Indiana 15 Regional Planning Commission (“IND15RPC”) is hosting a public summit on May 17, for the unveiling of its economic recovery and resiliency plan.
The plan, titled, “STEADFAST: Creating Deeper Roots for a Stronger Future,” will provide short-term and long-term economic endurance and recovery strategies, for residents, businesses, industries, and the overall region. The goal is to enable the region to persevere and prevail in the wake of COVID-19 and navigate and endure future economic, biological and natural emergencies. The plan is funded through a U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration CARES Act Recovery Assistance Grant and is being led by Rundell Ernstberger Associates and AECOM.
A task force comprised of key stakeholders from each of the six counties in the IND15RPC region was created to help guide the plan forward. The task force met regularly to discuss issues in their counties as well as how best to address them.
“We are thinking more regionally and strengthening connections across all six of our counties through this process. The regional approach to resilience has been crucial in the creation of the plan and will continue to be after it is adopted,” stated Leah Hawkins, Technical Services Specialist.
To gather input throughout the region, a series of 16 focus group meetings and a community survey were conducted in 2021 to see how specific counties, organizations, residents, businesses, and industries were impacted by and working through the effects of COVID-19. These tools reinforced that the region has numerous strengths and has shown resilience in the face of adversity. Equally reinforced, were the everyday challenges these groups faced which were exacerbated by COVID-19.
“The plan contains goals that reflect growth and prosperity for the region. By working together to advance the strategies through our community connectivity, we will enhance long-term solutions in a collaborative process, stated Lisa Gehlhausen, Executive Director of Indiana 15 Regional Planning Commission.”
The public summit will be held on May 17 at the Ferdinand Community Center. Doors open at 6 p.m. EST and a presentation of STEADFAST will begin at 6:30 with a Q&A to follow. Please RSVP on the STEADFAST website at www.IN15RPCRecoveryPlan.com so enough food can be provided for all who wish to have dinner.
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Indiana 15 Regional Planning Commission is a multi-county governmental agency established under IC 36-7-7 and serves the counties of Crawford, Dubois, Orange, Perry, Pike, and Spencer. Its mission is to empower communities to provide a better quality of life through community and economic development while sustaining the integrity of cultural and natural resources.
