Plan Commission adopts students' vision for Shelbyville's future

The Shelbyville Plan Commission agreed with those ideas Monday evening and adopted the students' "My Community, My Vision" proposal as part of the city's comprehensive plan. 

The matter must now go to the City Council for final approval.

Launched in 2014, the My Community My Vision program was created by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority and Ball State University to get ideas from high school students on ways to make their communities attractive to young people.

Ultimately, the goal is to stop the "brain drain" of work force talent that occurs when young people don't return to their hometowns after graduating college.

Terry James, president of the Plan Commission, joined other members in praising the students and their ideas.

"I was so impressed with the quality of the individuals," he said.

The 59-page MCMV report adopted by the Plan Commission begins with a SWOT-A analysis: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats and Aspirations.

Schools, parks and nonprofits were among the city's strengths; lack of retail, slow growth and a "Shelby-tucky" stigma highlighted the weaknesses.

Plan Commission member Gary Nolley noted in their pre-meeting that he used to use that term himself to refer to the city.

"Not anymore," he said.

Opportunities in the SWOT-A analysis included being near Indianapolis and vacant land for growth; threats included a reliance on manufacturing for jobs and an unskilled work force.

Regarding the latter threat, the report noted that nearly 11 percent of Shelbyville residents don't have a high school diploma or GED, versus 7.4 percent statewide.

The students' My Community My Vision report recommended four goals - connecting students to Shelbyville's downtown; boosting community pride; beautifying the city; and fighting the "hick" stigma - and three ways to do that.

"Our first initiative is place making through art," student Emily Zheng told the Plan Commission.

Painting murals on the west wall of the Methodist Building overlooking the parking lot on West Washington Street and another mural at 39 E. Washington St., plus painting utility boxes, are in the MCMV plan at an estimated cost of $10,000 to $30,000 for the murals and $50 per utility box.

Grant funding is available for a portion of the art works, the plan noted.

The MCMV proposal also called for establishing mobile food trucks and pop-up programs, such as cultural fairs.

"They really help engage people in our downtown area," said student Patrick Addis.

Cost estimates for that part of the plan are $5,000 to $20,000 to be paid through the city budget.

Also the students' plan calls for creating a community garden; recently a group in the Leadership Shelby County program run by the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce started a garden on Elm Street.

The high schoolers also suggested creating a student-run business, such as a coffee shop, to teach business skills via real-world experience.

An adult sponsor would be needed, the plan said, and that person should be paid through the school if they aren't already a teacher.

Grant funding of $5,000 may be available from the Blue River Community Foundation, the MCMV plan said.

Addis noted that students at Shelbyville High School have already launched a business making and selling ice cream sandwiches as part of their entrepreneur class, and it could expand outside the school.

In other matters, the Plan Commission began a series of training sessions outlining their roles and responsibilities.

Bryant Niehoff, plan commission director, and Adam Rude, assistant director, led the training session Monday evening which focused on issues about which the commission has final say, and those which must be sent on to the City Council for final approval.