I began covering Fishers as a town, starting this local news blog in 2012, when Scott Fadness was the Town Manager.  That means I am in my 13th year of covering Fadness as either Town Manager or Mayor of Fishers.

One theme I have heard consistently from him during this time is that Central Indiana, as a region, needs to be a place people and businesses want to locate in order for Fishers to thrive.  Let’s just say Fishers has thrived, but efforts to gather a regional effort have been subjected to stops and starts in the past.

When COVID reared its ugly head, that had people thinking in ways unlike what had been seen before.  Scott Fadness has been pushing the idea of bringing cities, towns and major players outside government to come together and work toward developing our region, and COVID helped jump-start this idea.

A major step in that direction was taken by the General Assembly in the creation of the Central Indiana Regional Development Authority (CIRDA).  In the February 9 edition of the Indianapolis Business Journal, Fadness, now chair of the the Central Indiana Regional Development Authority board, has written an Op-Ed piece extolling the accomplishments of CIRDA.

Fadness has always said that putting Central Indiana’s best foot forward is important, but hasn’t shied away from what needs to be done better.

“Our time to put our foot on the gas pedal is now, as our region has fallen behind others,” Fadness writes in his Op-Ed piece. “Through our collective work, we must move more quickly and boldly than ever before, and most important, we must convince the residents we serve that this region deserves and is capable of aspirations.”

Experts in economic development say that a business looking to locate will first look at the region, then select a specific city or area.  Central Indiana must be an attractive region for Fishers to continue its growth, both in population and in economic development.

You can read the Op-Ed at this link. (NOTE:  You may need an IBJ subscription to access this story)