2023 IARC Annual Meeting

Agenda

IARC 2023 Annual Meeting

Wednesday, November 1

10:00 am – 5:00 pm               Registration                                                   Ballroom Entrance

11:30 am – 12:45 pm            Box Lunch Available                                     Ballroom Entrance

11:45 am – 12:45 pm             Business Meeting/Opening Session              Newton Ballroom

The Annual Conference will open with a brief business meeting and a report from the IARC Nominating Committee of the slate of IARC Officers for 2023/2024.

Opening Address, Susan Brehm--Regional Director of EDA's Chicago Regional Office

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm--Concurrent Workshops                                         

Workshop 1                                                                                                  Newton Ballroom

Local Government Finance—The Current Financing Landscape  - VIEW PRESENTATION

Seldom do traditional federal and state grants or other funding opportunities provide funding for the entire costs of a local government’s project. Local governments have options in coming up with their share of the costs, each option having their own requirements and limitations. This workshop will cover many of the traditional options, their requirements and limitations and also address some of the unique opportunities of READI matching requirements.

•  Lisa Lee, Partner, Ice Miller
•  Jason Semler, Partner, Baker Tilly
• Doug Baldesarri, Partner, Baker Tilly

Workshop 2                                                                                                   Jasper Ballroom

Cyber Security and Information Technology - VIEW PRESENTATION

Join Indiana Office of Technology State Local Government Program Director and Leadership from Sondhi Solutions for an interactive and informative session regarding Information Technology for local government and government entities. 

To catch your eye, there are quite a few government services that are free/greatly reduced costs that IOT offers. Sondhi Solutions provides IT consulting services across the state customized to how government has to function. Presenters are looking forward to shaping a story of what is available and how to use it!

• Taylor Hollenbeck – Local Government Program Director, Indiana Office of Technology
• Jeff Roeder – Director of External Affairs, Sondhi Solutions
• Cody Tyler – Director of Infrastructure Operations, Sondhi Solutions

2:45 pm – 3:30 pm                General Session                                         Newton Ballroom

• Joe McKinney -Executive Director, National Association of Development Organizations

3:45 pm – 5:00 pm--Concurrent Workshops

Workshop 3                                                                                                    Newton Ballroom

Developing, Maintaining and Using Your CEDS—Becoming an EDD - VIEW PRESENTATION

Whether considering a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the first time for your region, or preparing for an update, this session will share recent experiences in both a new CEDS and a CEDS update with examples from a large region and a mid-size region from the decision to use a consultant or do the plan in house through plan development and stakeholder engagement to adoption and implementation. Presenters will provide an overview of the path from a first CEDS to an Economic Development District (EDD) designation including some of the challenges in building consensus and competing regional efforts and the benefits of designation. There will also be an update on the Statewide CEDS underway at IEDC as well as how the Statewide CEDS aligns with the current READI program.

•  James Winters - Economic Development Representative, EDA
• Rose Scovel, AICP – Principal Planner, Indianapolis MPO
• Ryan Keller - Executive Director, THRIVE West Central 
• Mark Wasky- Senior Vice President for Community Affairs, Indiana Economic Development Corp.
• Moderator - Greg Jones, Southern Indiana Development Commission

Workshop 4                                                                                                     Jasper Ballroom

Main Street America Four-Point Approach and the Indiana Main Street Program

This training provides in-depth details on the Main Street America Four-Point Approach and the Indiana Main Street program. During the training, attendees will learn about changes to the Indiana Main Street program as well as application information for prospective communities. Main Street 101 will benefit those looking to participate in Indiana Main Street, current Main Street board members, volunteers and city officials who want to learn more on the principles of Main Street and best practices for a comprehensive approach to downtown revitalization.

• Abby Huff - Senior Program Manager For Indiana Mainstreet, OCRA
• Andrea Kern - Director of Strategic Initiatives, OCRA

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm                                  Reception                               Crop Room

A shuttle bus will pick up at the Conference Center entrance starting at 5:45 pm and will operate throughout the evening with the last bus departing the Crop Room at 8:00 pm

Following the Reception                      Hospitality Suite                               TBA

HOSTED BY:   

• Wessler Engineering
• Midwestern Engineers, Inc.
• Commonwealth Engineers, Inc.

IARC 2022 Annual Meeting

Thursday, November 2

Breakfast on your own at the hotel

8:00 am -- 11:30 am              Registration                                                   Fair Oaks Ballroom

8:30 am – 10:00 am--Workshop 

Workshop 5                                                                                                                              Newton Ballroom

Grant Writing, Covering the Bases and the Basics  - VIEW PRESENTATION

This session is a taster to the Purdue Extension Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing which is a 2-day in-person workshop. This will give participants an overview of community grant writing. Future grant writers learn to develop ideas, identify and build relationships with potential funders, and write confidently about how their proposal will make an impact.                       

• Melinda Grismer, PhD - Community & Regional Development Specialist 
• Purdue Center for Regional Development (PCRD)

8:30 am – 10:00 am IARC Board Member Only Meeting                            Board Room

10:15 – 11:45--Concurrent Workshops

Workshop 6                                                                                                    Newton Ballroom

Recent Developments in Brownfields - VIEW PRESENTATION

This session has leaders, funders and knowledgeable practitioners in the world of Brownfield redevelopment. Come learn about how to guide your communities or agency toward brownfield funding, how to manage a successful Brownfield Program and ask questions of industry experts.

• John Morris -Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator, IFA
• Beth Grigsby – Regional Manager for TAB Services- EPA Region 5
• James Turnwald - Executive Director, MACOG
• Moderator Greg Jones - Executive Director, SIDC

Workshop 7                                                                                                    Jasper Ballroom 

Digital Inclusion - VIEW PRESENTATION

This session will dive into what a Digital Inclusion plan is and how it can benefit a region. It will also discuss the state’s Digital Equity Plan, findings, and BEAD funding that is coming to Indiana.

Cheyanne Geideman - Engagement Specialist, Purdue Center for Regional Development (PCRD)

Annie Cruz Porter- Community and Regional Development Specialist,  Purdue Center for Regional Development (PCRD)

12:00 am—2:00 pm               Closing Luncheon                                     Jasper Ballroom

Denny Spinner - Executive Director, OCRA with a message from the Lt. Governor

Closing Address - Cathy Gross - President of AIM and Mayor of Monticello

The IARC Affiliate Members are an integral part of this organization. Their involvement is very important and their support helps make this Annual Meeting an informative and enjoyable event for all of the IARC Members. Please let the following firms and organizations know that we all appreciate what they do for IARC and its Members.

Platinum Affiliate Members

• The Wheatley Group
• Baker Tilly
• Commonwealth Engineers, Inc.
• Ice Miller
• Indiana Soybean Alliance
• Midwestern Engineers, Inc.
• Performance Services
• Wabash Valley Power Association
• Wessler Engineering, Inc.

Gold Affiliate Members

• Christopher Burke Engineering, LLC
• HMB Engineers, Inc.
• Plews Shadley Racher & Braun
• Sondhi Solutions

Invitation to the 2024 Joint MPO/IARC Conference from Rose Scovel

Close Business

Adjourn