The Vibrant Michigan City initiative is a platform for national growth and development as a component of a new economic inclusive playbook.
“Advancing Inclusive Development in Rural Towns,” was unveiled in Washington, D.C., by co-authors the Brookings Institution and LISC, after research, findings and results garnered from initiatives in three Indiana towns: Michigan City, Seymour and Warsaw. The Brookings and Local Initiative Support Corporation teams put their Community-Centered Economic Inclusive model into place in rural settings to spur collaboration and focused efforts to address economic stagnation and inequality in smaller towns.
“While the Learning Labs and individual playbooks varied as they were created by the leaders and community members in each community, the overall arch of the work completed has created a basis to be emulated in areas across the U.S. to bring real change,” said EDCMC Executive Director Clarence L. Hulse.
“This playbook is meant to be adaptable for places of all sizes,” added Hanna Love, senior research associate with Brookings.
The Indiana playbook is focused on actionable steps that include improving economic opportunities, quality of life and quality of place. The Vibrant Michigan City plan also spotlights agenda items and steps toward changes in the short-term and long-term.
Bill Taft, Senior Vice President of Economic Development for LISC, highlighted how each Indiana city has different population sizes and industries, but all face economic inclusive challenges.
“We worked on how we can keep these small towns growing so that they stay economically competitive by working with LEDOs to address these QOL and QOP issues,” he said. “We need to focus on neighborhoods within the towns – neighborhoods are strategic to invest in.”
