NOTRE DAME – The President of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) said the four counties that make up the Regional Cities of Northern Indiana group are poised to become a national brand if efforts already underway stay on course.
These comments were made at the University of Notre Dame on Tuesday afternoon by Eric Doden, who spoke with private business, philanthropic, academic and government leaders from the four counties. Doden provided an update on the status of the Regional Cities Initiative, a state program that encourages leveraging regional attributes to develop long-term, sustainable economic projects.
He also talked about this region and its long-term viability as an economic powerhouse.
“The future of Northern Indiana is bright,” said Eric Doden, President of the IEDC. “When we studied (regionalism) around the country, (what we see here) is exactly the kind of activity that made a difference in the future. There are so many great assets in this community—your proximity to Chicago, Notre Dame is a huge asset, and your proximity to Fort Wayne. When you look across the whole northern spectrum, it's a very exciting opportunity, and an exciting time for Northern Indiana in particular.”
“Eric’s assessment of our region is valuable,” said Tim Sexton, Associate Vice President for Public Affairs at the University of Notre Dame and host of the event. “He has been a champion of this initiative at the state level, and of our region’s leaders. Specifically encouraging was his acknowledgement that the strong leadership already exhibited in this region will be what ultimately pushes this initiative forward. Our four counties are heavily invested in seeing this region thrive economically and become a national destination.”
To access a video of Eric Doden’s comments, along with an image, click here.
In preparation for submitting an application for a grant from the Regional Cities Initiative, Regional Cities of Northern Indiana has been working collectively to identify a short list of bold economic development projects that will help transform the economy of the entire four-county region. As part of this process, the public is now being encouraged to submit project applications that can also be considered for inclusion between now and May 1st. For more information, visit RegionalCitiesofNorthernIndiana.org.
