RICHMOND, Ind. — Thriving Communities, Thriving State, a statewide initiative of the IU Public Policy Institute, will headline the presentations on tap for the next quarterly meeting of IU’s Council for Regional Engagement and Economic Development (CREED).
The meeting is set for 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday (May 5) in the Community Room on the IU East campus.
Thriving Communities, Thriving State employs a “place-based approach” that recognizes urban, mid-sized and small-town/rural communities. The program identifies areas of focus for each that are relevant to each locality’s strengths and circumstances, then makes recommendations to state and local policy leaders about which current policies help or hinder communities, where there are policy gaps and what policy changes are needed to support communities.
Areas of focus may include workforce development and education, sustainability and the environment, infrastructure, arts, amenities, recreation, health or local government finance. The initiative also seeks to engage the state’s younger leaders by urging participation on commissions organized by the initiative and at public forums.
In turn, the commissions’ work will be part of a final report that includes strategies and policy recommendations for each set of communities. The IU Public Policy Institute will work with Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis and other entities to convene a gubernatorial forum in late August or early September.
Other items on CREED’s agenda includes:
- Opening remarks by IU East Chancellor Kathy Cruz-Uribe and Richmond Mayor Dave Snow;
- An update on new developments by IU Vice President of Engagement Bill Stephan;
- An overview of a regional economic survey of Richmond and IU East by Litao Zhong, an assistant professor of economics and finance at IU East;
- A proposed update to fund-matching guidelines for CREED’s Regional Economic Development (RED) fund;
- A tour of the IU East campus.
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