News release from the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership:
First “State of the Region” to be held in Northeast Indiana
(November 20, 2013) – It’s easy to find reports explaining how individual counties and the state of Indiana are performing. But how is Northeast Indiana faring? The Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership will host its first ever State of the Region to provide an update on the economy of Northeast Indiana and the manufacturing sector.
The event will take place Tuesday, December 3 from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Summit, 1025 W. Rudisill Blvd. in Fort Wayne. The State of the Region will review progress in Northeast Indiana through the lens of two reports, the 2013 Regional Dashboard Update and the Northeast Indiana Manufacturing Study. The Dashboard provides an update on the region’s overall economic indicators, while the Manufacturing Study takes a deeper dive into the largest employment sector in Northeast Indiana.
“The Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership started the Regional Dashboard in 2012 to establish a baseline showing where Northeast Indiana stands within key economic indicators,” said Katy Silliman, vice president of regional initiatives at the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership. “The economic growth we’re striving for can take 10 to 20 years to see, so it is crucial to monitor and appreciate progress whenever possible.”
The Regional Dashboard report compares Northeast Indiana with 14 star and peer regions from across the United States. Using an objective and comparable set of benchmarks, the Dashboard shows where the region’s economy stands today and where resources should be focused to stay competitive.
The Northeast Indiana Manufacturing Study will unveil new information about the realities of our advanced manufacturing sector and how manufacturing fared overall during the recession compared to the United States. The study was prepared by the Community Research Institute at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne and was made possible by sponsorships from BKD LLC CPAs and Financial Advisors and the Lincoln Financial Foundation.
“Northeast Indiana continues to make economic progress when compared to similar regions around the country,” said Ellen Cutter, director of the Community Research Institute at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. “The region’s manufacturing base has fared better than the national sector and notable improvements have been registered.”
To learn more about the results of these studies, attend the State of the Region. To RSVP, contact Lauren Zuber at the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership at 260.469.3479 or lauren@neindiana.com.
About The Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership
The Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership was formed in 2006 to help build a globally competitive economy in Northeast Indiana. It is a public-private partnership creating business investment by generating business leads, developing product and fostering regional collaboration. In 2010, the Partnership launched Vision 2020 to bring the region together around five key areas for economic growth: 21st Century Talent, Competitive Business Climate, Entrepreneurship, Infrastructure and Quality of Life. The 10 counties of Northeast Indiana include Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells and Whitley. For more information, visit www.NEIndiana.com.