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in Regional Economic Development |
About the Northwest InitiativeContact InformationIn 2002, the Northwest Initiative (NWI) convened as a body of leaders representing government, business and education in Northwest Indiana, committed to making Northwest Indiana’s regional economy competitive in the global marketplace. Building a Regional Economic Development FrameworkThe Northwest Initiative was created out of the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC). NIRPC is the region’s local planning agency and is designated by statute to address regional transportation, environmental and economic development issues. In 2002, the Northwest Initiative successfully re-imagined the region with a widely used map that converts attention from political boundaries to economic and natural features. Working groups representing each Zone: Shoreline, Urban, and Kankakee identified desired projects for future consideration. In response to the 2002-03 legislative session, NWI was able to focus on two major regional proposals (the food and beverage tax for the RTA and the Council of Regional Governments). The Northwest Initiative is currently launching a survey to gather information on current economic development efforts, personnel, and funding in Northwest Indiana. Acquiring this information is essential to bringing in a wider set of participants for NWI, people who can formulate and integrate plans. We intend to work with the region’s economic developers and propose that this group of regional economic developers formulate a set of specific project priorities for consideration by the NWI. Contact InformationSend feedback via e-mail or telephone to Tracey Foreman, Project Director for the Northwest Initiative. Tracey Foreman |