A variety of individuals who represent various sectors of the Constellation of Starke region gathered together Monday to hear more about the Indiana Bond Bank’s Flipping Finance Challenge.
Indiana Bond Bank Executive Director Mark Wuellner and Program Development Director Brian Carmen facilitated a workshop and provided more information about the opportunity which is described as a public-finance focused innovation summit.
On February 28th and 29th, County representatives will travel down to Indianapolis to speak about specific challenges and a number of ‘innovators’ from all walks of life will have the opportunity to take on some of the issues and come up with creative solutions.
The goal, according to the Bond Bank reps, is to provide communities with an opportunity to access tangible solutions to problems that need to be addressed. The issues that are typically chosen are selected according to relevancy, timeliness, and feasibility.
Monday’s workshop was held in the Starke County Economic Development Foundation office and more than 100 various challenges were presented by the individuals in attendance.
They touched on troubles with marketing and perception issues are well as more specific problems that community members are facing.
Throughout the course of the workshop the similar topics were consolidated and the group whittled the list down to eight main concerns.
The areas of focus include improving accessibility, in regards to sidewalks and facilities as well as services, the lack of sufficient lodging within the county and a need for more transportation and housing options.
Other ideas such as a addressing the absence of grocery store options in certain sections of the county, offering additional daycare, providing more opportunities for community engagement and focusing on organizing and expanding the existing art and music scene were also listed.
Local representatives in attendance included SCEDF Executive Director Larry Wickert, Chamber of Commerce Director Brenda Palmer, North Judson Clerk-Treasurer Andrew Rowe, Hamlet Clerk-Treasurer Kristina Pitts, Knox City Councilman Jeff Berg and County Attorney Marty Lucas.
Starke County Community Foundation Director of Development Jessica Martinvoic and Northern Indiana Community Foundation Associate Director Corinne Becknell Lucas were also participants in addition to Starke County Youth Club Executive Director Irene Szakonyi, County Highway Department Office Manager Mary Perren, Angie and Ken Monahan from the Koontz Lake Association and Julie Miller with Purdue Extension.
Bond Bank officials are expected to take the information provided during the brainstorming session and present it to potential innovators who will attend the Flipping Finance event in February. They will continue to coordinate with Starke County represenatives in the meantime.
In order to ensure that the issues are described as accurately as possible during the event, additional feedback would be beneficial. If any community members would like to provide their perspective about the challenges that were presented, reach out to SCEDF Executive Director Larry Wickert at 574-772-5627.
