Economy & Place Committee

Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission
Economy & Place
Current: Economy & Place Committee

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Serve as the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Committee
  - Responsible for the development, implementation, revision, or replacement of the CEDS for the Planning Organization (NIRPC Full Commission/Executive Board).
  - Review and provide recommendations to the Full Commission/Executive Board regarding the adoption of and amendments to the CEDS.
  - Evaluate, either directly or through a designee, EDA funding applications to ensure consistency with CEDS and provide letters of support.
- Educate members on topics, policies, programs, and regulations relevant to land use, smart growth, economic development, and transit-oriented development (TOD).
- Advise NIRPC on policies and programs related to land use, smart growth, economic development, and transit-oriented development (TOD).
- Oversee the development of and provide recommendations to the Transportation Committee regarding the adoption of and amendments to the Land Use element of the Metropolitan Transportation Plan.
- Oversee the development of plans, programs, and policies related to land use, smart growth, economic development, and transit-oriented development (TOD) as initiated by staff, the committee, or at the direction of the Transportation Committee.
- Provide training to local government official, economic development officials, developers, and affiliated industry representatives on best practices for sustainable development, smart growth, land use, livable communities, and related topics.
- As designated by the Transportation Committee for specific funding categories, establish selection criteria, select, and recommend transporations projects to the Transportation Resource and Oversight Committees for inclusion in the Transportation Improvement Program.
- Oversee the development and implementation of an annual LPA Planning Assistance program and recommend a program of projects to the Transportation Committee.

MEMBERSHIP

12 Commissioners (4 per county, including Chair) Commissioner may appoint a qualified staff representative (must have direct influence over planning, redevelopment, or economic development) as a proxy. Lake County: Vanessa Hernandez-Orange, City of East Chicago Eddie Melton, City of Gary John Yelkich, Town of Lowell Peter Land, City of Crown Point Porter County: James Burge, Town of Porter George Topoll, Union Township Scott Kingan, Town of Ogden Dunes Andy Vasquez, Porter County Council La Porte County: Daina Dumbrys, Town of Michiana Shores Lisa Rosenkranz, Town of La Crosse Connie Gramarossa, La Porte County Commission John Matwyshyn, La Porte County Surveyor	1 NWI Forum Representative Spencer Summers
	1 Workforce Development Representative Lisa Daugherty, Center of Workforce Innovations
	1 Higher Education Representative Anthony Sindone, Indiana University Northwest
	2 Minority Group Representatives, at least one of which represents a minority business enterprise Judith Cardenas, NWI Small Business Development Center and Hispanic small business owner Lois Whittaker, Black Chamber of Commerce of Northwest Indiana
	1 Labor Group Representative Randy Palmateer, Northwestern Indiana Building & Construction Trades Council
	1 Realtors Association Representative Joe Wszolek, Northwest Indiana Realtors Association
	1 Private Individual Representative Gary Johnson
	2 Other Representatives who can contribute to and benefit from improved economic development in the region Matt Wells, One Region and Purdue Northwest Jen Trowbridge, CoAction

QUORUM
- 3 voting committee members constitute a quorum.
- A simple majority of the quorum is required to act.
MEETING SCHEDULE
- Generally, and initially, meets quarterly on the 2nd Wednesday of the month.
- More frequent meetings may be necessitated by work products (e.g., new CEDS creation).
2025 Meeting Dates:
- January 8
- January 29 - special meeting
- February 14 - cancelled
- April 4
- July 9
- October 8
MEETING PRESENTATIONS
March 14, 2025
- NIRPC CEDS' Goals (presentation from March 14, 2025 Working Group virtual meeting)
January 29, 2025
- Guiding Principles and CEDS Goals
January 8, 2025
- Housing update presentation
- NIRPC Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)
- Economic Indicators
  - Chemicals and Chemical-based Products Cluster Drill-down
  - Glass and Ceramics Cluster Drill-down
  - Machinery Manufacturing Cluster Drill-down
  - Primary Metals Cluster Drill-down
  - Jobs Posting Drill-down (presentation provided after 1/8/2025 meeting, not presented at meeting)
October 9, 2024
MEETING MINUTES & LIVESTREAM VIDEOS
2025
- 1/29/2025 YouTube livestream video
- January 8, 2025
  - 1/8/2025 YouTube livestream video
2024
- October 9, 2024
  - 10/9/2024 YouTube livestream video

Economy & Place Committee

2025 Meeting Dates:

March 14, 2025

January 29, 2025

January 8, 2025

October 9, 2024

2025

2024

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