The Vibrant
Michigan City initiative is a platform for national growth and development as a
component of a new economic inclusive playbook.
“Advancing
Inclusive Development in Rural Towns,” was unveiled in Washington, D.C., by
co-authors the Brookings Institution and LISC, after research, findings and
results garnered from initiatives in three Indiana towns: Michigan City,
Seymour and Warsaw. The Brookings and Local Initiative Support Corporation
teams put their Community-Centered Economic Inclusive model into place in rural
settings to spur collaboration and focused efforts to address economic
stagnation and inequality in smaller towns.
“While the
Learning Labs and individual playbooks varied as they were created by the
leaders and community members in each community, the overall arch of the work
completed has created a basis to be emulated in areas across the U.S. to bring
real change,” said EDCMC Executive Director Clarence L. Hulse.
“This
playbook is meant to be adaptable for places of all sizes,” added Hanna Love,
senior research associate with Brookings.
The Indiana
playbook is focused on actionable steps that include improving economic
opportunities, quality of life and quality of place. The Vibrant Michigan City
plan also spotlights agenda items and steps toward changes in the short-term
and long-term.
Bill Taft,
Senior Vice President of Economic Development for LISC, highlighted how each
Indiana city has different population sizes and industries, but all face
economic inclusive challenges.
“We worked
on how we can keep these small towns growing so that they stay economically
competitive by working with LEDOs to address these QOL and QOP issues,” he
said. “We need to focus on neighborhoods within the towns – neighborhoods are
strategic to invest in.”
Specifically,
Vibrant Michigan City is a three-year plan that seeks to address challenges
along six avenues in the West Side, Midtown and East Side areas of the city.
Each pathway is a platform for changes that will be led by leaders and
organizations who have experience in each area.
The
playbook agenda items range from short- to long-term plans and include how to:
support pathways to employment for all ages, strengthen local commercial
districts and businesses, build healthy and engaged neighborhoods, construct
safe and affordable housing, connect people to recreation and nature and
advocate to transform legacy sites.
Michigan
City Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch, who was part of the launch of the Indiana
playbook, highlighted how Vibrant Michigan City has already made an impact.
“We invited
people to participate who never had a hand in having a say in planning and
development,” she said. “Vibrant Michigan City has already allowed us to work
closer with our community and provide resources through the new EDCMC role that
Erin Meisner took on.”
Meisner is
leading the Michigan City Neighborhood Leadership Academy to encourage
community involvement while administering the ARPA SBA small business grant
program.
“There are
so many elements of the Vibrant Michigan initiative that can make a real impact
on our community today and in the future,” Hulse said. “Our team and city and
community leaders continue to push forward on all agenda items.”
The effort
was supported by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and focused on
small cities located in the state of Indiana’s READI program regions. Through
READI funding, 17 regions across the state that represent all 92 counties are
moving forward with projects and programs designed to enhance Indiana’s regions
for current and future generations of Hoosiers. The collaborative initiative
also unites city and regional stakeholders to garner vital input from all
corners of each community.
For more
information on Vibrant Michigan City: https://vibrantmc.com
To view the unveiling of the Indiana playbook: https://tinyurl.com/Playbookunveil
