The Pillars & Priorities

Top Priorities for Northeast Indiana

As a result of all of the work and feedback from the many partners and stakeholders working on Vision 2020, a final slate of priorities has been established for each of The Pillars of Vision 2020: 21^st Century Talent, Competitive Business Climate, Entrepreneurship, Infrastructure and Quality of Life. All of The Pillars and priorities are in alignment with the overall mission of Vision 2020: To Develop, Attract and Retain Talent. (To read the opportunity papers detailing each of the chosen priorities, click here.)

» 21^st Century Talent

DEVELOP talent by increasing educational attainment and creating quality of opportunity

THE BIG GOAL

The BIG Goal, as set forth by the Lumina Foundation, entails increasing the proportion of Northeast Indiana residents with high-quality degrees and credentials to 60% by 2025. Currently, only 31.5% of residents in the region hold a degree. Reaching this goal will directly impact both the success of our businesses and the per capita income in the region.

»Competitive Business Climate

Create a business friendly environment that will ATTRACT and RETAIN top industry leaders

AIR SERVICE AT FWA

Increasing flight frequency as well as non-stop air service options will provide our regional talent with greater access to national and global markets. This ease of mobility will also encourage business and job growth.

PERMITTING

Streamlining the permitting and zoning processes across the region will create a more business-friendly climate, providing greater efficiencies to support our top industry talent.

»Entrepreneurship

DEVELOP and ATTRACT innovative talent by connecting them to the right resources and increasing the region’s deal flow

QUICK START

Quick Start is a one year pilot program that provides expert advisory services to accelerate entrepreneurial opportunities and small, high-growth companies. It is a partnership of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), Elevate Ventures, Northeast Indiana
Regional Partnership and JumpStart. Quick Start will also coordinate efforts with the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center, Small Business Development Center, SCORE and the LEDO Council.

»Infrastructure

The right infrastructure creates access and connectivity needed to support and RETAIN our talent

REGIONAL INTERSTATE ACCESSIBILITY

Focusing on regional interstate accessibility will improve access to major transportation corridors. As was learned from benchmarking Denver’s regional efforts, “great cities have great transportation systems.”

REGIONAL INTERNET ACCESS

Regional internet access will provide our talent with the tools necessary to access global markets, develop and improve technological skills and improve communication. Considering models such as iMAN in Steuben County, we will work to become one of the most wired regions in the country.

»Quality of Life

We can only ATTRACT and RETAIN talent if we provide arts, culture, recreation, etc.

DOWNTOWN RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT

Riverfront development in downtown Fort Wayne will help create a vibrant and dynamic metro center for the region. Creating strong quality of place and offering increased social and cultural amenities will attract young talent and tourists as well as provide an asset for current residents. It could also align with trails, public transit and other waterways to serve as a catalyst for future developments throughout the region.