More than 30 people representing organizations throughout west-central Indiana gathered Wednesday morning for a Regional Business Leadership Forum at the Station downtown to discuss how to strengthen businesses and the Wabash Valley in general.
The forum was hosted by The West Central Indiana Partnership and the Wabash River Regional Development Authority.
Jonathan Blake of RJL Solutions, the interim director for the Terre Haute Economic Development Corp., and West Central Indiana Partnership Vice President for Engagement Josh Alsip explained to the group the day’s agenda before attendees broke up into four different groups to discuss business needs and solutions.
Two of the groups focused on business leadership and community influence, while the other two discussed small business retention and expansion. They sought ways to advance the West Central Indiana Regional Community Plan.
Blake listed five regional goals:
• Strengthen regional collaboration;
• Expand housing availability and affordability;
• Invest in regional infrastructure;
• Promote economic development and workforce growth; and
• Enhance quality of life.
“We wanted a direction the region is headed where we work better together,” Blake told those assembled.
The groups were given 30 minutes to answer six questions:
• Which business need matters most right now?
• What is one realistic and collaborative idea that could help address this need?
• What resources already exist that could support this idea?
• What resources could your organizations bring?
• Who else should be involved?
• What is a simple first step that could happen in the next three to six months?
Groups noted that local employers are so busy putting out fires that they may not realize that workforce development is partially their responsibility. Good training is needed for those seeking jobs in the health care, education and manufacturing industries.
There was round agreement that more forums like Wednesday’s could reach solutions and could be implemented quickly, and that more community stakeholders need to get involve.
The forum was designed to foster collaboration across counties to advance shared economic and community development goals to support the continued growth and success of west-central Indiana.
The Business Leadership Forum followed Tuesday’s Nonprofit Leadership Forum in Sullivan. On Thursday, there will be a Policy Leadership Forum in Clinton. In the future, the hosts hope such leadership forums will occur twice annually.