hackney. “You have to see where you are headed in order to find the ideal way
to get there.”
The plan
drills down each area into actionable steps that will serve as a guide to move
toward measurable and meaningful benchmarks. For example, the economic
inclusion section recommendations include tracking data to identify the current
disparities, creating programs and training to boost the economic development
ecosystem, exposing community members to diverse career paths and ensuring
vital services are in place such as childcare and transportation.
“Our
Strategic Plan is a living document similar to our Vibrant Michigan City
economic inclusion playbook that is a starting point to not only engage with
our community and partners, but also to tackle our challenges and track our
progress,” Hulse said.
Ascendant
Global Consulting Partner and Economic Development Expert Rodrick Miller said
having quality strategic planning is key to a real roadmap toward desired
changes.
“The most
effective strategic plans offer opportunities for a broad swath of residents,
have ambitious objectives, hold public and private partners accountable, and
are buttressed by a long-term commitment to execution and shared investment,”
Miller said. “They raise expectations for what a community can become, spur
private investment, and articulate a unique value. The results are prosperity
for residents, quality jobs and economic opportunity.
“For
community members a strategic plan done well raises confidence in their
leaders' focus on progress, offers hope, provides clarity and articulates a
shared future they can support. And of course, it yields real change and
opportunity.”
To view the
full Strategic Plan or download a copy, visit www.edcmc.com/about.