Seeking Smaller Indiana "hotspots" (outside Indy)

[Pat Coyle]

Smaller Indiana (OK, it's must me) is hitting the road in June looking for hotspots of Smoosier activty beyond the beltway. I plan to travel statewide and bring together focus groups to plan ways in which Smaller Indiana can support members who live outside Indy. When we're through, I hope we can establish local leadership, local venues and and local activity that connects Smoosiers in their hometowns, and also connects them to other Smaller Indiana "nodes' around the state, including Indianapolis.

I just placed a poll on the homepage, but thought I'd start this form thread so Smoosiers could have a place to add more information and express their thoughts.

If you selected "other" please explain your vision here.

[Betsey Merkel]

Pat,

This is a great idea to identify and connect activity that may not be obvious from the beltway, but exists loud and clear in every community. The idea of seeking out to better understand the role Smaller Indiana serves can only yield new opportunities 10 fold for everyone who participates. This is a wonderful example of Strategic Doing: building innovation networks to strengthen alignment of local assets and accelerate transformational activity. Let us know how the new practices and tools of Open Source Economic Development at I-Open can support your work.

[Betsey Merkel]

Linking and Leveraging Learning from Smaller Indiana in Northeast Ohio: I've posted the "hotspot" example to our local REALNEO community as a learning moment followed up with two questions:

What could the Smaller Indian "hotspot" example look like here in Northeast Ohio? and,
How could we connect Smaller Indiana and Northeast Ohio hotspots?

[Rae Kridel]

When I lived in Bloomington and worked on campus, the Usenet community there was thriving; a very dedicated bunch of people across campus and the town, who communicated in ongoing discussions. The university retired their Usenet server and groups a few years ago, and I'll bet that something like Smaller Indiana would really thrive there. I can still remember all the stuff I bought and sold on iu.forsale and some of the really funny conversations on iu.gripe.

[Michelle Hartz]

I agree with the Bloomington sentiments. We're already on our way to creating a local online community. The biggest challenge Bloomington has is bridging the gap between the university and the community. Startup Weekend helped with that, and I think Smaller Indiana would further that goal.

[Nicki Laycoax]

Pat,

I tend to enjoy a challenge. I have selected Gary, Indiana for a few different reasons; one being that there is such negative feedback when anyone says Gary, Indiana... I will be in the region this weekend for a wedding and will keep this poll and discussion in mind and offer feedback. We will be going to the Marquette Pavilion. We'll also visit the shores of Lake Michigan-Indiana Dunes...

I have also been communicating with the Gary Chamber about any interest that they may have with the Community Days that Squish and Creo Quality are doing for Morgan County. In addition, I have begun trying to give Gary residents that have the skills that we need, an opportunity to help us with upcoming projects. I posted an ad on Craig's List asking for samples of their work, and requiring that they actually live in Gary, as I know that the economy is bad (median salary $25k), and anything I can do to help, especially if it's the youth, I'm going to...

I would love to be a part of the "Smaller Indiana Road Tour". Let me know if I can help!

[Nicki Laycoax]

Phil..

Thank you for that! You are actually the first person, aside from my partner, that I have expressed my thoughts on Gary with, that hasn't called me crazy!

I also appreciate you admitting what city you voted for! :)

[Jason Williams]

Speaking of Purdue, where's West Lafayette (Greater Lafayette Area) on the list?

[Rich Boling]

Steven,

We're building a cabin in Orange County right now. The people I've met there have been terrific! And thanks for the link to Lost River. I'll be sure to stop in and check it out.

[Jon D. Speer]

I voted for Muncie for a few reasons:
1. Has anyone been paying attention to Ball State lately? They are doing some fantastic work in entrepreneurship.
2. Energize ECI is a regional economic development organization that is trying to bring together east central Indiana--of which Muncie is a part.
3. There are many communities in east central Indiana that could use a boost (e.g. Richmond, Connersville, Muncie, Marion)