Capstone project for IU graduate students targets economic development in SWC Indiana

By the end of the spring semester, 23 graduate students within Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) hope to bring South West Central Indiana closer to addressing some of the economic development challenges that face the region.

As part of a capstone course taught by visiting lecturer Frank Nierzwicki, three teams formed within the class will work on “real world” projects in concert with IU’s Office for Engagement and Radius Indiana.

Such projects are part of expanding efforts by IU to promote economic growth in the 11-county region, which lags behind the national average despite being home to industrial clusters anchored by global companies that employ advanced technologies.

While many of the challenges are basic, they are nuanced depending on which part of the region is involved. Former Indiana Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman – who is now president and CEO of Radius Indiana, an economic development partnership that serves eight regional counties – offered the jobs sector as one example during the project’s introductory session.

For example, there are counties in the region where hundreds of jobs are in demand, she said.  At the same time, “we also have two counties – Dubois and Daviess – that thrive with little unemployment. Yet they are also hindered if a company looks to move in or expand, as there’s no ready workforce available.”

Several other examples were cited by economic development officials as they outlined some of the region’s needs before Nierzwicki’s class:

• Despite South West Central Indiana being the “hot spot” of the Indiana’s tourism industry, with numerous parks, wetlands, forests, and other outdoor activities, the region does an inadequate job of branding itself to the region, state and world.
• According to U.S. Census figures, more than 30 percent of Americans over age 25 hold a bachelors degree. Yet despite numerous colleges and universities in Indiana, only 22.5 percent of Hoosiers hold such a degree, which ranks 43rd nationally.
• Of the region’s 11 counties, 10 lack adequate broadband internet service.
• Federal funding tends to run low in South West Central Indiana, largely because it often targets regions and South West Central Indiana historically has lacked a regional identity.
• Many local governments in South West Central Indiana lack the resources and money to implement best practices for business and administration in the 21st century. In fact, some still do not regulate planning and zoning in their areas.

“What we want to do is figure out how IU can best connect its resources so it can better benefit our state’s economy,” said Kirk White, assistant vice president of IU’s Office for Engagement. “For many Hoosiers, their relationship to IU typically involves watching basketball or receiving medical services. So right now, our connections are limited. But we can do more to improve those connections and make our economy better.”

One of the key challenges is convincing researchers at a large, world-class university to focus their talents on problems in their own backyard.

“Usually they are looking at solving national or international problems. That’s the stature of this campus,” White said. “But we can find ways to bring those talents to bear, not just in Bloomington, but our Indianapolis campus and campuses statewide such as New Albany. We need to get them connected at the grassroots level.”

Nierzwicki’s classes are no stranger to this type of work. In past years, they worked with the City of Mitchell on downtown revitalization, trail development in the City of Bedford and planning and zoning issues in Lawrence County. Last year, their efforts on the latter two issues earned a Best Student Project award from the Indiana chapter of the American Planning Association.

After a morning of 10-minute “speed dating” sessions with their respective “clients,” each student team will make offers to produce a final project focused on one of three areas: workforce development, tourism and a recent study toward developing a Rural Center of Excellence.

“Their preliminary reports will be presented somewhere in the region so they can get input from local stakeholders,” Nierzwicki said. “The final report will be given on campus and the completion date for submission – is graduation.”

For at least one student enrolled in the course, this hands-on project hits home. Jonah Otto hails from Daviess County and hopes to use his masters of public affairs (MPA) degree toward a career in managing non-profit or government agencies.

“A course like this gives you the opportunity to work with a real-world client. It serves as the perfect go-between toward your professional career and it gives you deliverables for the interview and job application process,” he said.

One of Otto’s classmates said she looks forward to seeing how the project will come full circle once all three areas are integrated in the final report.

“I appreciate the opportunity this class presents to be able to serve others and develop real-life skills,” said Madeline Dinges, whose MPA studies are focused on finance and policy. “I came in with a general understanding of what I was most interested in, but with all three groups, it will be interesting to see how everything comes together.”