Forums to set strategy for the future of rural Indiana

Rural Indiana Strategy for Excellence: A 2020 Vision for the Indiana Countryside (RISE 2020) will sponsor the series of events to gain input into a 15-year vision for rural Indiana.

Initiated by Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman, the RISE 2020 process is creating a strategic framework to improve the future of Indiana's countryside, including its towns and small cities.

"For the state's rural strategy to be successful, we must have broad input from the people it affects most," said Skillman.

The center is partnering with the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs and the Indiana Rural Development Council in this effort.

"We seek participants at these forums to give us ideas on how to improve rural Indiana," said Sam Cordes, director of the Purdue University Center for Regional Development.

Meetings will be held in 16 communities across Indiana. Participants will hear a draft of the RISE 2020 report and be able to comment and offer suggestions. The first meeting will be held Tuesday (April 4) in Williamsport. Other sites include Brookville, Columbia City, Ferdinand, Marion, Morristown, Oaktown, Paoli, Princeton, Rensselaer, Rochester, Rockville, Scottsburg, Sheridan, Spencer and Winchester.

For information or to receive a draft of the report, contact the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs at (800) 824-2476. An executive summary and the entire draft report are also available online. The final report will be released in May.

"This is a great opportunity for rural people and service providers to step up and speak out about rural issues," said Scottsburg Mayor Bill Graham, who serves as the RISE 2020 Chairman and also chairs the IRDC.

The exact locations dates and times for the forums are:

• Williamsport, April 4, Warren County Learning Center, 7 p.m.

• Spencer, April 6, Owen County Fairgrounds, 7 p.m.

• Winchester, April 12, Beeson Club House, 7 p.m.

• Brookville, April 13, Franklin County High School, 7 p.m.

• Rockville, April 13, Ritz Theatre, 7 p.m.

• Ferdinand, April 17, Ferdinand Community Center, 7 p.m.

• Rochester, April 17, Fulton County Fairgrounds, 7 p.m.

• Scottsburg, April 18, City Hall Council Chamber, 7 p.m.

• Oaktown, April 18, Oaktown Community Center, 7 p.m.

• Morristown, April 19, Dodd Hall, 7 p.m.

• Rensselaer, April 19, St. Joseph College Core Education Building. 6:30 p.m.

• Sheridan, April 20, Sheridan Community Center, 11:30 a.m.

• Columbia City, April 20, Whitley County Government Center, 7 p.m.

• Paoli, April 24, Orange County Community Building. 7 p.m.

• Princeton, April 25, Red Cross Office, 6:30 p.m.

• Marion, April 26, TBD, 7 p.m.

Writer: Beth Forbes, (765) 494-2722; forbes@purdue.edu

Source: Sam Cordes, (765) 494-7273; smcordes@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
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