When one is asked to write an Op-Ed piece for the Indianapolis Business Journal (IBJ), it is quite an honor.  I have been asked to do so on a couple of occasions  and was surprised to have that opportunity.

In the November 28-December 4 edition of the IBJ, the mayor of Fishers has an op-ed piece everyone should read.  It reveals a lot about the mayor’s thinking on how a state-wide economic development strategy should be developed for Indiana.

Scott Fadness makes the point that Indiana will not likely be able to rely on the three components of the current economy in the future.  He describes the three pillars as manufacturing, agriculture and distribution.

The mayor then goes on to provide an example of a company injecting a $90 million investment into an Indiana community.  Years ago, an investment of that size in a manufacturing project would yield as many as 1,000 jobs for that local area.  This time, the total job gain is in the range of 90 to 100 positions.  Bottom line, manufacturing isn’t the job machine it once was.

According to Fishers’ mayor, The “Internet of Things” can be the center of new growth for the Hoosier state.  Fadness makes a compelling case.

I know people such as Governor-Elect Eric Holcomb, House Speaker Brian Bosma and Senate President Pro Tem David Long all read the IBJ.  My questions is – will they take Scott Fadness’ argument to heart?  Indiana clearly needs an economic development strategy moving forward, and the ideas Mayor Fadness is putting forward make as much sense as anything else I have seen lately.

This IBJ piece does one more thing for Scott Fadness – it raises his profile state-wide.  Many leaders in the Republican Party see Fadness as a part of the younger generation preparing to have a great deal of influence in state politics as the state heads into future election cycles.

You can access the mayor’s IBJ commentary at this link. (NOTE:  If you are not an online subscriber to IBJ, you may have trouble accessing it)