Research into the expansion of e-commerce, how it was changed by the pandemic and the impact it has had on development and could have on future growth in Northwest Indiana landed national honors.
The Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission was among seven recipients of the NARC 2021 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Regional Councils. Award winners were announced June 16 during NARC’s annual conference, which was held virtually from Atlanta, Georgia.
The NIRPC study, released in fall 2020, details shifting trends, in addition to recommendations for businesses planning to develop in Northwest Indiana and for Region businesses adjusting to a post-pandemic economy.
The study, “E-Commerce in Northwest Indiana,” by NIRPC, found long-term implications for shifting commerce patterns. The report offers recommendations for municipalities and businesses to allocate resources, to plan land use and zoning for changing economic needs, and to incorporate best practices to adjust to increased last-mile delivery and freight traffic.
NIRPC staff members Eman Ibrahim, Peter Kimball, Kevin Polette, and Scott Weber authored the report.
“The trends we see here, in Northwest Indiana, are happening all over the country,” Ibrahim said. “It’s very satisfying to see the insight and lessons we’ve learned are useful to many regions.”
NARC Achievement Awards are presented each year to recognize excellence in programs and services of regional councils and metropolitan planning organizations across the country.
The National Association of Regional Councils serves as the national voice for regions by advocating for regional cooperation as the most effective way to address a variety of community planning and development opportunities and issues.
