INDIANAPOLIS – Everyone involved with northeast Indiana’s Regional Cities Initiativehas a little homework to do before its Oct. 7 presentation to a strategic review committee.
That panel met Tuesday to discuss the criteria that will be used to judge the seven regional applications for $84 million in funding, and they ended up with a list of things the presenters should cover.
Some specific details on project funding are easy, but the members on the review committee want the groups to more clearly show how a jumble of capital projects results in a more attractive place for young talent to come and stay.
There is no scoresheet on what will count in the evaluation and competing ideas about what matters most.
For instance, some panelists believe that “quality of place” comes first in growing talent and population, while others said high-wage jobs will bring about people and quality of place.
“There were a lot of different perspectives,” said John Stafford, a consultant to the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership. “Our presentation is still a work in progress. This is important input.”
The regions are competing for state money that will supplement local and private investment in projects designed to make regions within Indiana more attractive to talented young workers.
It has been widely assumed the group would choose two winners, but Indiana Economic Development Corp. staff made clear Tuesday that the review committee can suggest more than two winners for funding if they choose.
The IEDC board makes the ultimate decision Dec. 15.
The seven submissions include more than 400 cultural and livability projects costing about $3.8 billion.
Northeast Indiana’s proposal included 70 projects costing more than $1.5 billion in total investment across the 11-county area over the next decade. The most expensive project is also the most expansive: a $72.5 million regional trail network that would connect all 11 counties.