Governor Mike Pence appeared in Goshen on Wednesday to ceremonially sign legislation that looks to boost Northern Indiana’s quality of place.
The Regional Cities program – which is funded through Tax Amnesty dollars – is designed to partner public and private investment, and lead to projects that dramatically improve an area’s quality of place.
The North Central Indiana Region includes Marshall, St. Joseph, and Elkhart Counties and was designated as one of three winners selected by the Indiana Economic Development Corporations’ Regional Cities Task Force. $42-million will be awarded to the locales to ensure the projects are carefully implemented.
Governor Pence said during his address at the Goshen Theater on Wednesday that the region is on the move.
“It was the efforts, and the energy, and the creativity of not only elected officials at the state level, but even more important, at the local level; who came together as county leadership and civic leadership to bring this about,” says Pence.
In the North Central Region, the projects list is expected to unleash about $700-million in total investment in an effort to ensure the next generation of Hoosiers is available for Indiana companies.
Regional Cities funding hit a bit of an obstacle during the short session of the General Assembly when road funding was linked with the bill. Dignitaries from the three county area were in attendance, including: Marshall County Council member Bill Githens, Plymouth Mayor Mark Senter, and MCEDC Executive Director Jerry Chavez.
Pence says he believes collaboration is what contributes to the economic growth seen in the state.
“For states that are going to grow strongly in the balance of the 21st century, I am absolutely convinced it will be states that plan regionally,” says Pence.
Part of the Regional Cities project is to form Regional Development Authority Boards that will oversee and prioritize the projects.
Implementation will take some time as funds are made available.
