May 27, 2005
Forum to feature regional data for business, community leaders
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Center for Regional Development at Purdue University will present data that business and community leaders can use for future regional development planning at two forums of the Indiana Humanities Council.
The data will feature regional indicators, such as population change, labor market area, personal income, educational attainment, employment change and emerging economic clusters that Indiana's communities and regions can use to become more globally competitive. The forum for west-central Indiana, to which corporate, government, education and nonprofit leaders have been invited, will take place from 3-6 p.m. June 2 at the University Inn Conference Center in West Lafayette. The forum for northwest Indiana will take place from 7:30-11 a.m. June 3 at The Center at Purdue University Calumet in Hammond, Ind.
Fourteen regional leadership forums have been scheduled to reach every part of Indiana. The CRD and the Center for Regional Economic Issues at Case Western Reserve University work with the Indiana Humanities Council to present the forums. Scott Massey, Indiana Humanities Council president and CEO, noted that the CRD at Purdue is a strategic partner in the council's Leadership Indiana initiative.
"Leadership Indiana aims at building a growing, inclusive, well-informed leadership network that can help communities and regions prepare for the future," Massey said. "This initiative helps to foster competitive regional economic strategies, human capital development and shared vision across the public, private and nonprofit sectors. The data and analysis presented by Christine Nolan of CRD at the forums provides a factual basis that enhances the quality of the dialogue among business and community leaders."
Nolan serves as the Center for Regional Development's senior planner and policy analyst.
Ed Morrison, director of the Center for Regional Economic Issues at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, said that his center also has formed a valuable partnership with the CRD and the Humanities Council in this regional approach to economic development.
"It is important for centers and organizations like ours to work together and learn from one another as to how universities can maximize their contributions to the economic development needs of their respective states," Morrison said. "I look forward to a long-term working relationship with Christine, Sam Cordes and the Humanities Council."
Cordes serves as co-director of the CRD with Victor L. Lechtenberg, who also serves as Purdue's vice provost for engagement.
Following the regional forums, The Indiana Humanities Council will present the 2005 Leadership Summit June 21-23 at the Columbia Club and Hilbert Circle Theater on Monument Circle in Indianapolis. National and international experts on economic strategy, human capital, culture and education will share their expertise and experience with Indiana leaders in business, government, education and nonprofit sectors.
At the summit, Lechtenberg will discuss "Building a Roadmap to the Next Indiana" at 9 a.m. June 23 in the ballroom of the Columbia Club. He will be joined by Morrison; Patricia Miller, Indiana secretary of commerce; and Mark Ratekin, a researcher from Walker Research, which is another partner with the Humanities Council. They will present an overview of assets, challenges and planned strategies in Indiana regions. Facilitators will provide an updated review of statewide trends and solicit audience reaction on priorities.
Writer: Marydell Forbes, (765) 496-7704, mforbes@purude.edu
Sources: Sam Cordes, (765) 494-3573, smcordes@purdue.edu
Victor L. Lechtenberg, (765) 494-9095, vll@purdue.edu
Christine Nolan, (765) 494-9262, cenolan@purdue.edu
Scott Massey, (317) 638-1500, stmassey@iupui.edu
Ed Morrison, (216) 368-5534, ed.morrison@case.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
Note to Journalists: Media are invited to cover either of the forums, which will feature county-by-county data on a variety of trends, such as the number of people with college degrees, per capita personal income and the number of people who commute to and from Indianapolis to surrounding counties. For more information or to reserve as space at a forum, contact Marydell Forbes, Purdue News Service, at (765) 496-7704, mforbes@purdue.edu
Related News Release:
Purdue opens center for regional development
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