Though it’s been a few weeks by now, the Building Indiana Conference is something I’ve definitely wanted to discuss. It brought together more than 200 brokers and developers from northern Indiana, Chicago, and Indianapolis to discuss transportation development in the area as a plan to expand the area and draw new business.

The conference involved a regional strategy to increase economic development, centering on advanced logistics, advanced manufacturing, and transit-oriented development. This aspect really blazed a new path in terms of economic expansion, since a regional approach would not have been considered in the past. But economic leaders came together for presentations and discussion, which will help us plan a better future for expansion in Indiana. According to the presentations at the conference, it’s likely that expansion will begin to move eastward, since the population limits to the west and east will likely be reached in the near future. Clearly this is a time when planning is critical.

And not only this, but the conference drew the eyes of businesses to northern Indiana, which will hopefully lead to new expansion and revenue.

A quote from the conference: “There’s a new energy in northwest Indiana, and we are in the process of redefining it. Transportation will be the key to that,” said State Representative Chet Dobis, D-Merrillville.

Also, here are some pictures:

More pictures and info are available in the May/June issue of Building Indiana News, available June 1st.

Anyone who attended the conference, we’d love to hear your comments–feel free to leave feedback to this post. Any other thoughts from anyone on the idea of the conference, as well–let me know!

–Maureen